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Dropping Lake Oroville levels may require boat launch ramp extensions

Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on July 31, 2008 at 7:11 am

From the Department of Water Resources, more bad news for Lake Oroville, the main reservoir on the State Water Project, in this press release:

The Department of Water Resources (DWR) reports that Lake Oroville’s boat launch ramps will soon be left high and dry by the rapidly dropping water level. The reservoir currently holds about 1,315,000 acre feet of water with a surface level of 707.85 feet. That’s only 37 percent of capacity and just 49 percent of average for this time of year.

When the level drops to 707 feet at Lime Saddle Marina (probably tomorrow or Friday), 705 at Bidwell, and 700 at the Spillway, normal boat launch operations will cease. At that point, DWR will use steel mat extensions to allow one-lane launching at Bidwell or Spillway, depending on conditions. Boaters are advised that conditions are subject to change due to weather, changing lake levels or other variables. Four wheel drive vehicles are recommended when using the temporary ramps.

Lake Oroville’s lowest historical level was 645 feet above sea level (when it held 882,000 acre-feet) on Sept. 7, 1977. DWR officials fear the lake may drop below this level before wet weather returns.

Specific information about the daily launch conditions can be obtained by calling the California Department of Parks and Recreation at: (530) 538-2200. Lake Oroville elevations can be obtained by calling the DWR Lake Conditions Recording at (530) 534-2307, or accessing the DWR Web site at http://www.lakeoroville.water.ca.gov/about/stats/levels.cfm

July 31, 2008 · Filed Under DWR & State Water Project

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