How could low water levels at Lake Oroville signal risk for Butte Countys rural communities?
OROVILLE  Lake Oroville, focal point for Northern California water and growing many regional crops, could hit a record low after years of critical drought, threatening local water resources and the regional economy. The year 2020 was the third driest on record for state precipitation, and heading into the 2021 summer, many north valley regions experienced temperatures in the triple digits through Memorial Day weekend. The California Drought Monitor now shows Butte County in an exceptional drought, the highest possible level of drought measured by factors like extreme water shortages, low irrigation deliveries, drying wells and high water prices. As for the drought impacts on surrounding rural areas, DWR Interstate Resources Manager Jeanine Jones said Friday small water systems like Butte Countys are at a higher risk for having issues during drought because fractured rock water sources typically have much lower yields and storage than those drilled in the valley floor. The major concerns for the department in such severe droughts are shortages like drying wells, and increased wildfire risk. Jones said the lakes low levels main impacts include lack of cold water for fish hatcheries, and reduced ability to generate power  but not groundwater resources. The department does maintain a contract with Butte County through the State Water Project, but the allocation this year is low due to the drought circumstances. In cases of emergency arising if conditions continue worsening, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced May 10 a $5.1 billion package of immediate drought response and long-term water resilience investments to address immediate, emergency needs. The states Department of Water Resources latest snow pack report shows the south and central Sierra Nevada snow pack entirely gone, and just 5% of northern Sierra Nevada water remaining  0% of normal for June 1. This means the lake level could drop to its lowest level in approximately 40 years. DWR State Water Project Chief of Utility Operations John Yarbrough said Friday the lake capacity measured at 709 feet, where at normal capacity it would be sitting at 900 feet. The last time the water was this low was during the 2014-2015 season, when the lakes lowest point was 715 feet  making 2021 even drier, according to DWR Public Information Officer Liza Whitmore. Yarbrough confirmed the department projects the lake could drop even lower than the historic low from 1976-1977 of 645 feet, by late summer or early fall. The thing thats different this year and unique from other droughts weve experienced is this year the snow pack  the amount of runoff was only about 20% of what we expected, he said. We started with a snow pack that was smaller than average but from that snow pack the amount of water we got was dramatically less than what we expected.  David Simeral of Western Regional Climate Center said in May fast-paced evaporation of this snow pack into the soil column early in the year has also taken place. State water basin data shows the 12-month period from April 2020 to March 2021 was the fourth driest on record with a 21.89 inch deficit, and the 24-month period of April 2019 through March 2021 was the second driest with a deficit of 40.05 inches. But Yarbrough said the departments taking action to keep as much storage in the reservoir as possible, working with agencies like the state Water Resources Control Board to change requirements for water to be released in the delta. Earlier this week, the department also began installing a rock barrier dam in the delta, to help limit how much water must be released from Lake Oroville to keep that storage up in the reservoir longer.  He added that could help hold onto cold water for the fall such as for local salmon fisheries and to maintain a minimum level of water supply storage for the next year. For the Fourth of July holiday, Yarbrough said some of the lakes boat ramps will remain open even if capacity is reduced. Loafer Creek, Loafer Point and Lime Saddle ramps are closed and the Spillway and Bidwell Canyon are the only ones open. People can call State Parks at 538-2200 for more information. The Associated Press contributed to this report.