Crews working on widening the channel at the base of the main spillway have made significant progress towards the goal of creating enough space to allow Hyatt Power Plant to operate a full capacity.  As of this morning, approximately 427,000 cubic yards of the estimated 1.7 million cubic yards of debris have been removed.  Debris removal lowered the water level in the channel at the base of the spillway.

One unit at Hyatt Power Plant was restarted at 6pm last night, with additional units being planned to come online.  This will allow DWR to manage the water level in the lake more efficiently.  Once fully operational, the plant can release up to 13,000 cubic feet of water per second (cfs) as DWR manages reservoir inflows and outflows of spring runoff.

The wet weekend weather has not significantly interfered with debris removal or created a lake elevation concern.  DWR will continue to monitor the weather forecast.  DWR does not expect Lake Oroville to rise above 860 feet elevation while spillway flows are halted.  This still would be 41 feet below the level at which the emergency spillway would be used.

DWR halted flows down the damaged flood control spillway last Monday, Feb 27 as part of the debris removal operation.  The current lake level is 855.3 feet elevation.  Inflows are ranging from 15,000-20,000 cfs.   Flows to meet environmental requirements are being met by releases through the Thermalito Diversion Dam and Thermalito Afterbay River Outlet.  The total flow to the Feather River remains at 2500 cfs.

Work continues on the area below the emergency spillway.

Reconstruction of Canyon Drive continues and will continue for the next several weeks.

Watch video of progress on Oroville Dam/spillway