Lake Oroville
Encyclopedia
Lake Oroville, also known as Lake Edmonston, is a reservoir
in the U.S. state
of California
, formed by the Oroville Dam
across the Feather River
. The lake is situated in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada about 5 miles (8 km) northeast of Oroville
. At over 3500000 acre.ft, it is one of the largest reservoirs in California, after Shasta Lake
. The lake is fed by the North Fork
, Middle Fork
, West Branch
and South Fork
s of the Feather River.
The lake has a 9000 ft (2,743.2 m) diameter landing area for seaplanes. The lake is a popular bass
fishing location, while coho salmon
are stocked from the Feather River Fish Hatchery.
, the current main basin of Lake Oroville
was the location of the confluence of the North Fork Feather River
with the Feather River
(39°33′20"N 121°28′0"W) and the now-inundated towns of Bidwell
(39°33′25"N 121°27′56"W) and Land
(39°33′13"N 121°28′04"W). Completed in 1968, Oroville Dam is the tallest earthen dam
located in the United States
, measuring over 770 feet (235 m) high and 6,920 feet (2109 m) across. The dam was the largest earth-fill dam in the world until succeeded by Aswan High Dam in Egypt
. It was built by the California Department of Water Resources
as part of the California State Water Project
. The dam houses the Edward Hyatt Powerplant, an underground hydro-electric plant that was completed in 1967. Six generators are used to provide a maximum generating capacity of 819 MVA.
is released from two discharge tunnels at up to 17500 cuft/s during peak demand and "little or no release the remainder of the day". The power plant also routinely draws up to 5610 cuft/s of Feather River water for "pumpback" into Lake Oroville. Hyatt releases are stored in the 4.4 mi (7.1 km) serpentine river channel (Thermalito Diversion Pool) which extends from the river's source to the Thermalito Diversion Dam.
Reservoir
A reservoir , artificial lake or dam is used to store water.Reservoirs may be created in river valleys by the construction of a dam or may be built by excavation in the ground or by conventional construction techniques such as brickwork or cast concrete.The term reservoir may also be used to...
in the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, formed by the Oroville Dam
Oroville Dam
Oroville Dam spans the Feather River about northeast of the city of Oroville, California. It forms Lake Oroville, which stores water for irrigation, flood control, municipal water supply and hydroelectricity generation in California's Sacramento Valley. The dam lies in the foothills of the Sierra...
across the Feather River
Feather River
The Feather River is the principal tributary of the Sacramento River, in the Sacramento Valley of Northern California. The river's main stem is about long. Its length to its most distant headwater tributary is about . Its drainage basin is about...
. The lake is situated in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada about 5 miles (8 km) northeast of Oroville
Oroville, California
Oroville is the county seat of Butte County, California. The population was 15,506 at the 2010 census, up from 13,004 at the 2000 census...
. At over 3500000 acre.ft, it is one of the largest reservoirs in California, after Shasta Lake
Shasta Lake
Shasta Lake, also called Lake Shasta, is an artificial lake created by the construction of Shasta Dam across the Sacramento River in the Shasta-Trinity National Forest of Shasta County, California...
. The lake is fed by the North Fork
North Fork Feather River
The North Fork Feather River is a watercourse of the northern Sierra Nevada in the U.S. state of California. It flows generally southwards from its headwaters near Lassen Peak to Lake Oroville, a reservoir formed by Oroville Dam in the foothills of the Sierra, where it runs into the Feather River....
, Middle Fork
Middle Fork Feather River
The Middle Fork Feather River is a major river in Plumas and Butte Counties in the U.S. state of California. Nearly long, it drains about of the rugged northern Sierra Nevada range....
, West Branch
West Branch Feather River
The West Branch Feather River is a Lake Oroville tributary that flows generally north-to-south in the North Fork Feather Watershed near the watershed's drainage divide with the...
and South Fork
South Fork Feather River
The South Fork Feather River is a Lake Oroville tributary in the south portion of the Middle Fork Feather Watershed which drains the Little Grass Valley, California and has several reservoirs....
s of the Feather River.
The lake has a 9000 ft (2,743.2 m) diameter landing area for seaplanes. The lake is a popular bass
Bass (fish)
Bass is a name shared by many different species of popular gamefish. The term encompasses both freshwater and marine species. All belong to the large order Perciformes, or perch-like fishes, and in fact the word bass comes from Middle English bars, meaning "perch."-Types of basses:*The temperate...
fishing location, while coho salmon
Coho salmon
The Coho salmon, Oncorhynchus kisutch, is a species of anadromous fish in the salmon family. Coho salmon are also known as silver salmon or "silvers". It is the state animal of Chiba, Japan.-Description:...
are stocked from the Feather River Fish Hatchery.
History
Prior to impoundment by the Oroville DamOroville Dam
Oroville Dam spans the Feather River about northeast of the city of Oroville, California. It forms Lake Oroville, which stores water for irrigation, flood control, municipal water supply and hydroelectricity generation in California's Sacramento Valley. The dam lies in the foothills of the Sierra...
, the current main basin of Lake Oroville
North Fork Feather River
The North Fork Feather River is a watercourse of the northern Sierra Nevada in the U.S. state of California. It flows generally southwards from its headwaters near Lassen Peak to Lake Oroville, a reservoir formed by Oroville Dam in the foothills of the Sierra, where it runs into the Feather River....
was the location of the confluence of the North Fork Feather River
North Fork Feather River
The North Fork Feather River is a watercourse of the northern Sierra Nevada in the U.S. state of California. It flows generally southwards from its headwaters near Lassen Peak to Lake Oroville, a reservoir formed by Oroville Dam in the foothills of the Sierra, where it runs into the Feather River....
with the Feather River
Feather River
The Feather River is the principal tributary of the Sacramento River, in the Sacramento Valley of Northern California. The river's main stem is about long. Its length to its most distant headwater tributary is about . Its drainage basin is about...
(39°33′20"N 121°28′0"W) and the now-inundated towns of Bidwell
Bidwell, California
Bidwell is a former settlement in Butte County, California, United States. It was located west of Bidwell's Bar on the Western Pacific Railroad, and lay at an elevation of 902 feet . The settlement was near the Bidwell-Sacramento River State Park, and has been inundated by Lake Oroville....
(39°33′25"N 121°27′56"W) and Land
Land, California
Land is a former settlement in Butte County, California, United States. It was located west-southwest of Bidwell's Bar on the Western Pacific Railroad, at an elevation of 902 feet . Land is now covered by Lake Oroville. The place was named for A.H. Land, a lumber company president....
(39°33′13"N 121°28′04"W). Completed in 1968, Oroville Dam is the tallest earthen dam
Embankment dam
An embankment dam is a massive artificial water barrier. It is typically created by the emplacement and compaction of a complex semi-plastic mound of various compositions of soil, sand, clay and/or rock. It has a semi-permanent waterproof natural covering for its surface, and a dense, waterproof...
located in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, measuring over 770 feet (235 m) high and 6,920 feet (2109 m) across. The dam was the largest earth-fill dam in the world until succeeded by Aswan High Dam in Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
. It was built by the California Department of Water Resources
California Department of Water Resources
The California Department of Water Resources , is a department within the California Natural Resources Agency. The Department of Water Resources is responsible for the State of California's management and regulation of water usage...
as part of the California State Water Project
California State Water Project
The California State Water Project, commonly known as the SWP , is the world's largest publicly built and operated water and power development and conveyance system. The SWP was designed and is operated by the California Department of Water Resources...
. The dam houses the Edward Hyatt Powerplant, an underground hydro-electric plant that was completed in 1967. Six generators are used to provide a maximum generating capacity of 819 MVA.
Downriver facilities
The Hyatt Generating-Pumping Plant source water for the Feather RiverFeather River
The Feather River is the principal tributary of the Sacramento River, in the Sacramento Valley of Northern California. The river's main stem is about long. Its length to its most distant headwater tributary is about . Its drainage basin is about...
is released from two discharge tunnels at up to 17500 cuft/s during peak demand and "little or no release the remainder of the day". The power plant also routinely draws up to 5610 cuft/s of Feather River water for "pumpback" into Lake Oroville. Hyatt releases are stored in the 4.4 mi (7.1 km) serpentine river channel (Thermalito Diversion Pool) which extends from the river's source to the Thermalito Diversion Dam.
See also
- Feather HeadwatersFeather HeadwatersThe Feather Headwaters are 3 watersheds totaling and which drain to Lake Oroville. The is —including the West Branch drainage of about . The is , and the is —including the South Fork drainage of about...
- Feather RiverFeather RiverThe Feather River is the principal tributary of the Sacramento River, in the Sacramento Valley of Northern California. The river's main stem is about long. Its length to its most distant headwater tributary is about . Its drainage basin is about...
- List of largest reservoirs of California