Lake Oroville

Infobox lake
lake_name = Lake Oroville
image_lake = Lakeoro.jpg
caption_lake =
image_bathymetry =
caption_bathymetry = Parks map
location = Oroville, Northern California
coords = coord|39.55|N|121.45|W|region:US-CA_type:waterbody|display=inline,title
type = Reservoir
inflow = Feather River
outflow = Feather River
catchment =
basin_countries = United States
length =
width =
area = 15,810 acres (63.98 km²)
depth =
max-depth =
volume = convert|3537580|acre.ft|km3|abbr=on|lk=on maximum
residence_time =
shore = convert|167|mi|abbr=on
elevation = 900 ft (274 m)
islands = Bloomer Island, Foreman Island
cities = Oroville
frozen =

Lake Oroville is a large man-made reservoir lake in central Northern California in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada.

It is located east (and upriver) of the city of Oroville, California in Butte County. The lake has a capacity of 3,537,580 acre feet (4.36 km³) and is created by the Oroville Dam on the Feather River, only a mile (2 km) downstream of the meeting of the North, Middle and South forks. 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. At the time, it was the largest earth-fill dam in the world, but was soon exceeded 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 lake supplies water that is transported to the San Francisco Bay Area and southern portions of the state.

The dam houses the "Edward Hyatt Powerplant", an underground hydro-electric plant that was completed in 1967. [ [http://www.lakeoroville.water.ca.gov/about/stats/hyatt.cfm About the Lake - Hyatt Powerplant Statistics ] ] Six generators are used to provide a maximum generating capacity of 819 mVA. The facility was named for Edward Hyatt, who was State Engineer (1927-1950) of the Division of Water Resources under the Department of Public Works.

The South Forebay of the lake is used by speed boats, personal water craft and hydroplanes. The North Forebay is reserved for non-motorized use only, such as sailing and windsurfing. The lake is a popular bass fishing destination, hosting several fishing tournaments each year. [See http://www.orovilleareachamber.com/lakeoroville/fishing_tournaments.html]

See also

* Oroville Dam
* California Department of Water Resources (DWR)
* State Water Project

External links

* [http://www.lakeoroville.water.ca.gov/ California Department of Water Resources]
* [http://orovilleareachamber.com/lakeoroville/ Oroville Area Chamber of Commerce]
* [http://www.lakeoroville.water.ca.gov/about/swp.cfm Department of Water Resources State Water Project, Oroville overview]

References