well after a very dry start is has been very wet..lake level 794 feet..a very warm and wet system will be moving in....looks like they might have to test the spillway after all
Lake Oroville: Potential use of main spillway next week
SACRAMENTO April 3, 2018 – Forecasted storms expected in the Feather River basin this weekend may require using Lake Oroville’s flood control outlet spillway (also known as the main spillway) this week or next.
After last year’s spillway incident, the Department created the 2017/18 Lake Oroville Winter Operations Plan to ensure public safety in the event of major storm events. This plan triggers more aggressive outflow from Hyatt Powerplant and potential use of the main spillway should the reservoir’s elevation reach 830 feet during the month of April. The current forecasts show the potential for inflows to raise the reservoir to near the 830-foot trigger elevation by the middle of next week. Currently, the lake elevation is 794 feet.
In anticipation of the incoming weather, DWR began increasing outflows today, April 3, from Hyatt Powerplant to approximately 10,000 cfs. The total capacity of outflows from Hyatt Powerplant is currently 12,500 cfs. If necessary, DWR also has use of the River Valve Outlet System which has an additional maximum outflow capacity of 4,000 cfs.
There was a relatively warm storm last week in the basin and a big one forecast for Friday.