Lake Oroville Update - June 27, 2025

Explore the Lime Saddle Recreation Area  

Just a short drive from the town of Paradise, the Lime Saddle Recreation Area is located along the western shoreline of the North Fork arm of Lake Oroville and accessible from Pentz Road. The boat ramp and day use area features picnic tables, sun shelters, ADA accessible flush toilets, and trash receptacles. A five-lane boat ramp provides access to Lake Oroville with two lanes extending down to 702 feet for lower water access. At the top of the boat ramp, a parking lot provides ample vehicle and trailer parking with ADA designated spots. In addition, the Lime Saddle Marina offers supplies, gas for boats, and boat rentals so you can enjoy a day on the lake.  

Nearby campgrounds also offer close access to the lake and are perfect for quick dips to combat the heat. The Lime Saddle Campground Area features 50 total campsites with 44 individual campsites (28 car/tent sites and 16 RV sites with full hookups). Each campsite features a picnic table and fire ring with grill. Bathroom facilities offer flush toilets and showers for visitors. Near the entrance, the Lime Saddle Group Campground features two group campsites (six individual sites) with shade structures, multiple picnic tables, trash receptacles, a large barbecue, and a water fountain with spigot. Three of the sites at this facility are ADA accessible with the central restroom/shower building also offering ADA accommodation.  

With Lake Oroville near full capacity, it’s also the perfect time for a hiking or biking trip along the Lime Saddle Trail offering scenic views of the full reservoir. The 1.73-mile trail is accessible from Lime Saddle Recreation Road (marina access road) and routes visitors north before ending at the Lime Saddle Group Campground. 

The Department of Water Resources (DWR), the California Department of Parks and Recreation (State Parks), and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) maintain over 92 miles of trails in the Oroville area. An interactive map of recreation facilities, including open trails and their permitted uses (hike, bike, horse, multi), is available on DWR’s Lake Oroville Recreation webpage. A paper trail map is available at various locations, including most entrance kiosks and the Lake Oroville Visitor Center.    

Fourth of July in Oroville 

Celebrate our nation’s independence on July 4 with a spectacular fireworks show at the Table Mountain Golf Course located at 2700 Oro Dam Blvd. W in Oroville. Gates open at 7 p.m. with the Fourth of July fireworks show beginning 30 minutes after sunset.  

DWR provides resources and support for this City of Oroville/Oroville Chamber of Commerce event. The Oroville Chamber of Commerce’s website has a map highlighting prime locations for fireworks viewing so you can plan ahead.  

Oroville Recreation Advisory Committee  

The Oroville Recreation Advisory Committee (ORAC) will hold a meeting on Wednesday, July 9 at 10 a.m. to provide an update on the invasive mussel inspection program for DWR’s Oroville facilities. The meeting will be held at the Southside Oroville Community Center located at 2959 Lower Wyandotte Road, Oroville, CA, 95966. 

ORAC was established by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to review and provide recreation plan recommendations for Oroville Facilities owned by the Department of Water Resources (DWR). The 13-member committee is made up of representatives from state and local government, recreation groups, and business and community organizations. 

Golden Mussel Inspection Program 

More details about DWR’s mussel inspection program are available at water.ca.gov/mussels. 

Watercraft Inspection Location/Decontamination Services 

North Thermalito Forebay at Garden Drive and HWY 70 in Oroville   

Hours of operation: Daily from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.  

Sealed Vessel Launching   

Lake Oroville  

Ramp hours: Daily from 7:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.    

• Spillway    

• Bidwell Canyon 

Extended Ramp hours: Daily from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m.    

• Lime Saddle 

• Loafer Creek  

Thermalito Afterbay   

Ramp hours: Daily from 7:30 a.m. to one hour after sunset 

• Monument Hill  

Thermalito Forebay  

Ramp Hours: Daily from 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.  

• North Forebay (Non-motorized vessels only)  

Oroville Recreation 

Lake Oroville is one of the State Water Project’s premier recreational destinations and one of California’s best fishing spots. The lake provides both warm-water and cold-water fisheries, with excellent bass fishing opportunities during the fall and winter months. Be sure to check CDFW fishing regulations before fishing. The marinas at Bidwell Canyon and Lime Saddle are open daily and provide a variety of services including a convenience store, gas, boat rentals, and more. 

Staffed by knowledgeable guides, the Lake Oroville Visitor Center features interpretive displays on Oroville Dam, area geology, wildlife and habitat, hydroelectric power, and cultural and historical artifacts. View videos in the theater about the construction of Oroville Dam, walk or hike along nearby trails, and visit the 47-foot-tall observation tower that provides unsurpassed panoramic views of surrounding areas. Free guided tours for school and community groups are available by reservation. Parking and admission to the Visitor Center are free. 

Between Jan. 30 and April 20, high flows in the Feather River required the temporary removal of fish monitoring equipment resulting in lower spring-run estimates. Upstream migrating fish totals through the Feather River Fish Monitoring Station between Jan. 1 and June 23, 2025 are:    

• Spring-run Chinook salmon: 17,462 

• Steelhead: 174 

• To see previous year data, visit CalFish.org.  

Current Lake Operations 

Lake Oroville is at 890 feet elevation and storage is approximately 3.28 million acre-feet (MAF), which is 96 percent of its total capacity and 121 percent of the historical average.  

Feather River flows are at 1,200 cfs through the City of Oroville with 3,300 cfs being released from the Thermalito Afterbay River Outlet (Outlet) for a total Feather River release of 4,500 cfs downstream. DWR continues to assess Feather River releases daily.   

The public can track precipitation, snow, reservoir levels, and more at the California Data Exchange Center. The Lake Oroville gage station is identified as “ORO.” 

All data as of 11:59 p.m. on 6/26/2025. 

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