SACRAMENTO January 29, 2018 – The Department of Water Resources (DWR) today announced a statewide increase in water allocations. Going forward, the vast majority of State Water Project (SWP) contractors will receive 20 percent of their requests. Statewide allocations are based on conservative assumptions and may change depending on rain and snow received this winter. […]
California Department of Water Resources
Posted inRegional
Dry December Produces Below-Average Snowpack
SACRAMENTO January 3, 2018 – Today’s Department of Water Resources (DWR) manual snow survey east of Sacramento in the Sierra Nevada found little snowpack, which was predictable after a dry December throughout California. Measurements at Phillips Station revealed a snow water equivalent (SWE) of _ inches, __ percent of the average SWE of 11.3 inches […]
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Initial State Water Project Allocation Set at 15 Percent
SACRAMENTO, Calif. November 30, 2017 – The Department of Water Resources (DWR) today announced an initial water allocation of 15 percent for most State Water Project (SWP) contractors for the 2018 calendar year. That allocation will likely change depending on rain and snowfall received this winter. “It’s hard to know what mother nature will have […]
Posted inCalifornia
A New Water Year Brings Uncertainty
SACRAMENTO October 3, 2017 – After five years of drought, the 2017 water year brought unexpectedly heavy precipitation, ranking second only to 1983 as California’s wettest year for statewide runoff. The dramatic swing in water conditions highlights the need to develop better long-range weather forecasting to cope with the state’s highly variable annual precipitation. DWR […]
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DWR: Updated Information Released on California Dams
SACRAMENTO, Sept. 1, 2017 – The California Division of Safety of Dams (DSOD) today released updated information on 1,249 dams under its jurisdiction, including downstream hazard classification, condition assessment, and reservoir restriction status for each dam. The information reflects the most recent physical inspections and comprehensive re-evaluations by DSOD engineers and engineering geologists, as well […]
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Oroville Spillways Work Continues, Heat-related Safety Measures in Place
SACRAMENTO, June 21, 2017 – The following is a regular update from the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) regarding Lake Oroville Spillways Emergency Recovery Project activities. Continued Recovery Work on the Main and Emergency Spillways Construction continues at the site by DWR’s prime contractor, Kiewit Infrastructure West. Demolition continues on the bottom 600 feet […]
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DWR Releases Initial Findings from Forensics Team Regarding Lake Oroville Spillways
SACRAMENTO May 10, 2017 – The California Department of Water Resources (DWR) today made public a memo from the independent Forensics Team, which outlines a list of potential physical factors that may have contributed to the Lake Oroville gated (main) spillway failure on Feb. 7. “This memo outlines the potential causes of the main spillway […]
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Oroville Spillways Work Continues, Feather River flow will increase to 27,750 cfs on Wednesday
SACRAMENTO May 8, 2017 – The following is an update from the Department of Water Resources (DWR) about construction-related activities on the Lake Oroville Spillways Recovery project. DWR is committed to informing the public about the work being done to repair the damaged spillways and related impacts to roads, recreation, public access and surrounding infrastructure. […]
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Final Survey of 2017 Snowpack: 190 percent of average
SACRAMENTO May 1, 2017 – Today’s manual snow survey by the Department of Water Resources (DWR) at Phillips Station in the Sierra Nevada found a Snow Water Equivalent (SWE) of 27.8 inches, 190 percent of the May 1 long-term average there (14.6 inches). Electronic measurements indicate the water content of the statewide snowpack today is […]
Posted inCalifornia
DWR Announces Oroville Community Meetings
SACRAMENTO April 18, 2017 – The California Department of Water Resources (DWR) is hosting seven public meetings in multiple locations to update communities in the region about the ongoing Oroville spillway recovery effort. The meetings will be opportunities for members of the public to hear from DWR leadership and experts about the status of the […]
Posted inCalifornia
State Water Project Deliveries Increased
SACRAMENTO April 14, 2017 – With record rainfall in the Northern Sierra and the snowpack still building, the Department of Water Resources (DWR) today increased its estimate of this year’s State Water Project (SWP) supply to 100 percent for contractors north of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta and 85 percent of requests for other contractors. “We’re […]
Posted inRegional
Snowpack’s Water Content Remains Far above Average
SACRAMENTO March 30, 2017 – With every monthly measurement of the California snowpack this winter, the state’s rebound from the previous five years of drought becomes more evident. Today’s electronic readings from 95 sites in the Sierra Nevada show an average statewide snow water equivalent (SWE) of 45.8 inches, or 164 percent of the historical […]
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Lake Davis Fills as Anticipated, Spillway Outflows Begin
SACRAMENTO – The Department of Water Resources (DWR) said today boaters, anglers and residents downstream from Lake Davis in the Feather River watershed should be prepared for increased water flows and higher stream levels due to overflows from the Grizzly Valley Dam’s spillway. Water began flowing into the spillway March 21 for the first time […]
Posted inRegional
Flows to the Feather River to increase this week
Oroville, California March 13, 2017 – The Department of Water Resources (DWR) continues to increase flows to the Feather River. With inflows ranging from approximately 14,000 to 20,000 cubic feet per second (cfs), Lake Oroville has risen to 861.5 feet elevation. Hyatt Powerplant continues to discharge 12,900 cfs through the 5 operational turbine generators. Flows […]
Posted inCalifornia
Snowpack’s Water Content Remains Far above Average
SACRAMENTO March 1, 2017 – The Sierra Nevada snowpack continues to build during one of the wettest winters in California’s recorded history. Today’s manual snow survey by the Department of Water Resources (DWR) at Phillips Station in the Sierra Nevada found a snow water equivalent (SWE) of 43.4 inches. February’s Phillips survey found 28.0 inches […]
Posted inRegional
DWR to Stop Spillway Outflow for Debris Removal
February 27, 2017 – At 6:45 a.m. today, the Department of Water Resources (DWR) began gradually ramping down outflows from the Oroville Reservoir. Flows from the flood control spillway will be reduced from 50,000 cubic feet per second throughout the day and eventually reach zero in the afternoon. As flows are reduced, DWR will monitor […]
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Road Repairs on Canyon Drive in Oroville to Begin
Oroville, California February 26, 2017 – The Department of Water Resources (DWR) has partnered with the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) to address roads in Oroville and surrounding areas impacted by the trucks and heavy machinery driving through Oroville in response to the Spillway Emergency. DWR, Caltrans, California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services, Butte County, […]
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DWR Begins Outflow Reduction at Oroville Dam
Oroville, Calif. February 16, 2017 – DWR has begun reducing outflow from the Oroville Dam flood control spillway to support the removal of debris from the diversion pool located near the spillway. Removal of debris from the diversion pool further protects, safeguards, and provides for the eventual reoperation of the Hyatt power plant. This reduced […]
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Oroville Dam’s Auxiliary Spillway Begins Flowing
Oroville, California February 11, 2017 – The California Department of Water Resources (DWR) said the auxiliary spillway at Lake Oroville started spilling water at 8:00 am today. This occurred when the lake level exceeded 901 feet elevation above sea level. DWR officials said the flow over the auxiliary spillway will range between 5,000 and 10,000 […]
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Oroville Dam Emergency Spillway Expected to Be Used as Soon as Early Saturday
SACRAMENTO February 9, 2017 – As it manages storm inflow to Lake Oroville with a main spillway damaged by erosion, the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) announced late Thursday that the reservoir’s emergency spillway likely will be used, perhaps as soon as the early hours of Saturday. In that event, total discharges from the […]