Lake Oroville Community Update - January 5, 2026

DWR Begins Required Flood Control Releases from Lake Oroville 

The Department of Water Resources (DWR) began required flood control releases using Oroville Dam’s main spillway at 6 a.m. today. Total downstream Feather River releases from the Oroville-Thermalito Complex are currently at 15,000 cubic feet per second (cfs).

While initial forecasts projected inflows into Lake Oroville between 50,000 to 70,000 cfs over the weekend, actual inflows ranged from 22,000 to 43,000 cfs. With reduced runoff levels and drier conditions in the forecast, DWR is no longer expecting to increase flood control releases and will be reducing outflows through the coming week.

Between mid-September and May, DWR is required to operate Lake Oroville for flood control under federal Water Control Manual Guidelines set by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. These federal regulations establish a set storage space that is reserved to capture inflows from rain and future snowmelt, while protecting downstream communities from damaging flood events through coordinated releases. To maintain this storage space, DWR must conduct flood protection releases from Lake Oroville. Some of the water released from Oroville for flood control is captured downstream for beneficial uses by local landowners, communities, and the State Water Project.

While weather conditions were largely dry in early December, Northern California received a series of atmospheric river-driven storms in the past two weeks that boosted reservoir storage at Lake Oroville. Between December 20 and January 4, Lake Oroville’s elevation rose approximately 67 feet.  

Releases to the Feather River are coordinated closely with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and other downstream water operators. Feather River recreational users are advised to remain alert as river flows are expected to be swift and cold and may change based on projected weather forecasts. 

The information below reflects current reservoir level estimates. Forecasts can change quickly and may affect the estimates provided. 

• Current Oroville Reservoir Level: 834 feet elevation 

• Current Storage: 73 percent of capacity

• Total Releases to the Feather River: 15,000 cfs; reducing to 10,000 cfs on Tuesday, Jan. 6

The Lake Oroville reservoir is the largest storage facility in the State Water Project, providing flood protection while supporting environmental and water delivery needs to 27 million Californians. DWR continues to monitor lake levels, weather forecasts, and mountain snow levels to optimize water storage while allowing for carryover storage into next year. 

Current Lake Operations 

Lake Oroville is at 834 feet elevation and storage is approximately 2.51 million acre-feet (MAF), which is 73 percent of its total capacity and 134 percent of the historical average.  

Feather River flows are at 3,000 cfs through the City of Oroville with 12,000 cfs being released from the Thermalito Afterbay River Outlet for a total Feather River release of 15,000 cfs downstream. On Tuesday, Jan. 6, DWR will decrease flows through the City of Oroville to 2,500 cfs with Outlet releases reduced to 7,500 cfs for a total Feather River release of 10,000 cfs. 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 1/4/2026.