Remote Surveillance Trailer in Oroville, CA

Update May 14, 2025: With the discovery of the highly invasive golden mussel in California waterways, DWR is starting a mussel inspection program in Oroville to protect State Water Project (SWP) infrastructure. Mandatory watercraft inspections will be required prior to launching at the Oroville Facilities (Lake Oroville, Thermalito Forebay, Thermalito Afterbay) and are scheduled to start Monday, May 19. For more information, visit the invasive mussel mitigation page.

Lake Oroville, located roughly 75 miles north of Sacramento and 100 miles south of Redding in Northern California, sits behind the tallest dam in the United States. The lake has more than 167 miles of shoreline and offers camping, picnicking, horseback riding, hiking, sail and power boating, water-skiing, fishing and swimming. It's a favorite destination for thousands of visitors each year.

Explore the drop-down menu below to find out more about existing resources around and below Lake Oroville. Some facilities and trails are closed due to ongoing spillway construction and temporary housing for Butte County residents impacted by the Camp Fire.

Please call the Visitors Center for the most up-to-date information on openings and closures.

DWR regularly monitors SWP reservoirs for harmful algal blooms. For current conditions, visit DWR's algal bloom webpage.

California State Parks manages the Lake Oroville State Recreation Area, where you can find up-to-date information on weather, launch ramps and other activities at the lake, and make camping reservations, at ReserveCalifornia.

California Department of Fish and Wildlife operates the nearby Feather River Fish Hatchery and Oroville Wildlife Area. The hatchery website provides information on visiting hours and fish raised there. The wildlife area website contains information on recreation, hunting and history of the area. To inquire about a tour of the hatchery, please contact the Department of Water Resources Tour Guide at (530) 534-2306.

DWR operates the Lake Oroville Visitors Center (also known as Kelly Ridge Visitors Center). It features interpretive displays on Oroville Dam, area geology, wildlife and habitat, hydroelectric power and cultural and historical artifacts. An audio-visual room with on-request videos and a 47-foot viewing tower overlooking the dam and lake are added Visitor Center attractions.

DWR Conserving Water Storage at Lake Oroville

The Department of Water Resources (DWR) reduced water releases from Oroville Dam as dry conditions continue in the Feather River watershed. DWR continues to conserve as much water as possible while meeting federal guidelines for downstream flood protection and state environmental regulations.

Between mid-September and June, 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 storage space that is reserved to capture inflows from rain and snowmelt, while protecting downstream communities from damaging flood events through coordinated releases. To maintain this storage space, DWR conducts flood protection releases from Lake Oroville. Some water released from Oroville for flood control is captured downstream for beneficial uses by local landowners, communities, and the State Water Project. Releases from Oroville Dam also support Feather River habitat for salmon, steelhead, sturgeon, and other river species.

DWR coordinates releases to the Feather River closely with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and other downstream water operators. DWR advises Feather River recreation users 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.

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 and allow for carryover storage into the following year.

Partial Thermalito Afterbay Closure

Speedboat time trials are returning to the Thermalito Afterbay March 14-15. The event requires the closure of the southern portion of the Afterbay (south of Highway 162), the Monument Hill boat ramp, and the Larkin Road cartop boat launch on Saturday and Sunday. The Wilbur Road boat ramp remains closed to trailered launching due to DWR’s invasive mussel prevention program. Watercraft launching from this site must be hand launched. In addition, areas north of Hwy 162 will remain open for public use during the boating event.

The event is hosted by the Northern California Outboard Association and East Bay Boat Club and features a mile-long course. Time trial events are expected Saturday and Sunday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. depending on weather and water conditions. More information about the event can be found on the American Power Boat Association webpage.

Road Closure for Tree Removal

DWR and its partners at the California Conservation Corps (CCC) and the Butte County Sheriff’s Office are closing a portion of Oro Dam Blvd. East between Canyon Drive and Oro Powerhouse Road for hazard tree removal. A full road closure will be in effect Monday through Thursday between 7 a.m. and 4 p.m. March 16-19 and March 23-26. DWR is taking advantage of the closure to remove large hazard trees and perform routine fuel load reduction activities to minimize fire risk in areas surrounding Lake Oroville.

DWR’s Fuel Load Management Plan is dedicated to reducing wildfire risk, enhancing public safety, and improving forest health around Lake Oroville. During vegetation management activities some trails within the Lake Oroville State Recreation Area may be intermittently closed. Trail users should use caution in active work areas and follow all posted signage.

Golden Mussel Inspection Program

DWR has moved its invasive mussel inspection/decontamination facilities at the North Thermalito Forebay to the paved RV parking lot near the entrance. Watercraft owners should turn right once past the main entrance. Signage is posted to help direct traffic. 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 9 p.m.

Ramp hours: Daily from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Thermalito Afterbay

Ramp hours: Daily from 1.5 hours before sunrise to 1 hour after sunset

Thermalito Forebay

Ramp Hours: Daily from 8 a.m. to sunset

Feather River Fish Monitoring Station

DWR resumed operations of the Feather River fish monitoring station on March 4, 2026 to capture the return of spring-run Chinook salmon. Monitoring was temporarily suspended at the end of December 2025 due to anticipated high flows in the Feather River. Upstream migrating fish totals between March 4-7, 2026 are:

Current Lake Operations

Lake Oroville is at 871 feet elevation and storage is approximately 3 million acre-feet (MAF), which is 88 percent of its total capacity and 129 percent of the historical average.

Feather River flows are at 650 cfs through the City of Oroville with releases from the Thermalito Afterbay River Outlet at 6,350 cfs for a total Feather River release of 7,000 cfs downstream. Releases from the Outlet will reduce to 5,850 cfs on March 14 for a total Feather River release of 6,500 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 3/12/2026.

BUTTE COUNTY, Calif. - The California Highway Patrol is investigating a fatal rollover crash at Wicks Corner north of Oroville on Friday afternoon.

Authorities say at around 2:48 p.m. on Friday, officers from the California Highway Patrol were dispatched to the area of the Highway 70 and Highway 149 interchange, known as the Wicks Corner Interchange, after the CHP received calls and a iPhone emergency alert of a vehicle crash.

Upon arrival at the scene, officers found a black Jeep Cherokee at the southbound Highway 70 transition to Highway 149 that had left the roadway and traveled down an embankment following an apparent rollover crash.

Authorities say the male driver of the Jeep, who was the lone occupant of the vehicle, was ejected during the rollover crash. Officers at the scene were able to determine that the male was not wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash.

The California Highway Patrol says that witnesses, emergency medical personnel, and CHP officers performed life-saving medical measures, including CPR, on the crash victim.

The male was transported to a local area hospital by ambulance, where he later succumbed to his injuries.

According to the CHP, based on the initial investigation into the crash by officers, alcohol is suspected to have been a contributing factor to the crash.

Anyone who may have witnessed the crash or has information regarding the investigation into the crash is asked to contact the California Highway Patrol Dispatch at 530-332-1200 and reference Log Number 250227CH0095.

The California Highway Patrol would like to remind motorists that wearing a seat belt and operating a vehicle while sober are critical to roadway safety.

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(ORIGINAL STORY)

CAL FIRE Butte Unit and the California Highway Patrol are responding to a rollover crash at Wicks Corner where Highway 70 and Highway 149 north of Oroville.

CAL FIRE Butte Unit says that they were dispatched to a report of a rollover crash that had taken place at Wicks Corner before 3 p.m. on Friday afternoon.

According to CAL FIRE, the person in the vehicle was ejected in the rollover crash.

Upon arrival at the scene, CAL FIRE crews performed CPR on the victim until they were transported by ground ambulance to a local hospital for treatment of their injuries.

Action News Now has a reporter at the scene of the accident and will update this article once more information is obtained.