Lake Oroville: 3.2015
The "poster boy" for the western drought, Lake Oroville was dammed in the 1960s under the current governor's father, Gov. Edmund G. "Pat" Brown.

Lake Oroville collects western and south flowing creek and river water, largely from the various forks of the Feather River, including tributaries from Bucks Lake. The north fork of the Feather River headwaters in the Sierra Valley. When water is diverted from Webber Lake to the Cold Stream/Sierraville Creek diversion channel, the federal water master brings water to alfalfa farms which may end up in Lake Oroville 125 miles away.

Once the largest dam in the world, water collected behind the Oroville Dam can be sent through channels, including the California Aqueduct, as far away as Los Angeles.


Even in late winter, Lake Oroville storage is far below historic levels.
Clouds bring hope for rain that never comes.
Bidwell Bar Bridge makes a smiley face in this panorama of Feather River Middle Fork storage.
West Brank storage heading into the broader Lake Oroville, Winter 2015.
Clouds bring hope for rain that never comes.

Canyon and Minnie creeks enter Lake Oroville reservoir.		Canyon and Minnie creeks' confluence entering the reservoir.
Turkey vulture flies over Oroville Dam.		No going ashore for these boaters.
Lake Oroville Spillway dry in Winter.		Oroville Dam spillway unable to produce hydroelectric energy.