OROVILLE, Calif. - The California Department of Water Resources (DWR) announced on Sunday that it is “unlikely” to use the main spillway at the Oroville Dam this week.

According to a press release sent by the DWR, the weather system experienced in the Feather River basin over the weekend did not meet anticipated forecasts that would have required the use of the main spillway.

Adding that inflows into the reservoir peaked on Saturday at over 54,000 cubic feet per second (cfs) and that a steady outflow of 13,000 cfs from Hyatt Powerplant kept the elevation of the reservoir below 800 feet.

The inflows then continued to diminish at Hyatt Powerplant by 10,000 cfs beginning at noon on Sunday, according to DWR. 

DWR also released the current information on Lake Oroville:

• Lake Oroville Elevation: 799.70 feet
• Inflow: 23,000 cfs
• Spillway Outflows: 0
• Hyatt Powerplant Outflow: 11,250 cfs
• Feather River Flows: 11,500 cfs

DWR also said “forecasts at the beginning of last week showed a potential for inflows to raise the reservoir near the 830-foot trigger elevation by the middle of this week. In anticipation of the incoming weather, DWR increased outflows from the reservoir on April 3 and proactively announced the potential use of the main spillway.”