# documents

path: web_results/wiki_John_Bidwell.html
title: John Bidwell - Wikipedia
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content:
John Bidwell - Wikipedia

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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

American politician (1819–1900)

For the English botanist and explorer, see
[John Carne Bidwill](/wiki/John_Carne_Bidwill "John Carne Bidwill")
.


path: web_results/wiki_John_Bidwell.html
title: John Bidwell - Wikipedia
url:
https://git.client.guacamolebox.net/butterfly/ragdocs/raw/branch/main/web_results/wiki_John_Bidwell.html

content:
| John Bidwell | |
| --- | --- |
| Portrait by [Mathew Brady](/wiki/Mathew_Brady "Mathew Brady") c. 1865 | |
| | |
| Member of the [U.S. House of Representatives](/wiki/United_States_House_of_Representatives "United States House of Representatives") from [California](/wiki/California "California") 's [3rd](/wiki/California%27s_3rd_congressional_district "California's 3rd congressional district") district | |
| **In office** March 4, 1865 – March 3, 1867 | |
| Preceded by | *Constituency established* |
| Succeeded by | [James Johnson](/wiki/James_A._Johnson_(California_politician) "James A. Johnson (California politician)") |
| Member of the [California Senate](/wiki/California_Senate "California Senate") from the [Sacramento](/wiki/Sacramento,_California "Sacramento, California") district | |
| **In office** December 17, 1849 – January 6, 1851 | |
| Preceded by | *Constituency established* |
| Succeeded by | [Alonzo W. Adams](/wiki/Alonzo_W._Adams "Alonzo W. Adams") |
| [Alcalde](/wiki/Alcalde "Alcalde") of [Mission San Luis Rey](/wiki/Mission_San_Luis_Rey "Mission San Luis Rey") | |
| **In office** August 1846 – January 1847 | |
| Appointed by | [John C. Frémont](/wiki/John_C._Fr%C3%A9mont "John C. Frémont") |
| | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | ( 1819-08-05 ) August 5, 1819 [Chautauqua County, New York](/wiki/Chautauqua_County,_New_York "Chautauqua County, New York") , U.S.


path: web_results/wiki_John_Bidwell.html
title: John Bidwell - Wikipedia
url:
https://git.client.guacamolebox.net/butterfly/ragdocs/raw/branch/main/web_results/wiki_John_Bidwell.html

content:
|
| Died | April 4, 1900 (1900-04-04) (aged 80) [Chico, California](/wiki/Chico,_California "Chico, California") , U.S. |
| Resting place | Chico Cemetery |
| [Party](/wiki/Political_party "Political party") | [Democratic](/wiki/Democratic_Party_(United_States) "Democratic Party (United States)") (Before 1861) [Republican](/wiki/Republican_Party_(United_States) "Republican Party (United States)") (1861–1875) [Prohibition](/wiki/Prohibition_Party "Prohibition Party") (after 1875) |
| Other political affiliations | [National Union](/wiki/National_Union_Party_(United_States) "National Union Party (United States)") (1861–1868) [People's Independent](/wiki/Independent_politician "Independent politician") (1875) [Anti-Monopoly](/wiki/Anti-Monopoly_Party "Anti-Monopoly Party") (1875) |
| Spouse | [Annie Kennedy](/wiki/Annie_Bidwell "Annie Bidwell") ​ ( m. 1868) ​ |
| Signature | |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | [United States](/wiki/United_States "United States") [California Republic](/wiki/California_Republic "California Republic") |
| Rank | [Brigadier General](/wiki/Brigadier_general_(United_States) "Brigadier general (United States)") |
| Unit | [California Battalion](/wiki/California_Battalion "California Battalion") |
| Battles/wars | * [Mexican–American War](/wiki/Mexican%E2%80%93American_War "Mexican–American War") + [Bear Flag Revolt](/wiki/California_Republic "California Republic") |
| | |.


path: web_results/wiki_John_Bidwell.html
title: John Bidwell - Wikipedia
content:
**John Bidwell**
(August 5, 1819 – April 4, 1900), known in
[Spanish](/wiki/Spanish_language "Spanish language")
as
**Don Juan Bidwell**
,
[[
1
]](#cite_note-1)
was an American pioneer, politician, and soldier. Bidwell is known as the founder of the city of
[Chico, California](/wiki/Chico,_California "Chico, California")
. He served in the
[California Senate](/wiki/California_Senate "California Senate")
and then in the
[U.S. House of Representatives](/wiki/U.S._House_of_Representatives "U.S. House of Representatives")
.

## Early life

[
[edit](/w/index.php?title=John_Bidwell&action=edit&section=1 "Edit section: Early life")

]

Bidwell was born in 1819 in
[Chautauqua County, New York](/wiki/Chautauqua_County,_New_York "Chautauqua County, New York")
. His Bidwell ancestors immigrated to North America in the colonial era.
[[
2
]](#cite_note-2)
His family moved to
[Erie, Pennsylvania](/wiki/Erie,_Pennsylvania "Erie, Pennsylvania")
, in 1829, and then to
[Ashtabula County, Ohio](/wiki/Ashtabula_County,_Ohio "Ashtabula County, Ohio")
, in 1831.
[[
3
]](#cite_note-spartacus-3)
At age 17, he attended and shortly thereafter became principal of
[Kingsville Academy](/wiki/Kingsville_Academy "Kingsville Academy")
.
[[
4
]](#cite_note-4)

## Life in California

[
[edit](/w/index.php?title=John_Bidwell&action=edit&section=2 "Edit section: Life in California")

]


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title: John Bidwell - Wikipedia
content:
[![](//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/09/John_Bidwell_1840.jpg/250px-John_Bidwell_1840.jpg)](/wiki/File:John_Bidwell_1840.jpg)


Bidwell in 1850

In 1841, at the age of 22, Bidwell became one of the first emigrants on the California Trail.
[[
5
]](#cite_note-5)
[John Sutter](/wiki/John_Sutter "John Sutter")
employed Bidwell as his business manager shortly after the younger man reached California. In October 1844, Bidwell went with Sutter to Monterey, where the two learned of an insurrection by leader
[José Castro](/wiki/Jos%C3%A9_Castro "José Castro")
and ex-governor
[Juan Bautista Alvarado](/wiki/Juan_Bautista_Alvarado "Juan Bautista Alvarado")
.
[[
6
]](#cite_note-boyle-6)
In 1845, Bidwell and Sutter joined Governor
[Manuel Micheltorena](/wiki/Manuel_Micheltorena "Manuel Micheltorena")
and a group of Americans and Indians to fight the insurrectionists, pursuing them to
[Cahuenga](/wiki/Cahuenga_Pass "Cahuenga Pass")
.
[[
6
]](#cite_note-boyle-6)
Micheltorena, Sutter, and Bidwell were imprisoned, and the latter two were shortly thereafter released.
[[
6
]](#cite_note-boyle-6)


path: web_results/wiki_John_Bidwell.html
title: John Bidwell - Wikipedia
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Upon release, Bidwell headed north through
[Placerita Canyon](/wiki/Rancho_San_Francisco#Los_Angeles_area_gold_find "Rancho San Francisco")
, saw the mining operations, and was determined to search for gold on his way to
[Sutter's Fort](/wiki/Sutter%27s_Fort "Sutter's Fort")
, where he met
[James W. Marshall](/wiki/James_W._Marshall "James W. Marshall")
.
[[
7
]](#cite_note-coinage-7)
Shortly after Marshall's discovery of gold at
[Sutter's Mill](/wiki/Sutter%27s_Mill "Sutter's Mill")
, Bidwell also discovered gold on the
[Feather River](/wiki/Feather_River "Feather River")
, establishing a productive claim at Bidwell Bar in advance of the
[California Gold Rush](/wiki/California_Gold_Rush "California Gold Rush")
. Bidwell obtained the four square-league
[Rancho Los Ulpinos](/wiki/Rancho_Los_Ulpinos "Rancho Los Ulpinos")
land grant after being naturalized as a Mexican citizen in 1844, and the two square-league
[Rancho Colus](/wiki/Rancho_Colus "Rancho Colus")
grant on the
[Sacramento River](/wiki/Sacramento_River "Sacramento River")
in 1845. He later sold the latter grant and bought
[Rancho Arroyo Chico](/wiki/Rancho_Arroyo_Chico "Rancho Arroyo Chico")
on Chico Creek to establish a ranch and farm.

### Mexican-American War and military service

[
[edit](/w/index.php?title=John_Bidwell&action=edit&section=3 "Edit section: Mexican-American War and military service")

]


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[![](//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0d/Fort_Bidwell_1877.jpg/330px-Fort_Bidwell_1877.jpg)](/wiki/File:Fort_Bidwell_1877.jpg)


[Fort Bidwell](/wiki/Fort_Bidwell "Fort Bidwell")
in 1877


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title: John Bidwell - Wikipedia
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Soon after the outbreak of the
[Mexican–American War](/wiki/Mexican%E2%80%93American_War "Mexican–American War")
, Bidwell met with the leaders of the
[Bear Flag Revolt](/wiki/Bear_Flag_Revolt "Bear Flag Revolt")
and drafted their constitution.
[[
6
]](#cite_note-boyle-6)
He later attained the rank of major while fighting at
[Fort Stockton](/wiki/Fort_Stockton_(San_Diego,_California) "Fort Stockton (San Diego, California)")
. In August 1846, he was appointed
[Alcalde](/wiki/Alcalde "Alcalde")
of
[Mission San Luis Rey](/wiki/Mission_San_Luis_Rey "Mission San Luis Rey")
by
[John C. Frémont](/wiki/John_C._Fr%C3%A9mont "John C. Frémont")
, where he served until the end of the war.
[[
8
]](#cite_note-8)
He was appointed brigadier general of the
[California Militia](/wiki/California_Militia "California Militia")
in 1863.
[[
3
]](#cite_note-spartacus-3)
From 1863 to 1864, Bidwell and other local financiers built the
[Humboldt Wagon Road](/wiki/Humboldt_Wagon_Road "Humboldt Wagon Road")
connecting Chico to the mining districts of Nevada.
[[
9
]](#cite_note-Leicester-9)
Around this time, in 1865, General Bidwell backed a petition from settlers at
[Red Bluff, California](/wiki/Red_Bluff,_California "Red Bluff, California")
to protect Red Bluff's trail to the
[Owyhee Mines](/wiki/Owyhee_River#History "Owyhee River")
of
[Idaho](/wiki/Idaho "Idaho")
. The
[United States Army](/wiki/United_States_Army "United States Army")
commissioned seven forts for this purpose.


path: web_results/wiki_John_Bidwell.html
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One site was near
[Fandango Pass](/wiki/Fandango_Pass "Fandango Pass")
at the base of the
[Warner Mountains](/wiki/Warner_Mountains "Warner Mountains")
, in the north end of
[Surprise Valley](/wiki/Surprise_Valley,_Modoc_County "Surprise Valley, Modoc County")
. On June 10, 1865, a fort (eventually named
[Fort Bidwell](/wiki/Fort_Bidwell "Fort Bidwell")
) was ordered to be built there.
[[
10
]](#cite_note-Pease-10)
[[
11
]](#cite_note-War_of_the_Rebellion-11)
The fort was built amid escalating fighting with the
[Snake Indians](/wiki/Snake_Indians "Snake Indians")
of eastern Oregon and southern Idaho.
[[
12
]](#cite_note-CGN-12)
It was a base for U.S. Army operations in the
[Snake War](/wiki/Snake_War "Snake War")
, that lasted until 1868, and the later
[Modoc War](/wiki/Modoc_War "Modoc War")
. Although traffic dwindled on the Red Bluff route once the
[Central Pacific Railroad](/wiki/Central_Pacific_Railroad "Central Pacific Railroad")
extended into Nevada in 1868, the Army staffed Fort Bidwell until 1890 to quell various uprisings and disturbances.
[[
10
]](#cite_note-Pease-10)
A
[Paiute](/wiki/Northern_Paiute "Northern Paiute")
reservation and small community maintain the name Fort Bidwell.. ### Belle ship disaster

[
[edit](/w/index.php?title=John_Bidwell&action=edit&section=4 "Edit section: Belle ship disaster")

]


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title: John Bidwell - Wikipedia
content:
On February 5, 1856, Bidwell was one of several passengers traveling down the
[Sacramento River](/wiki/Sacramento_River "Sacramento River")
on the steamboat
*Belle*
when the ship's boiler exploded, killing several people instantly.
[[
13
]](#cite_note-13)
Bidwell was sitting by the stove reading a newspaper when the explosion sent a piece of shrapnel the size of a
[quarter](/wiki/Quarter_(United_States_coin) "Quarter (United States coin)")
directly into his skull. Bidwell survived, but spent the rest of his life with a visible hole in his head.
[[
14
]](#cite_note-14)

## Political career

[
[edit](/w/index.php?title=John_Bidwell&action=edit&section=5 "Edit section: Political career")

]


path: web_results/wiki_John_Bidwell.html
title: John Bidwell - Wikipedia
content:
Bidwell was selected as a delegate to the
[1849 California Constitutional Convention](/wiki/1849_California_Constitutional_Convention "1849 California Constitutional Convention")
, but did not attend because of mining business. Later that year, he was elected to the
[California State Senate](/wiki/California_State_Senate "California State Senate")
, serving a single one-year term.
[[
15
]](#cite_note-15)
He ran for State Senate again in 1855, but lost to incumbent
[Know Nothing](/wiki/Know_Nothing "Know Nothing")
John B. McGee by just 187 votes.
[[
16
]](#cite_note-16)
He supervised conducting the federal census of California in
[1850](/wiki/1850_United_States_census "1850 United States census")
and
[1860](/wiki/1860_United_States_census "1860 United States census")
, under national direction by
[Joseph C. G. Kennedy](/wiki/Joseph_C._G._Kennedy "Joseph C. G. Kennedy")
. Bidwell was a delegate to the
[1860 Democratic National Convention](/wiki/1860_Democratic_National_Conventions#Charleston_convention "1860 Democratic National Conventions")
in
[Charleston](/wiki/Charleston,_South_Carolina "Charleston, South Carolina")
.


path: web_results/wiki_John_Bidwell.html
title: John Bidwell - Wikipedia
content:
He was the only
[West Coast](/wiki/West_Coast_of_the_United_States "West Coast of the United States")
delegate opposed to secession.
[[
17
]](#cite_note-prince-17)
He left the party soon after the outbreak of the
[Civil War](/wiki/American_Civil_War "American Civil War")
, and in 1864 was a delegate to the
[National Union National Convention](/wiki/1864_National_Union_National_Convention "1864 National Union National Convention")
.. ### Congress

[
[edit](/w/index.php?title=John_Bidwell&action=edit&section=6 "Edit section: Congress")

]

That year, he was also
[elected](/wiki/1864_United_States_House_of_Representatives_elections_in_California "1864 United States House of Representatives elections in California")
to the
[House of Representatives](/wiki/U.S._House_of_Representatives "U.S. House of Representatives")
as a
[Republican](/wiki/Republican_Party_(United_States) "Republican Party (United States)")
, serving from 1865 to 1867.


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title: John Bidwell - Wikipedia
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Rather than seek re-election, he chose to run for
[Governor of California](/wiki/Governor_of_California "Governor of California")
in
[1867](/wiki/1867_California_gubernatorial_election "1867 California gubernatorial election")
,
[[
17
]](#cite_note-prince-17)
but due to his anti-
[monopoly](/wiki/Monopoly "Monopoly")
stance lost the
[Union Party](/wiki/National_Union_Party_(United_States) "National Union Party (United States)")
nomination to railroad lobbyist
[[
18
]](#cite_note-18)
[George Congdon Gorham](/wiki/George_Congdon_Gorham "George Congdon Gorham")
by a vote of 167 to 132.
[[
19
]](#cite_note-19)

[![](//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7a/The_New_Elaine.jpg/330px-The_New_Elaine.jpg)](/wiki/File:The_New_Elaine.jpg)


An early political caricature poster mocking
[California Republicans](/wiki/California_Republican_Party "California Republican Party")
' support of a
[local option](/wiki/Local_option "Local option")
for alcohol,
c.
1870s

### Later campaigns

[
[edit](/w/index.php?title=John_Bidwell&action=edit&section=7 "Edit section: Later campaigns")

]


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title: John Bidwell - Wikipedia
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In
[1875](/wiki/1875_California_gubernatorial_election "1875 California gubernatorial election")
, Bidwell ran for
[Governor of California](/wiki/Governor_of_California "Governor of California")
on the
[Anti-Monopoly Party](/wiki/Anti-Monopoly_Party "Anti-Monopoly Party")
ticket.
[[
3
]](#cite_note-spartacus-3)
As a strong advocate of the
[temperance movement](/wiki/Temperance_movement "Temperance movement")
, he presided over the state convention of the
[Prohibition Party](/wiki/United_States_Prohibition_Party "United States Prohibition Party")
in 1888 and was their nominee for governor in
[1890](/wiki/1890_California_gubernatorial_election "1890 California gubernatorial election")
.
[[
3
]](#cite_note-spartacus-3)
In the
[1892 presidential election](/wiki/1892_United_States_presidential_election "1892 United States presidential election")
, Bidwell was the nominee of the Prohibition Party.
[[
3
]](#cite_note-spartacus-3)
The ticket of Bidwell and
[James B. Cranfill](/wiki/James_B._Cranfill "James B. Cranfill")
of
[Texas](/wiki/Texas "Texas")
finished fourth nationwide, receiving 271,058 votes, or 2.3%. It was the largest total vote and highest percentage of the vote received by any Prohibition Party national ticket. Their strongest result was in
[Minnesota](/wiki/1892_United_States_presidential_election_in_Minnesota "1892 United States presidential election in Minnesota")
, where they received over five percent of the vote.

### Death


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title: John Bidwell - Wikipedia
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[
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John Bidwell's autobiography,
*Echoes of the Past*
, was published in 1900. That same year, on April 4, Bidwell died of natural causes at the age of 80.

## Personal life

[
[edit](/w/index.php?title=John_Bidwell&action=edit&section=9 "Edit section: Personal life")

]

[![](assets/330px-General_John_Bidwell_and_wife_Annie_E._K._Bidwell.jpg)](/wiki/File:General_John_Bidwell_and_wife_Annie_E._K._Bidwell.jpg)


Annie and John Bidwell, 1895

In 1868 Bidwell was about 49 when he married
[Annie Kennedy](/wiki/Annie_Bidwell "Annie Bidwell")
, whom he had courted for years. She was 20 years younger and a daughter of
[Joseph C. G. Kennedy](/wiki/Joseph_C._G._Kennedy "Joseph C. G. Kennedy")
. Her father was socially prominent, a high-ranking
[Washington](/wiki/Washington,_D.C. "Washington, D.C.")
official who supervised the
[U.S. Census Bureau](/wiki/U.S._Census_Bureau "U.S. Census Bureau")
. Bidwell had met him while working on the California census. The senior Kennedy was active in the
[U.S. Whig party](/wiki/Whig_Party_(United_States) "Whig Party (United States)")
. Annie Kennedy was deeply religious, joining the Presbyterian Church, and committed to a number of moral and social causes. She was very active in the
[suffrage](/wiki/Suffrage "Suffrage")
and
[prohibition](/wiki/Prohibition "Prohibition")
movements.
[[
3
]](#cite_note-spartacus-3)


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content:
The couple married April 16, 1868, in Washington, D.C., with
[President](/wiki/President_of_the_United_States "President of the United States")
[Andrew Johnson](/wiki/Andrew_Johnson "Andrew Johnson")
and future president
[Ulysses S. Grant](/wiki/Ulysses_S._Grant "Ulysses S. Grant")
among the guests. After he returned with her to Chico, the Bidwells used their mansion extensively for entertainment of friends and official guests. Among them were President
[Rutherford B. Hayes](/wiki/Rutherford_B._Hayes "Rutherford B. Hayes")
, General
[William T. Sherman](/wiki/William_Tecumseh_Sherman "William Tecumseh Sherman")
,
[Susan B. Anthony](/wiki/Susan_B._Anthony "Susan B. Anthony")
,
[Frances Willard](/wiki/Frances_Willard_(suffragist) "Frances Willard (suffragist)")
, Governor
[Leland Stanford](/wiki/Leland_Stanford "Leland Stanford")
,
[John Muir](/wiki/John_Muir "John Muir")
,
[Joseph Dalton Hooker](/wiki/Joseph_Dalton_Hooker "Joseph Dalton Hooker")
, and
[Asa Gray](/wiki/Asa_Gray "Asa Gray")
.

## Legacy

[
[edit](/w/index.php?title=John_Bidwell&action=edit&section=10 "Edit section: Legacy")

]

The Bidwell Family Papers are held at the
[Bancroft Library](/wiki/Bancroft_Library "Bancroft Library")
.


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The actor Howard Negley (1898–1983) played Bidwell in the 1953 episode, "The Lady with the Blue Silk Umbrella" on the
[syndicated](/wiki/Television_syndication "Television syndication")
television anthology series,
*[Death Valley Days](/wiki/Death_Valley_Days "Death Valley Days")
,*
hosted by
[Stanley Andrews](/wiki/Stanley_Andrews "Stanley Andrews")
. In the story line, Helen Crosby (
[Kathleen Case](/wiki/Kathleen_Case "Kathleen Case")
) carries official California statehood papers in her umbrella to shield them from ruffians who want to destroy the documents.
[Rick Vallin](/wiki/Rick_Vallin "Rick Vallin")
played Lieutenant Bob Hastings.
[[
20
]](#cite_note-20)

## Fraternal allegiance

[
[edit](/w/index.php?title=John_Bidwell&action=edit&section=11 "Edit section: Fraternal allegiance")

]

Bidwell was a
[Freemason](/wiki/Freemasonry "Freemasonry")
for a time but left the group. He said that allegiance to the fraternity "was pointless" in an October 17, 1867, letter to
[Annie Kennedy](/wiki/Annie_Bidwell "Annie Bidwell")
, whom he had been courting. His signature appears in the Book of By-Laws of the Chico-Leland Stanford Lodge No. 111 in Chico, California.
[[
21
]](#cite_note-21)

## Gallery

[
[edit](/w/index.php?title=John_Bidwell&action=edit&section=12 "Edit section: Gallery")

]

* [![Bidwell in 1866](//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/67/John_Bidwell_1866.jpg/120px-John_Bidwell_1866.jpg)](/wiki/File:John_Bidwell_1866.jpg "Bidwell in 1866")


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Bidwell in 1866
* [![Bidwell c. 1875](//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5d/John_Bidwell_circa_1875.jpg/120px-John_Bidwell_circa_1875.jpg)](/wiki/File:John_Bidwell_circa_1875.jpg "Bidwell c. 1875")

 Bidwell
 c.
 1875
* [![Bidwell c. 1880](//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c4/John_Bidwell_circa_1880.jpg/120px-John_Bidwell_circa_1880.jpg)](/wiki/File:John_Bidwell_circa_1880.jpg "Bidwell c. 1880")

 Bidwell
 c.
 1880
* [![Bidwell c. 1890](//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/30/John_Bidwell_circa_1890.jpg/120px-John_Bidwell_circa_1890.jpg)](/wiki/File:John_Bidwell_circa_1890.jpg "Bidwell c. 1890")

 Bidwell
 c.
 1890
* [![Seal of Chico, California](//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0d/Seal_of_Chico%2C_California.png/120px-Seal_of_Chico%2C_California.png)](/wiki/File:Seal_of_Chico,_California.png "Seal of Chico, California")

 Seal of Chico, California
* [!["Now you have done it!"](//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d2/Now_you_have_done_it%21_Wasp_Caricature_of_McDonald%2C_Bidwell%2C_Pixley%2C_Boruck_and_Waterman%2C_1890.jpg/120px-Now_you_have_done_it%21_Wasp_Caricature_of_McDonald%2C_Bidwell%2C_Pixley%2C_Boruck_and_Waterman%2C_1890.jpg)](/wiki/File:Now_you_have_done_it!_Wasp_Caricature_of_McDonald,_Bidwell,_Pixley,_Boruck_and_Waterman,_1890.jpg "\"Now you have done it!\"")


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title: John Bidwell - Wikipedia
content:
"Now you have done it!"
* [!["The Barrier of Land Monopoly"](//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d1/The_Barrier_of_Land_Monopoly%2C_Wasp_Caricature_of_California_Landowners%2C_1892.jpg/120px-The_Barrier_of_Land_Monopoly%2C_Wasp_Caricature_of_California_Landowners%2C_1892.jpg)](/wiki/File:The_Barrier_of_Land_Monopoly,_Wasp_Caricature_of_California_Landowners,_1892.jpg "\"The Barrier of Land Monopoly\"")

 "The Barrier of Land Monopoly"

## Electoral history

[
[edit](/w/index.php?title=John_Bidwell&action=edit&section=13 "Edit section: Electoral history")

]

[1864 United States House of Representatives elections in California](/wiki/1864_United_States_House_of_Representatives_elections_in_California "1864 United States House of Representatives elections in California")
, District 3

| Party | | Candidate | Votes | % |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| | **[Republican](/wiki/Republican_Party_(US) "Republican Party (US)")** | **John Bidwell** | **18,255** | **56.1** |
| | [Democratic](/wiki/Democratic_Party_(US) "Democratic Party (US)") | Jack Temple | 14,273 | 43.9 |
| **Total votes** | | | **32,528** | **100.0** |
| | [Republican](/wiki/Republican_Party_(US) "Republican Party (US)") **hold** | | | |

## See also

[
[edit](/w/index.php?title=John_Bidwell&action=edit&section=14 "Edit section: See also")

]


path: web_results/wiki_John_Bidwell.html
title: John Bidwell - Wikipedia
content:
* [Bartleson–Bidwell Party](/wiki/Bartleson%E2%80%93Bidwell_Party "Bartleson–Bidwell Party")
* [California Republic](/wiki/Bear_Flag_Revolt "Bear Flag Revolt")
* [Bidwell Mansion State Historic Park](/wiki/Bidwell_Mansion_State_Historic_Park "Bidwell Mansion State Historic Park")
* [California Trail](/wiki/California_Trail "California Trail")
* [Michael Gillis](/wiki/Michael_Gillis "Michael Gillis")
* [Temperance movement](/wiki/Temperance_movement "Temperance movement")
* [List of people associated with the California Gold Rush](/wiki/List_of_people_associated_with_the_California_Gold_Rush "List of people associated with the California Gold Rush")

## Citations

[
[edit](/w/index.php?title=John_Bidwell&action=edit&section=15 "Edit section: Citations")

]

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)**

 [Jimeno's and Hartnell's Indexes of Land Concessions, from 1830 to 1846](https://books.google.com/books?id=jPVAAQAAMAAJ&dq=%22Jos%C3%ADas+belden%22&pg=PA32)
2. **[^](#cite_ref-2)**


 Bidwell, Edwin M. (1884).
 ["Genealogy to the Seventh Generation of the Bidwell Family in America"](https://books.google.com/books?id=y202AAAAMAAJ&pg=PA17)
 .
3. ^
 [***a***](#cite_ref-spartacus_3-0)
 [***b***](#cite_ref-spartacus_3-1)
 [***c***](#cite_ref-spartacus_3-2)
 [***d***](#cite_ref-spartacus_3-3)
 [***e***](#cite_ref-spartacus_3-4)
 [***f***](#cite_ref-spartacus_3-5)


path: web_results/wiki_John_Bidwell.html
title: John Bidwell - Wikipedia
content:
["John Bidwell-Biography"](https://web.archive.org/web/20070101084424/http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/WWbidwell.htm)
 . Spartacus Education. 2006. Archived from the original on January 1, 2007
 . Retrieved
 December 11,
 2006
 .
4. **[^](#cite_ref-4)**



 ["Guide to the John Bidwell Papers"](https://web.archive.org/web/20201205024133/http://content.cdlib.org/view?docId=tf958006gq&doc.view=entire_text)
 .
 *content.cdlib.org*
 . Archived from
 [the original](http://content.cdlib.org/view;jsessionid=M26TnTDzEgebUxcf?docId=tf958006gq&doc.view=entire_text)
 on December 5, 2020
 . Retrieved
 February 27,
 2017
 .
5. **[^](#cite_ref-5)**

 Michael J. Gillis and Michael F. Magliari,
 *John Bidwell and California: The Life and Writings of a Pioneer, 1841–1900*
 ,
 [ISBN](/wiki/ISBN_(identifier) "ISBN (identifier)")
 [0-87062-332-X](/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-87062-332-X "Special:BookSources/0-87062-332-X")
 , p. 31–
6. ^
 [***a***](#cite_ref-boyle_6-0)
 [***b***](#cite_ref-boyle_6-1)
 [***c***](#cite_ref-boyle_6-2)
 [***d***](#cite_ref-boyle_6-3)



 Boyle, C. C. (1906).
 [*Addresses, Reminiscences, Etc. of General John Bidwell*](https://books.google.com/books?id=2-wkD_Z889wC&pg=PA42)
 . p. 42.
7. **[^](#cite_ref-coinage_7-0)**



 Worden, Leon (October 2005).
 ["California's REAL First Gold"](http://www.scvhistory.com/scvhistory/signal/coins/worden-coinage1005.htm)
 .
 *COINage magazine*

 . Retrieved
 April 16,
 2007
 .
8. **[^](#cite_ref-8)**


path: web_results/wiki_John_Bidwell.html
title: John Bidwell - Wikipedia
content:
Chilcote, Olivia (2019).
 ["

 "Time Out of Mind": The San Luis Rey Band of Mission Indians and the Historical Origins of a Struggle for Federal Recognition"](https://www.jstor.org/stable/26850831)
 .
 *California History*
 .
 **96**
 (4): 41.
 [JSTOR](/wiki/JSTOR_(identifier) "JSTOR (identifier)")
 [26850831](https://www.jstor.org/stable/26850831)

 . Retrieved
 October 22,
 2024
 .
9. **[^](#cite_ref-Leicester_9-0)**



 Leicester, Marti; Nopel, David (2012).
 [*The Humboldt Wagon Road*](https://books.google.com/books?id=BEH-aJVuOx0C&q=humboldt+wagon+road)
 . Images of America. Charleston, SC: Arcadia Publishing. p. 8.
 [ISBN](/wiki/ISBN_(identifier) "ISBN (identifier)")
 [978-0-7385-7643-5](/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-7385-7643-5 "Special:BookSources/978-0-7385-7643-5")
 .
10. ^
 [***a***](#cite_ref-Pease_10-0)
 [***b***](#cite_ref-Pease_10-1)



 Pease, Robert W. (1965).
 *Modoc County; University of California Publications in Geography, Volume 17*
 . Berkeley and Los Angeles: University of California Press. pp.
 75–
 78, 97.
11. **[^](#cite_ref-War_of_the_Rebellion_11-0)**


path: web_results/wiki_John_Bidwell.html
title: John Bidwell - Wikipedia
content:
[War Department, United States](/wiki/United_States_War_Department "United States War Department")
 ; John Sheldon Moody; Calvin Duvall Cowles; Frederick Caryton Ainsworth; Robert N. Scott; Henry Martyn Lazelle; George Breckenridge Davis; Leslie J. Perry; Joseph William Kirkley (1897).
 [*The War of the Rebellion: a Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies*](https://books.google.com/books?id=Jb89AAAAYAAJ&q=%22Camp+Bidwell%22)
 . Vol. L. Washington: Government Printing Office. pp.
 593–
 594, 1125,
 1214–
 1215.
12. **[^](#cite_ref-CGN_12-0)**



 Durham, David L. (1998).
 *California's Geographic Names: A Gazetteer of Historic and Modern Names of the State*
 . Clovis, California: Word Dancer Press. p. 378.
 [ISBN](/wiki/ISBN_(identifier) "ISBN (identifier)")
 [1-884995-14-4](/wiki/Special:BookSources/1-884995-14-4 "Special:BookSources/1-884995-14-4")
 .
13. **[^](#cite_ref-13)**



 Burnett, Marie (December 2018).
 ["Belle"](https://slc.ca.gov/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Belle.pdf)

 (PDF)
 .
 *[California State Lands Commission](/wiki/California_State_Lands_Commission "California State Lands Commission")*

 . Retrieved
 October 21,
 2024
 .
14. **[^](#cite_ref-14)**



 Leek, Nancy (January 7, 2019).
 ["Like a Hole in the Head"](https://goldfieldsbooks.com/2019/01/07/like-a-hole-in-the-head/)
 .
 *Goldfields Books*

 . Retrieved
 October 21,
 2024
 .
15. **[^](#cite_ref-15)**


path: web_results/wiki_John_Bidwell.html
title: John Bidwell - Wikipedia
content:
["John Bidwell"](https://www.joincalifornia.com/candidate/7256)
 .
 *JoinCalifornia*

 . Retrieved
 October 22,
 2024
 .
16. **[^](#cite_ref-16)**



 ["Senatorial—Butte and Plumas"](https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=SDU18550926.2.14&srpos=1&e=------185-en--20--1--txt-txIN-Bidwell+McGee----1855---)
 .
 *[Sacramento Daily Union](/wiki/Sacramento_Daily_Union "Sacramento Daily Union")*
 . Sacramento. September 26, 1855
 . Retrieved
 October 22,
 2024
 .
17. ^
 [***a***](#cite_ref-prince_17-0)
 [***b***](#cite_ref-prince_17-1)



 Hunt, Rockwell (1917).
 ["John Bidwell: A Prince Among Pioneers"](https://www.jstor.org/stable/41168744)
 .
 *Annual Publication of the Historical Society of Southern California*
 .
 **10**
 (3):
 48–
 56.
 [doi](/wiki/Doi_(identifier) "Doi (identifier)")
 :
 [10.2307/41168744](https://doi.org/10.2307%2F41168744)
 .
 [JSTOR](/wiki/JSTOR_(identifier) "JSTOR (identifier)")
 [41168744](https://www.jstor.org/stable/41168744)

 . Retrieved
 October 21,
 2024
 .
18. **[^](#cite_ref-18)**



 Denning, Robert; Rogers, J. Henry (2008).
 ["A Fragile Machine: California Senator John Conness"](https://www.jstor.org/stable/40495176)
 .
 *California History*
 .
 **85**
 (4): 48.
 [doi](/wiki/Doi_(identifier) "Doi (identifier)")
 :
 [10.2307/40495176](https://doi.org/10.2307%2F40495176)
 .
 [JSTOR](/wiki/JSTOR_(identifier) "JSTOR (identifier)")
 [40495176](https://www.jstor.org/stable/40495176)

 . Retrieved
 October 21,
 2024
 .
19. **[^](#cite_ref-19)**


path: web_results/wiki_John_Bidwell.html
title: John Bidwell - Wikipedia
content:
["THE SACRAMENTO CONVENTION–NOMINATION OF GEORGE GORHAM"](https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=DAC18670613.2.19&srpos=9&e=01-06-1867-30-06-1867--en--20--1--txt-txIN-bidwell+gorham----1867---)
 .
 *[The Daily Alta California](/wiki/The_Daily_Alta_California "The Daily Alta California")*
 . San Francisco. June 13, 1867
 . Retrieved
 October 21,
 2024
 .
20. **[^](#cite_ref-20)**



 ["The Lady with the Blue Silk Umbrella on
 *Death Valley Days*
 "](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0556822/?ref_=ttep_ep4)
 .
 [Internet Movie Database](/wiki/Internet_Movie_Database "Internet Movie Database")

 . Retrieved
 July 3,
 2019
 .
21. **[^](#cite_ref-21)**

 Michael J. Gillis and Michael F. Magliari,
 *John Bidwell and California: The Life and Writings of a Pioneer, 1841–1900*
 ,
 [ISBN](/wiki/ISBN_(identifier) "ISBN (identifier)")
 [0-87062-332-X](/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-87062-332-X "Special:BookSources/0-87062-332-X")
 , p. 223–224

## External links

[
[edit](/w/index.php?title=John_Bidwell&action=edit&section=16 "Edit section: External links")

]


path: web_results/wiki_John_Bidwell.html
title: John Bidwell - Wikipedia
content:
* Bigler Family collection, 1852–1918. Collection guide, California State Library, California History Room.
* ["The First Emigrant Train to California"](https://cdl.library.cornell.edu/cgi-bin/moa/moa-cgi?notisid=ABP2287-0041-23)
 by John Bidwell
* ["Bidwell-Bartleson Trail Guide"](http://www.scienceviews.com/bidwell/bidwelltrailguide.html)
 by Roy D. Tea
* [*Autobiography and Reminiscence of John Bidwell, San Francisco, 1904*](https://archive.today/20121212110034/http://www.calisphere.universityofcalifornia.edu/ark:/13030/kt1t1nc4sz/)
 [Transcription]. The Society of California Pioneers, via Calisphere.
* [Guide to the Bidwell Family Papers](http://www.oac.cdlib.org/view?docId=tf5x0nb1gz;query=;style=oac4;view=admin)
 at
 [The Bancroft Library](/wiki/The_Bancroft_Library "The Bancroft Library")

* United States Congress.
 ["John Bidwell (id: B000447)"](http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=B000447)
 .
 *[Biographical Directory of the United States Congress](/wiki/Biographical_Directory_of_the_United_States_Congress "Biographical Directory of the United States Congress")*
 .


path: web_results/wiki_John_Bidwell.html
title: John Bidwell - Wikipedia
content:
| [California Senate](/wiki/California_State_Senate "California State Senate") | | |
| --- | --- | --- |
| **New constituency** | **Member of the [California Senate](/wiki/California_State_Senate "California State Senate") from the [Sacramento](/wiki/Sacramento,_California "Sacramento, California") district** 1849–1851 | Succeeded by [Alonzo W. Adams](/wiki/Alonzo_W._Adams "Alonzo W. Adams") |
| [U.S. House of Representatives](/wiki/United_States_House_of_Representatives "United States House of Representatives") | | |
| **New constituency** | **Member of the [U.S. House of Representatives](/wiki/List_of_United_States_representatives_from_California "List of United States representatives from California") from [California's 3rd congressional district](/wiki/California%27s_3rd_congressional_district "California's 3rd congressional district")** 1865–1867 | Succeeded by [James Johnson](/wiki/James_A._Johnson_(California_politician) "James A. Johnson (California politician)") |
| Preceded by [Brutus J. Clay](/wiki/Brutus_J._Clay "Brutus J. Clay") | **Chair of the [House Agriculture Committee](/wiki/United_States_House_Committee_on_Agriculture "United States House Committee on Agriculture")** 1865–1867 | Succeeded by [Rowland E. Trowbridge](/wiki/Rowland_E._Trowbridge "Rowland E. Trowbridge") |
| Party political offices | | |
| Preceded by [Clinton B. Fisk](/wiki/Clinton_B._Fisk "Clinton B.


path: web_results/wiki_John_Bidwell.html
title: John Bidwell - Wikipedia
content:
Fisk") | **[Prohibition](/wiki/Prohibition_Party "Prohibition Party") nominee for [President of the United States](/wiki/President_of_the_United_States "President of the United States")** [1892](/wiki/1892_United_States_presidential_election "1892 United States presidential election") | Succeeded by [Charles Bentley](/wiki/Charles_Eugene_Bentley "Charles Eugene Bentley") [Joshua Levering](/wiki/Joshua_Levering "Joshua Levering") |.


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| * [v](/wiki/Template:US_House_Agriculture_chairs "Template:US House Agriculture chairs") * [t](/wiki/Template_talk:US_House_Agriculture_chairs "Template talk:US House Agriculture chairs") * [e](/wiki/Special:EditPage/Template:US_House_Agriculture_chairs "Special:EditPage/Template:US House Agriculture chairs") [Chairmen of the United States House Committee on Agriculture](/wiki/United_States_House_Committee_on_Agriculture "United States House Committee on Agriculture") | | |
| --- | --- | --- |
| * [Forrest](/wiki/Thomas_Forrest_(politician) "Thomas Forrest (politician)") * [Butler](/wiki/Josiah_Butler "Josiah Butler") * [Van Rensselaer](/wiki/Stephen_Van_Rensselaer "Stephen Van Rensselaer") * [Spencer](/wiki/Ambrose_Spencer "Ambrose Spencer") * [Root](/wiki/Erastus_Root "Erastus Root") * [Bockee](/wiki/Abraham_Bockee "Abraham Bockee") * [Deberry](/wiki/Edmund_Deberry "Edmund Deberry") * [Anderson](/wiki/Joseph_H._Anderson "Joseph H. Anderson") * [White](/wiki/Hugh_White_(New_York_politician) "Hugh White (New York politician)") * [Littlefield](/wiki/Nathaniel_Littlefield "Nathaniel Littlefield") * [Floyd](/wiki/John_G._Floyd "John G. Floyd") * [Dawson](/wiki/John_Littleton_Dawson "John Littleton Dawson") * [Holloway](/wiki/David_P._Holloway "David P. Holloway") * [Whiteley](/wiki/William_G._Whiteley "William G. Whiteley") * [Butterfield](/wiki/Martin_Butterfield "Martin Butterfield") * [Lovejoy](/wiki/Owen_Lovejoy "Owen Lovejoy") * [Clay](/wiki/Brutus_J._Clay "Brutus J.


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Clay") * Bidwell * [Trowbridge](/wiki/Rowland_E._Trowbridge "Rowland E. Trowbridge") * [Wilson](/wiki/John_Thomas_Wilson "John Thomas Wilson") * [Hays](/wiki/Charles_Hays "Charles Hays") * [Caldwell](/wiki/John_Henry_Caldwell "John Henry Caldwell") * [Cutler](/wiki/Augustus_W._Cutler "Augustus W. Cutler") * [Covert](/wiki/James_W._Covert "James W. Covert") * [Valentine](/wiki/Edward_K._Valentine "Edward K. Valentine") * [Hatch](/wiki/William_H._Hatch "William H. Hatch") * [Funston](/wiki/Edward_H._Funston "Edward H. Funston") * [Hatch](/wiki/William_H._Hatch "William H. Hatch") * [Wadsworth](/wiki/James_W._Wadsworth "James W. Wadsworth") * [Scott](/wiki/Charles_Frederick_Scott "Charles Frederick Scott") * [Lamb](/wiki/John_Lamb_(congressman) "John Lamb (congressman)") * [Lever](/wiki/Asbury_Francis_Lever "Asbury Francis Lever") * [Haugen](/wiki/Gilbert_N._Haugen "Gilbert N. Haugen") * [Jones](/wiki/John_Marvin_Jones "John Marvin Jones") * [Fulmer](/wiki/Hampton_P._Fulmer "Hampton P. Fulmer") * [Flannagan](/wiki/John_W._Flannagan_Jr. "John W. Flannagan Jr.") * [Hope](/wiki/Clifford_R._Hope "Clifford R. Hope") * [Cooley](/wiki/Harold_D._Cooley "Harold D. Cooley") * [Hope](/wiki/Clifford_R._Hope "Clifford R. Hope") * [Cooley](/wiki/Harold_D._Cooley "Harold D. Cooley") * [Poage](/wiki/William_R._Poage "William R.


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Poage") * [Foley](/wiki/Tom_Foley "Tom Foley") * [de la Garza](/wiki/Kika_de_la_Garza "Kika de la Garza") * [Roberts](/wiki/Pat_Roberts "Pat Roberts") * [Smith](/wiki/Bob_Smith_(Oregon_politician) "Bob Smith (Oregon politician)") * [Combest](/wiki/Larry_Combest "Larry Combest") * [Goodlatte](/wiki/Bob_Goodlatte "Bob Goodlatte") * [Peterson](/wiki/Collin_Peterson "Collin Peterson") * [Lucas](/wiki/Frank_Lucas_(Oklahoma_politician) "Frank Lucas (Oklahoma politician)") * [Conaway](/wiki/Mike_Conaway "Mike Conaway") * [Peterson](/wiki/Collin_Peterson "Collin Peterson") * [Scott](/wiki/David_Scott_(Georgia_politician) "David Scott (Georgia politician)") * [Thompson](/wiki/Glenn_Thompson_(politician) "Glenn Thompson (politician)") | | [Seal of the United States House of Representatives](/wiki/File:Seal_of_the_United_States_House_of_Representatives.svg "Seal of the United States House of Representatives") |.


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| * [v](/wiki/Template:Prohibition_Party "Template:Prohibition Party") * [t](/wiki/Template_talk:Prohibition_Party "Template talk:Prohibition Party") * [e](/wiki/Special:EditPage/Template:Prohibition_Party "Special:EditPage/Template:Prohibition Party") [Prohibition Party](/wiki/Prohibition_Party "Prohibition Party") | |
| --- | --- |
| Chairpersons | * 1869–1872: [John Russell](/wiki/John_Russell_(prohibitionist) "John Russell (prohibitionist)") * 1872–1876: [Simeon B. Chase](/wiki/Simeon_B._Chase "Simeon B. Chase") * 1876–1880: [James Black](/wiki/James_Black_(prohibitionist) "James Black (prohibitionist)") * 1880–1884: [Gideon T. Stewart](/wiki/Gideon_T._Stewart "Gideon T. Stewart") * 1884–1887: [John B. Finch](/wiki/John_B._Finch "John B. Finch") * 1887–1899: [Samuel Dickie](/wiki/Samuel_Dickie "Samuel Dickie") * 1900–1905: [Oliver W. Stewart](/wiki/Oliver_W._Stewart "Oliver W. Stewart") * 1905–1908: Charles R. Jones * 1908–1924: Virgil G. Hinshaw * 1924–1925: B.E.P. Prugh * 1925–1932: [D. Leigh Colvin](/wiki/D._Leigh_Colvin "D. Leigh Colvin") * 1932–1947: Edward E. Blake * 1947–1950: Virgil C. Finnell * 1950–1953: Gerald Overholt * 1953–1955: Lowell H. Coate * 1955–1971: [E. Harold Munn](/wiki/E._Harold_Munn "E.


path: web_results/wiki_John_Bidwell.html
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Harold Munn") * 1971–1979: Charles Wesley Ewing * 1979–2003: [Earl Dodge](/wiki/Earl_Dodge "Earl Dodge") * 2003–2005: Don Webb * 2005–2009: [Gene Amondson](/wiki/Gene_Amondson "Gene Amondson") * 2009–2013: Toby Davis * 2013–2014: Gregory Seltzer * 2014–2019: Rick Knox * 2019–2020: Randy McNutt * 2020–2023: Phil Collins * 2023–Present: Zack Kusnir |
| Presidential tickets | * [1872](/wiki/1872_United_States_presidential_election "1872 United States presidential election") : [Black](/wiki/James_Black_(prohibitionist) "James Black (prohibitionist)") / [Russell](/wiki/John_Russell_(prohibitionist) "John Russell (prohibitionist)") * [1876](/wiki/1876_United_States_presidential_election "1876 United States presidential election") : [Smith](/wiki/Green_Clay_Smith "Green Clay Smith") / [Stewart](/wiki/Gideon_T._Stewart "Gideon T. Stewart") * [1880](/wiki/1880_United_States_presidential_election "1880 United States presidential election") : [Dow](/wiki/Neal_Dow "Neal Dow") / [Thompson](/wiki/Henry_Adams_Thompson "Henry Adams Thompson") * [1884](/wiki/1884_United_States_presidential_election "1884 United States presidential election") [St. John](/wiki/John_St._John_(American_politician) "John St. John (American politician)") / [Daniel](/wiki/William_Daniel_(Maryland_politician) "William Daniel (Maryland politician)") * [1888](/wiki/1888_United_States_presidential_election "1888 United States presidential election") : [Fisk](/wiki/Clinton_B._Fisk "Clinton B.


path: web_results/wiki_John_Bidwell.html
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Fisk") / [Brooks](/wiki/John_A._Brooks "John A. Brooks") * [1892](/wiki/1892_United_States_presidential_election "1892 United States presidential election") : Bidwell / [Cranfill](/wiki/James_B._Cranfill "James B. Cranfill") * [1896](/wiki/1896_United_States_presidential_election "1896 United States presidential election") : [Levering](/wiki/Joshua_Levering "Joshua Levering") / [Johnson](/wiki/Hale_Johnson "Hale Johnson") - [Bentley](/wiki/Charles_E._Bentley_(politician) "Charles E. Bentley (politician)") / [Southgate](/wiki/James_H._Southgate "James H. Southgate") * [1900](/wiki/1900_United_States_presidential_election "1900 United States presidential election") : [Woolley](/wiki/John_G._Woolley "John G. Woolley") / [Metcalf](/wiki/Henry_B._Metcalf "Henry B. Metcalf") * [1904](/wiki/1904_United_States_presidential_election "1904 United States presidential election") : [Swallow](/wiki/Silas_C._Swallow "Silas C. Swallow") / [Carroll](/wiki/George_Washington_Carroll "George Washington Carroll") * [1908](/wiki/1908_United_States_presidential_election "1908 United States presidential election") / [1912](/wiki/1912_United_States_presidential_election "1912 United States presidential election") : [Chafin](/wiki/Eugene_W._Chafin "Eugene W. Chafin") / [A. Watkins](/wiki/Aaron_S._Watkins "Aaron S.


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title: John Bidwell - Wikipedia
content:
Watkins") * [1916](/wiki/1916_United_States_presidential_election "1916 United States presidential election") : [Hanley](/wiki/Frank_Hanly "Frank Hanly") / [Landrith](/wiki/Ira_Landrith "Ira Landrith") * [1920](/wiki/1920_United_States_presidential_election "1920 United States presidential election") : [A. Watkins](/wiki/Aaron_S._Watkins "Aaron S. Watkins") / [Colvin](/wiki/D._Leigh_Colvin "D. Leigh Colvin") * [1924](/wiki/1924_United_States_presidential_election "1924 United States presidential election") : [Faris](/wiki/Herman_P._Faris "Herman P. Faris") / [Brehm](/wiki/Marie_C._Brehm "Marie C. Brehm") * [1928](/wiki/1928_United_States_presidential_election "1928 United States presidential election") : [Varney](/wiki/William_F._Varney "William F. Varney") / [Edgerton](/wiki/James_A._Edgerton "James A. Edgerton") * [1932](/wiki/1932_United_States_presidential_election "1932 United States presidential election") : [Upshaw](/wiki/William_David_Upshaw "William David Upshaw") / [Regan](/wiki/Frank_S._Regan "Frank S. Regan") * [1936](/wiki/1936_United_States_presidential_election "1936 United States presidential election") : [Colvin](/wiki/D._Leigh_Colvin "D. Leigh Colvin") / [Watson](/wiki/Claude_A._Watson "Claude A. Watson") * [1940](/wiki/1940_United_States_presidential_election "1940 United States presidential election") : [Babson](/wiki/Roger_Babson "Roger Babson") / [Moorman](/w/index.php?title=Edgar_V._Moorman&action=edit&redlink=1 "Edgar V.


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Moorman (page does not exist)") * [1944](/wiki/1944_United_States_presidential_election "1944 United States presidential election") : [Watson](/wiki/Claude_A._Watson "Claude A. Watson") / [Johnson](/wiki/Andrew_N._Johnson "Andrew N. Johnson") * [1948](/wiki/1948_United_States_presidential_election "1948 United States presidential election") : [Watson](/wiki/Claude_A._Watson "Claude A. Watson") / [Learn](/wiki/Dale_H._Learn "Dale H. Learn") * [1952](/wiki/1952_United_States_presidential_election "1952 United States presidential election") : [Hamblen](/wiki/Stuart_Hamblen "Stuart Hamblen") / [Holtwick](/wiki/Enoch_A._Holtwick "Enoch A. Holtwick") * [1956](/wiki/1956_United_States_presidential_election "1956 United States presidential election") : [Holtwick](/wiki/Enoch_A._Holtwick "Enoch A. Holtwick") / [Cooper](/w/index.php?title=Edwin_M._Cooper&action=edit&redlink=1 "Edwin M. Cooper (page does not exist)") * [1960](/wiki/1960_United_States_presidential_election "1960 United States presidential election") : [Decker](/wiki/Rutherford_Decker "Rutherford Decker") / [Munn](/wiki/E._Harold_Munn "E. Harold Munn") * [1964](/wiki/1964_United_States_presidential_election "1964 United States presidential election") : [Munn](/wiki/E._Harold_Munn "E. Harold Munn") / [Shaw](/wiki/Mark_R._Shaw "Mark R. Shaw") * [1968](/wiki/1968_United_States_presidential_election "1968 United States presidential election") : [Munn](/wiki/E._Harold_Munn "E.


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Harold Munn") / [Fisher](/wiki/Rolland_Fisher "Rolland Fisher") * [1972](/wiki/1972_United_States_presidential_election "1972 United States presidential election") : [Munn](/wiki/E._Harold_Munn "E. Harold Munn") / [Uncapher](/w/index.php?title=Marshall_E._Uncapher&action=edit&redlink=1 "Marshall E. Uncapher (page does not exist)") * [1976](/wiki/1976_United_States_presidential_election "1976 United States presidential election") / [1980](/wiki/1980_United_States_presidential_election "1980 United States presidential election") : [Bubar](/wiki/Benjamin_Bubar_Jr. "Benjamin Bubar Jr.") / [Dodge](/wiki/Earl_Dodge "Earl Dodge") * [1984](/wiki/1984_United_States_presidential_election "1984 United States presidential election") : [Dodge](/wiki/Earl_Dodge "Earl Dodge") / Martin * [1988](/wiki/1988_United_States_presidential_election "1988 United States presidential election") / [1992](/wiki/1992_United_States_presidential_election "1992 United States presidential election") : [Dodge](/wiki/Earl_Dodge "Earl Dodge") / [Ormsby](/wiki/George_Ormsby_(politician) "George Ormsby (politician)") * [1996](/wiki/1996_United_States_presidential_election "1996 United States presidential election") : [Dodge](/wiki/Earl_Dodge "Earl Dodge") / [Bubar Kelly](/wiki/Rachel_Bubar_Kelly "Rachel Bubar Kelly") * [2000](/wiki/2000_United_States_presidential_election "2000 United States presidential election") : [Dodge](/wiki/Earl_Dodge "Earl Dodge") / [D.


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Watkins](/wiki/Dean_Watkins "Dean Watkins") * [2004](/wiki/2004_United_States_presidential_election "2004 United States presidential election") : [Amondson](/wiki/Gene_Amondson "Gene Amondson") / [Pletten](/wiki/Leroy_Pletten "Leroy Pletten") - [Dodge](/wiki/Earl_Dodge "Earl Dodge") - [Lydick](/w/index.php?title=Howard_Lydick&action=edit&redlink=1 "Howard Lydick (page does not exist)") * [2008](/wiki/2008_United_States_presidential_election "2008 United States presidential election") : [Amondson](/wiki/Gene_Amondson "Gene Amondson") / [Pletten](/wiki/Leroy_Pletten "Leroy Pletten") * [2012](/wiki/2012_United_States_presidential_election "2012 United States presidential election") : [Fellure](/wiki/Jack_Fellure "Jack Fellure") / [Davis](/w/index.php?title=Toby_Davis_(politician)&action=edit&redlink=1 "Toby Davis (politician) (page does not exist)") * [2016](/wiki/2016_United_States_presidential_election "2016 United States presidential election") : [Hedges](/wiki/James_Hedges "James Hedges") / Bayes * [2020](/wiki/2020_United_States_presidential_election "2020 United States presidential election") : [Collins](/wiki/Phil_Collins_(politician) "Phil Collins (politician)") / Parker * [2024](/wiki/2024_United_States_presidential_election "2024 United States presidential election") : [Wood](/w/index.php?title=Michael_Wood_(prohibitionist&action=edit&redlink=1 "Michael Wood (prohibitionist (page does not exist)") / Pietrowski |
| Parties by state and territory | [Law Preservation Party](/wiki/Law_Preservation_Party "Law Preservation Party") (New York) |
| National Conventions | * [1872](/wiki/1872_Prohibition_National_Convention "1872 Prohibition National Convention") * [1876](/wiki/1876_Prohibition_National_Convention "1876 Prohibition National Convention") * [1880](/wiki/1880_Prohibition_National_Convention "1880 Prohibition National Convention") * [1884](/wiki/1884_Prohibition_National_Convention "1884 Prohibition National Convention") |
| Related topics | [Prohibition in the United States](/wiki/Prohibition_in_the_United_States "Prohibition in the United States") - [Anti-Saloon League](/wiki/Anti-Saloon_League "Anti-Saloon League") - [Woman's Christian Temperance Union](/wiki/Woman%27s_Christian_Temperance_Union "Woman's Christian Temperance Union") - [Alcohol Justice](/wiki/Alcohol_Justice "Alcohol Justice") - [Temperance movement in the United States](/wiki/Temperance_movement_in_the_United_States "Temperance movement in the United States") |.


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| * [v](/wiki/Template:United_States_representatives_from_California_1%E2%80%9310 "Template:United States representatives from California 1–10") * [t](/wiki/Template_talk:United_States_representatives_from_California_1%E2%80%9310 "Template talk:United States representatives from California 1–10") * [e](/wiki/Special:EditPage/Template:United_States_representatives_from_California_1%E2%80%9310 "Special:EditPage/Template:United States representatives from California 1–10") [United States representatives from California's 1st through 10th districts](/wiki/List_of_United_States_representatives_from_California "List of United States representatives from California") | | |
| --- | --- | --- |
| [1st district](/wiki/California%27s_1st_congressional_district "California's 1st congressional district") | * [McRuer](/wiki/Donald_C._McRuer "Donald C. McRuer") * [Axtell](/wiki/Samuel_Beach_Axtell "Samuel Beach Axtell") * [Houghton](/wiki/Sherman_Otis_Houghton "Sherman Otis Houghton") * [Clayton](/wiki/Charles_Clayton "Charles Clayton") * [Piper](/wiki/William_Adam_Piper "William Adam Piper") * [Davis](/wiki/Horace_Davis "Horace Davis") * [Rosecrans](/wiki/William_Rosecrans "William Rosecrans") * [Henley](/wiki/Barclay_Henley "Barclay Henley") * [T. Thompson](/wiki/Thomas_Larkin_Thompson "Thomas Larkin Thompson") * [De Haven](/wiki/John_J._De_Haven "John J. De Haven") * [Geary](/wiki/Thomas_J._Geary "Thomas J.


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Geary") * [Barham](/wiki/John_All_Barham "John All Barham") * [Coombs](/wiki/Frank_Coombs_(politician) "Frank Coombs (politician)") * [Gillett](/wiki/James_Gillett "James Gillett") * [W. Englebright](/wiki/William_F._Englebright "William F. Englebright") * [Raker](/wiki/John_E._Raker "John E. Raker") * [Kent](/wiki/William_Kent_(American_politician) "William Kent (American politician)") * [Lea](/wiki/Clarence_F._Lea "Clarence F. Lea") * [Scudder](/wiki/Hubert_B._Scudder "Hubert B. Scudder") * [C. Miller](/wiki/Clem_Miller "Clem Miller") * [Clausen](/wiki/Don_Clausen "Don Clausen") * [B. Johnson](/wiki/Bizz_Johnson "Bizz Johnson") * [Chappie](/wiki/Eugene_A._Chappie "Eugene A. Chappie") * [Bosco](/wiki/Douglas_H._Bosco "Douglas H. Bosco") * [Riggs](/wiki/Frank_Riggs "Frank Riggs") * [Hamburg](/wiki/Daniel_Hamburg "Daniel Hamburg") * [Riggs](/wiki/Frank_Riggs "Frank Riggs") * [M. Thompson](/wiki/Mike_Thompson "Mike Thompson") * [LaMalfa](/wiki/Doug_LaMalfa "Doug LaMalfa") | |
| [2nd district](/wiki/California%27s_2nd_congressional_district "California's 2nd congressional district") | * [Higby](/wiki/William_Higby "William Higby") * [Sargent](/wiki/Aaron_A._Sargent "Aaron A. Sargent") * [Page](/wiki/Horace_F._Page "Horace F. Page") * [Budd](/wiki/James_Budd "James Budd") * [Louttit](/wiki/James_A._Louttit "James A. Louttit") * [Biggs](/wiki/Marion_Biggs "Marion Biggs") * [Caminetti](/wiki/Anthony_Caminetti "Anthony Caminetti") * [G. Johnson](/wiki/Grove_L._Johnson "Grove L.


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Johnson") * [De Vries](/wiki/Marion_De_Vries "Marion De Vries") * [Woods](/wiki/Samuel_D._Woods "Samuel D. Woods") * [Bell](/wiki/Theodore_Arlington_Bell "Theodore Arlington Bell") * [McKinlay](/wiki/Duncan_E._McKinlay "Duncan E. McKinlay") * [Kent](/wiki/William_Kent_(American_politician) "William Kent (American politician)") * [Raker](/wiki/John_E._Raker "John E. Raker") * [H. Englebright](/wiki/Harry_L._Englebright "Harry L. Englebright") * [Engle](/wiki/Clair_Engle "Clair Engle") * [B. Johnson](/wiki/Bizz_Johnson "Bizz Johnson") * [Clausen](/wiki/Don_Clausen "Don Clausen") * [Chappie](/wiki/Eugene_A._Chappie "Eugene A. Chappie") * [Herger](/wiki/Wally_Herger "Wally Herger") * [Huffman](/wiki/Jared_Huffman "Jared Huffman") |
| [3rd district](/wiki/California%27s_3rd_congressional_district "California's 3rd congressional district") | * Bidwell * [J. A. Johnson](/wiki/James_A._Johnson_(California_politician) "James A. Johnson (California politician)") * [Coghlan](/wiki/John_M._Coghlan "John M. Coghlan") * [Luttrell](/wiki/John_K._Luttrell "John K. Luttrell") * [Berry](/wiki/Campbell_Polson_Berry "Campbell Polson Berry") * [Henley](/wiki/Barclay_Henley "Barclay Henley") * [McKenna](/wiki/Joseph_McKenna "Joseph McKenna") * [Hilborn](/wiki/Samuel_G._Hilborn "Samuel G. Hilborn") * [English](/wiki/Warren_B._English "Warren B. English") * [Hilborn](/wiki/Samuel_G._Hilborn "Samuel G. Hilborn") * [Metcalf](/wiki/Victor_H._Metcalf "Victor H.


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Metcalf") * [Knowland](/wiki/Joseph_R._Knowland "Joseph R. Knowland") * [Curry](/wiki/Charles_F._Curry "Charles F. Curry") * [Curry Jr.](/wiki/Charles_F._Curry_Jr. "Charles F. Curry Jr.") * [Buck](/wiki/Frank_H._Buck "Frank H. Buck") * [J. L. Johnson](/wiki/J._Leroy_Johnson "J. Leroy Johnson") * [Moss](/wiki/John_E._Moss "John E. Moss") * [B. Matsui](/wiki/Bob_Matsui "Bob Matsui") * [Fazio](/wiki/Vic_Fazio "Vic Fazio") * [Ose](/wiki/Doug_Ose "Doug Ose") * [Lungren](/wiki/Dan_Lungren "Dan Lungren") * [Garamendi](/wiki/John_Garamendi "John Garamendi") * [Kiley](/wiki/Kevin_Kiley_(politician) "Kevin Kiley (politician)") |
| [4th district](/wiki/California%27s_4th_congressional_district "California's 4th congressional district") | * [Houghton](/wiki/Sherman_Otis_Houghton "Sherman Otis Houghton") * [Wigginton](/wiki/Peter_D._Wigginton "Peter D. Wigginton") * [Pacheco](/wiki/Romualdo_Pacheco "Romualdo Pacheco") * [Wigginton](/wiki/Peter_D._Wigginton "Peter D. Wigginton") * [Pacheco](/wiki/Romualdo_Pacheco "Romualdo Pacheco") * [Tully](/wiki/Pleasant_B._Tully "Pleasant B. Tully") * [Morrow](/wiki/William_W._Morrow "William W. Morrow") * [Cutting](/wiki/John_T._Cutting "John T. Cutting") * [Maguire](/wiki/James_G._Maguire "James G. Maguire") * [J. Kahn](/wiki/Julius_Kahn_(congressman) "Julius Kahn (congressman)") * [Livernash](/wiki/Edward_J._Livernash "Edward J. Livernash") * [J. Kahn](/wiki/Julius_Kahn_(congressman) "Julius Kahn (congressman)") * [F.


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Kahn](/wiki/Florence_Prag_Kahn "Florence Prag Kahn") * [Havenner](/wiki/Franck_R._Havenner "Franck R. Havenner") * [Rolph](/wiki/Thomas_Rolph "Thomas Rolph") * [Havenner](/wiki/Franck_R._Havenner "Franck R. Havenner") * [Mailliard](/wiki/William_S._Mailliard "William S. Mailliard") * [Leggett](/wiki/Robert_Leggett "Robert Leggett") * [Fazio](/wiki/Vic_Fazio "Vic Fazio") * [Doolittle](/wiki/John_Doolittle "John Doolittle") * [McClintock](/wiki/Tom_McClintock "Tom McClintock") * [M. Thompson](/wiki/Mike_Thompson "Mike Thompson") |
| [5th district](/wiki/California%27s_5th_congressional_district "California's 5th congressional district") | * [Felton](/wiki/Charles_N._Felton "Charles N. Felton") * [Clunie](/wiki/Thomas_J._Clunie "Thomas J. Clunie") * [Loud](/wiki/Eugene_F._Loud "Eugene F. Loud") * [Wynn](/wiki/William_J._Wynn "William J. Wynn") * [Hayes](/wiki/Everis_A._Hayes "Everis A. Hayes") * [J. Nolan](/wiki/John_I._Nolan "John I. Nolan") * [M. Nolan](/wiki/Mae_Nolan "Mae Nolan") * [Flaherty](/wiki/Lawrence_J._Flaherty "Lawrence J. Flaherty") * [Welch](/wiki/Richard_J._Welch "Richard J. Welch") * [Shelley](/wiki/John_F._Shelley "John F. Shelley") * [P. Burton](/wiki/Phillip_Burton "Phillip Burton") * [J. Burton](/wiki/John_Burton_(American_politician) "John Burton (American politician)") * [P. Burton](/wiki/Phillip_Burton "Phillip Burton") * [S. Burton](/wiki/Sala_Burton "Sala Burton") * [Pelosi](/wiki/Nancy_Pelosi "Nancy Pelosi") * [B.


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Matsui](/wiki/Bob_Matsui "Bob Matsui") * [D. Matsui](/wiki/Doris_Matsui "Doris Matsui") * [M. Thompson](/wiki/Mike_Thompson "Mike Thompson") * [McClintock](/wiki/Tom_McClintock "Tom McClintock") |
| [6th district](/wiki/California%27s_6th_congressional_district "California's 6th congressional district") | * [Markham](/wiki/Henry_Markham "Henry Markham") * [Vandever](/wiki/William_Vandever "William Vandever") * [Bowers](/wiki/William_W._Bowers "William W. Bowers") * [Cannon](/wiki/Marion_Cannon "Marion Cannon") * [McLachlan](/wiki/James_McLachlan_(American_politician) "James McLachlan (American politician)") * [Barlow](/wiki/Charles_A._Barlow "Charles A. Barlow") * [Waters](/wiki/Russell_J._Waters "Russell J. Waters") * [McLachlan](/wiki/James_McLachlan_(American_politician) "James McLachlan (American politician)") * [Needham](/wiki/James_C._Needham "James C. Needham") * [Knowland](/wiki/Joseph_R._Knowland "Joseph R. Knowland") * [Elston](/wiki/John_A._Elston "John A. Elston") * [MacLafferty](/wiki/James_H._MacLafferty "James H. MacLafferty") * [Carter](/wiki/Albert_E._Carter "Albert E. Carter") * [G. P. Miller](/wiki/George_P._Miller "George P. Miller") * [Condon](/wiki/Robert_Condon "Robert Condon") * [Baldwin](/wiki/John_F._Baldwin_Jr. "John F. Baldwin Jr.") * [Mailliard](/wiki/William_S._Mailliard "William S. Mailliard") * [J. Burton](/wiki/John_Burton_(American_politician) "John Burton (American politician)") * [P.


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content:
Burton](/wiki/Phillip_Burton "Phillip Burton") * [Boxer](/wiki/Barbara_Boxer "Barbara Boxer") * [Woolsey](/wiki/Lynn_Woolsey "Lynn Woolsey") * [D. Matsui](/wiki/Doris_Matsui "Doris Matsui") * [Bera](/wiki/Ami_Bera "Ami Bera") |
| [7th district](/wiki/California%27s_7th_congressional_district "California's 7th congressional district") | * [Bowers](/wiki/William_W._Bowers "William W. Bowers") * [Castle](/wiki/Curtis_H._Castle "Curtis H. Castle") * [Needham](/wiki/James_C._Needham "James C. Needham") * [McLachlan](/wiki/James_McLachlan_(American_politician) "James McLachlan (American politician)") * [Stephens](/wiki/William_Stephens_(American_politician) "William Stephens (American politician)") * [Church](/wiki/Denver_S._Church "Denver S. Church") * [Barbour](/wiki/Henry_E._Barbour "Henry E. Barbour") * [Eltse](/wiki/Ralph_R._Eltse "Ralph R. Eltse") * [Tolan](/wiki/John_H._Tolan "John H. Tolan") * [Allen](/wiki/John_J._Allen_Jr. "John J. Allen Jr.") * [Cohelan](/wiki/Jeffery_Cohelan "Jeffery Cohelan") * [Dellums](/wiki/Ron_Dellums "Ron Dellums") * [G. Miller III](/wiki/George_Miller_(California_politician) "George Miller (California politician)") * [Bera](/wiki/Ami_Bera "Ami Bera") * [D. Matsui](/wiki/Doris_Matsui "Doris Matsui") |
| [8th district](/wiki/California%27s_8th_congressional_district "California's 8th congressional district") | * [Daniels](/wiki/Milton_J._Daniels "Milton J. Daniels") * [Smith](/wiki/Sylvester_C._Smith "Sylvester C.


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Smith") * [Hayes](/wiki/Everis_A._Hayes "Everis A. Hayes") * [Hersman](/wiki/Hugh_S._Hersman "Hugh S. Hersman") * [Free](/wiki/Arthur_M._Free "Arthur M. Free") * [McGrath](/wiki/John_J._McGrath "John J. McGrath") * [Anderson](/wiki/Jack_Z._Anderson "Jack Z. Anderson") * [G. P. Miller](/wiki/George_P._Miller "George P. Miller") * [Stark](/wiki/Pete_Stark "Pete Stark") * [Dellums](/wiki/Ron_Dellums "Ron Dellums") * [Pelosi](/wiki/Nancy_Pelosi "Nancy Pelosi") * [Cook](/wiki/Paul_Cook_(politician) "Paul Cook (politician)") * [Obernolte](/wiki/Jay_Obernolte "Jay Obernolte") * [Garamendi](/wiki/John_Garamendi "John Garamendi") |
| [9th district](/wiki/California%27s_9th_congressional_district "California's 9th congressional district") | * [Bell](/wiki/Charles_W._Bell "Charles W. Bell") * [Randall](/wiki/Charles_Hiram_Randall "Charles Hiram Randall") * [Lineberger](/wiki/Walter_F._Lineberger "Walter F. Lineberger") * [Evans](/wiki/William_E._Evans_(politician) "William E. Evans (politician)") * [Church](/wiki/Denver_S._Church "Denver S. Church") * [Gearhart](/wiki/Bertrand_W._Gearhart "Bertrand W. Gearhart") * [White](/wiki/Cecil_F._White "Cecil F. White") * [Hunter](/wiki/Allan_O._Hunter "Allan O. Hunter") * [Younger](/wiki/J._Arthur_Younger "J.


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Arthur Younger") * [Edwards](/wiki/Don_Edwards "Don Edwards") * [Stark](/wiki/Pete_Stark "Pete Stark") * [Dellums](/wiki/Ron_Dellums "Ron Dellums") * [Lee](/wiki/Barbara_Lee "Barbara Lee") * [McNerney](/wiki/Jerry_McNerney "Jerry McNerney") * [Harder](/wiki/Josh_Harder "Josh Harder") |
| [10th district](/wiki/California%27s_10th_congressional_district "California's 10th congressional district") | * [Stephens](/wiki/William_Stephens_(American_politician) "William Stephens (American politician)") * [Benedict](/wiki/Henry_S._Benedict "Henry S. Benedict") * [Osborne](/wiki/Henry_Z._Osborne "Henry Z. Osborne") * [Fredericks](/wiki/John_D._Fredericks "John D. Fredericks") * [Crail](/wiki/Joe_Crail "Joe Crail") * [Stubbs](/wiki/Henry_E._Stubbs "Henry E. Stubbs") * [Elliott](/wiki/Alfred_J._Elliott "Alfred J. Elliott") * [Werdel](/wiki/Thomas_H._Werdel "Thomas H. Werdel") * [Gubser](/wiki/Charles_Gubser "Charles Gubser") * [Edwards](/wiki/Don_Edwards "Don Edwards") * [Baker](/wiki/Bill_Baker_(politician) "Bill Baker (politician)") * [Tauscher](/wiki/Ellen_Tauscher "Ellen Tauscher") * [Garamendi](/wiki/John_Garamendi "John Garamendi") * [Denham](/wiki/Jeff_Denham "Jeff Denham") * [Harder](/wiki/Josh_Harder "Josh Harder") * [DeSaulnier](/wiki/Mark_DeSaulnier "Mark DeSaulnier") |.


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| [Authority control databases](/wiki/Help:Authority_control "Help:Authority control") [Edit this at Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1699334#identifiers "Edit this at Wikidata") | |
| --- | --- |
| International | * [ISNI](https://isni.org/isni/0000000082302467) * [VIAF](https://viaf.org/viaf/50702654) * [GND](https://d-nb.info/gnd/1055499326) * [FAST](https://id.worldcat.org/fast/206728) * [WorldCat](https://id.oclc.org/worldcat/entity/E39PBJbMdyTcHgFByMpT9KYgKd) |
| National | * [United States](https://id.loc.gov/authorities/n86039360) * [Norway](https://authority.bibsys.no/authority/rest/authorities/html/4021108) |
| People | * [US Congress](http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=B000447) |
| Other | * [Open Library](https://openlibrary.org/works/OL1477528A?mode=all) * [SNAC](https://snaccooperative.org/ark:/99166/w6z322m6) * [Yale LUX](https://lux.collections.yale.edu/view/person/a667f446-74a2-477d-b577-ff1c55e3badb) |

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* [1819 births](/wiki/Category:1819_births "Category:1819 births")
* [1900 deaths](/wiki/Category:1900_deaths "Category:1900 deaths")
* [19th-century American businesspeople](/wiki/Category:19th-century_American_businesspeople "Category:19th-century American businesspeople")
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JOHN BIDWELL - BIDWELL MANSION ASSOCIATION



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## JOHN BIDWELL (1819–1900)



![Old photo of John Bidwell](/uploads/2/4/5/8/24581729/editor/john-bidwell.jpg?1487451561)

John Bidwell

In 1841 at the age of 22, John Bidwell became one of the first pioneers to cross the Sierra Nevada to California.  Bidwell became deeply involved in the development of his adopted state, its agriculture and what is now the city of Chico.  By the 1850s, Bidwell had purchased more than 30,000 acres.  He then built a General Store, a Hotel, a Post Office, and a Flour Mill.  In 1860, Bidwell helped lay out the town of Chico, which he named.  Three years later, Governor Leland Stanford made him a Brigadier General in the California State Militia.
 
 
**A Proud Californian**
 
During his early days in California, Bidwell served as business manager for another well-known California Pioneer – John Sutter.  Bidwell personally carried the first gold discovery near the Middle Fork of the Feather River.  Acting as both miner and merchant, Bidwell used the Gold Rush to build his financial resources.  He used this money to further his new state in the agricultural and public service arenas.


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**A Great Statesman**
 
From 1865 to 1866, Bidwell served California as its representative in the United States Congress.  In the House of Representatives, he was a member of the House Agricultural Committee and introduced legislation that led to the completion of the California and Oregon Railroad.  By 1870, the railroad's tracks ran through his Rancho and the town of Chico.
 
 
**The Bidwells At Home**
 
John Bidwell had already begun work on his three story, 26 room mansion on Rancho Chico before he met his wife Annie.  San Francisco architect Henry W. Cleaveland designed the grand house.  Completed in 1868, it had running water, flush toilets, modern gas lights and an air cooling system.
 
 
A proponent of higher education, Bidwell donated eight acres of his Cherry orchard  in the 1880s to a teacher's college called Chico State Normal School (later renamed California State University, Chico).  Bidwell died in 1900.  The Bidwells had no children, so Annie willed her home to her church to be used as a school.  The Normal School bought the Mansion in 1923.  The Bidwell's home was used as a dormitory and was later used as offices and classrooms before California State Parks acquired the Mansion in 1964.
 
 
Displayed in the fully furnished home are both original and period pieces, including Mrs.


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Bidwell's piano, local Native American baskets and the Bidwell's eclectic library.
 
 
**An "Agricultural Eden"**
 
Until his death in 1900, Bidwell worked to build an agricultural showplace.  Wheat and flour production enabled Bidwell to finance ventures in specialty crops.  He would harvest his gold medal winning wheat, grind it into flour in his mill and have the cook make it into biscuits the same day.  He called the results "up-to-the minute biscuits."
 
 
Bidwell fostered the development of the Casaba Melon and produced California's first commercial Raisin crop.  Many specimen trees he planted still stand, including a Cockspur Coral, a Tulip tree, a
*Ginkgo Biloba*
, Italian cypresses, a South American Monkey Puzzle and a huge Sourthern Magnolia.
 
 
**Native People**
 
The Mechoopda, who spoke the Konkow language, lived on Little Butte Creek about 3 1/2 miles from what is now downtown Chico.  The land was abundant with plants and animals that allowed the Mechoopda to nourish their body and spirit.  Their skills at basketry enabled the native people to collect, transport, store and cook their food.
 
 
With the discovery of gold and the influx of miners and settlers, the lives of the native people changed forever.  An enduring relationship was established when John Bidwell was befriended by the Mechoopda after he purchased the Mexican land grant of Rancho del Arroyo Chico.  Most Mechoopda, as well as residents from other villages, moved to Bidwell's ranch, where they worked.
 
 
Today the Mechoopda people are a vibrant community and stewards of their ancestral land..


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---

![Bidwell Mansion Association, Chico, California](/uploads/2/4/5/8/24581729/editor/bma-full-header-2_1.png?1487578778)

Bidwell Mansion Association
 
PO Box 1303
 
Chico, California 95927
 
[[email protected]](/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#70191e161f5e12191407151c1c1d111e03191f1e1103031f13191104191f1e30171d11191c5e131f1d)
 
530-588-0476

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John Bidwell of Chico, CA Life Story | AdmiredLife.com



![Profile Picture](assets/306x600.jpg)

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### Memorial Provided By

[Paradise Pictures, LLC](http://www.paradisepictures.com)
 
Chico, CA
 
(800) 960-8040

# Life Story

John Bidwell was known throughout California and across the
nation as an important pioneer, farmer, soldier, statesman, politician,
prohibitionist and philanthropist. He is famous for leading one of the first
emigrant parties, known as the Bartleson–Bidwell Party, along the California
Trail, and for founding Chico, California.

Bidwell was born in Chautauqua County, New York. The Bidwell
family was originally from England and came to America in the colonial era.  The Bidwell family moved to Erie, Pennsylvania
in 1829, and then to Ashtabula County, Ohio in 1831. At age 17, he attended and
shortly thereafter became Principal of Kingsville Academy.


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In 1841 Bidwell became one of the first emigrants on the
California Trail. John Sutter employed Bidwell as his business manager shortly
after Bidwell's arrival in California. Shortly after the James W. Marshall's
discovery at Sutter's Mill, Bidwell also discovered gold on the Feather River
establishing a productive claim at Bidwell Bar in advance of the California
Gold Rush. Bidwell obtained the four square league Rancho Los Ulpinos land
grant after being naturalized as a Mexican citizen in 1844, and the two square
league Rancho Colus grant on the Sacramento River in 1845; later selling that
grant and buying Rancho Arroyo Chico on Chico Creek to establish a ranch and
farm.

Bidwell obtained the rank of major while fighting in the
Mexican–American War. He served in the California Senate in 1849, supervised
the census of California in 1850 and again in 1860. He was a delegate to the
1860 national convention of the Democratic Party. He was appointed brigadier
general of the California Militia in 1863. He was a delegate to the national
convention of the Republican Party in 1864 and was a Republican member of
Congress from 1865 to 1867.


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In 1865, General Bidwell backed a petition from settlers at
Red Bluff, California to protect Red Bluff's trail to the Owhyhee Mines of
Idaho. The United States Army commissioned 7 forts for this purpose, and
selected a site near Fandango Pass at the base of the Warner Mountains in the
north end of Surprise Valley, and on June 10, 1865 ordered Fort Bidwell to be
built there. The fort was built amid escalating fighting with the Snake Indians
of eastern Oregon and southern Idaho.[6] It was a base for operations in the
Snake War that lasted until 1868 and the later Modoc War. Although traffic
dwindled on the Red Bluff route once the Central Pacific Railroad extended into
Nevada in 1868, the Army staffed Fort Bidwell to quell various uprisings and
disturbances until 1890. A Paiute reservation and small community maintain the
name Fort Bidwell.

**Annie and John Bidwell**

His wife, Annie Kennedy Bidwell, was the daughter of Joseph
C. G. Kennedy, a socially prominent, high ranking Washington official in the
United States Census Bureau who was active in the Whig party. She was deeply
religious, and committed to a number of moral and social causes. Annie was very
active in the suffrage and prohibition movements.


path: web_results/memorials_1908.html
title: John Bidwell of Chico, CA Life Story | AdmiredLife.com
content:
The Bidwells were married April 16, 1868 in Washington, D.C.
with then President Andrew Johnson and future President Ulysses S. Grant among
the guests. Upon arrival in Chico, the Bidwells used their mansion extensively
for entertainment of friends. Some of the guests who visited Bidwell Mansion included
President Rutherford B. Hayes, General William T. Sherman, Susan B. Anthony,
Frances Willard, Governor Leland Stanford, John Muir, Joseph Dalton Hooker and
Asa Gray.

**Politics**

In 1875 Bidwell ran for Governor of California on the
Anti-Monopoly Party ticket. As a strong advocate of the temperance movement, he
presided over the Prohibition Party state convention in 1888 and was the
Prohibition candidate for governor in 1880.[2]

In 1892, Bidwell was the Prohibition Party candidate for President
of the United States. The Bidwell/Cranfill ticket came in fourth place and
received 271,058 votes, or 2.3% nationwide. It was the largest total vote and
highest percentage of the vote received by any Prohibition Party national
ticket.

John Bidwell's autobiography, Echoes of the Past, was
published in 1900.

### Memorial Provided By

[Paradise Pictures, LLC](http://www.paradisepictures.com)
 
Chico, CA
 
(800) 960-8040


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John Bidwell | California pioneer, explorer, farmer | Britannica




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[John Bidwell](https://www.britannica.com/biography/John-Bidwell)

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# John Bidwell

American politician

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title: John Bidwell | California pioneer, explorer, farmer | Britannica
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**John Bidwell**
(born Aug. 5, 1819,
[Chautauqua](https://www.britannica.com/place/Chautauqua-county-New-York)
County, N.Y., U.S.—died April 4, 1900, near
[Sacramento](https://www.britannica.com/place/Sacramento-California)
, Calif.) was a
[California](https://www.britannica.com/place/California-state)
civic and political leader who ran unsuccessfully for U.S. president in 1892 as the candidate of the Prohibition Party.







The Bidwell family moved from
[New York](https://www.britannica.com/place/New-York-state)
to Pennsylvania in 1829 and to Ohio in 1831. In 1836 Bidwell walked 300 miles from the family home in Ashtabula to enroll at Kingsville Academy—of which he was made principal the following year at the age of 17.







After returning to Ashtabula to accept a teaching position, Bidwell moved west, settling temporarily in Missouri before joining the first emigrant group to travel by
[wagon train](https://www.britannica.com/topic/wagon-train)
from the town of Independence to California. On arrival there, Bidwell went to work at Sutter’s Fort and, after a few years, became a naturalized Mexican citizen. Reluctant to join the

[Bear Flag revolt](https://www.britannica.com/event/Bear-Flag-Revolt)
of Americans in California against Mexico, he nonetheless helped draw up the Bear Flag Republic’s resolution of independence in July 1846.


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title: John Bidwell | California pioneer, explorer, farmer | Britannica
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Bidwell fought in the
[Mexican War](https://www.britannica.com/event/Mexican-American-War)
, marching to Monterey (California) with Colonel John C. Frémont, serving as civil magistrate in Los Angeles, and finally assisting Commodore
[Robert F. Stockton](https://www.britannica.com/biography/Robert-F-Stockton-United-States-naval-officer)
in the recapture of Los Angeles in 1847. At the end of the war he returned to Sutter’s Fort and became the first to find gold on the Feather River.







With his newly discovered wealth Bidwell purchased a 22,000-acre ranch, Rancho
[Chico](https://www.britannica.com/place/Chico-California)
, north of Sacramento. There he became the state’s leading agriculturalist while simultaneously taking a prominent role in California politics. He served in the state senate and was a
[delegate](https://www.britannica.com/dictionary/delegate)
to several Democratic Party national conventions. With the advent of the Civil War, Bidwell, a staunch Unionist, became a supporter of Lincoln.

Quick Facts

Born:
: Aug. 5, 1819, Chautauqua County, N.Y.,
 [U.S.](/place/United-States)

*(Show more)*

Died:
: April 4, 1900, near Sacramento, Calif. (aged 80)

*(Show more)*

Political Affiliation:
: [Democratic Party](/topic/Democratic-Party)
: [Prohibition Party](/topic/Prohibition-Party)

*(Show more)*

[See all related content](/facts/John-Bidwell)


path: web_results/biography_John-Bidwell.html
title: John Bidwell | California pioneer, explorer, farmer | Britannica
content:
Elected to the House of Representatives in 1864, Bidwell declined renomination in order to run for governor of California on the Republican ticket in 1867; his bid was unsuccessful, as were his two others, one in 1875 as an anti-monopolist independent and another in 1890 as a candidate of the

[Prohibition Party](https://www.britannica.com/topic/Prohibition-Party)
, which nominated him for president in 1892.

This article was most recently revised and updated by
[Encyclopaedia Britannica](/contributor/encyclopaedia-britannica/12989892)
.


path: web_results/2025_04_24_chico-state-historian-dug-deep-tell-bidwell-story.html
title: Chico State historian dug deep to tell the Bidwell story - ChicoSol News
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Chico State historian dug deep to tell the Bidwell story - ChicoSol News


[Skip to the content](#content)

Historian Michele Shover’s effort to tell a more nuanced story of John Bidwell, considered the founder of Chico, began in 1989 when a footnote in a book caught her by surprise.

![](assets/John_Bidwell_1866_Crop-238x300.jpg)

photo courtesy of Wikipedia

John Bidwell

“I found it diametrically opposed to what people thought about Bidwell,” Shover said of the passage containing the footnote.

[Shover](https://www.csuchico.edu/erfsa/honorees/2011/michele-shover.shtml)
, now 83, is retired from Chico State where she served as chair of the Department of Political Science. Her research on John Bidwell and Northern California Indian-settler conflicts of the 1850s has often been cited; she published articles based on primary research on Butte County history during more than four decades.

Over 20 years, Shover gathered all the historical data that she could find about Native Americans from this area from various sources, “whether it was newspapers, academic studies, correspondence, diaries,” she said.

At the beginning, she found it difficult to understand the reports written by local Indians, even though these had been recorded in English, “because they had a different sense of narrative. They have a different sense of time.”


path: web_results/2025_04_24_chico-state-historian-dug-deep-tell-bidwell-story.html
title: Chico State historian dug deep to tell the Bidwell story - ChicoSol News
url:
https://git.client.guacamolebox.net/butterfly/ragdocs/raw/branch/main/web_results/2025_04_24_chico-state-historian-dug-deep-tell-bidwell-story.html

content:
She described her research as comparable to putting together a puzzle and refrained from reliance on work by present-day writers. Shover to this day is proud of this approach: “In my experience, some of the modern writers had tapped into a few of these sources, but no one I found had done as broad and deep a search as mine.”

After years of research, Shover published a book, “California Standoff: Miners, Indians and Farmers at War,” in 2017.

One of the nuanced stories Shover tells is about the treaty that was known as the
[U.S. Treaty of 1851](https://www.mechoopda-nsn.gov/history/treaties)
. People often think that Bidwell, who helped organize a treaty meeting in 1851, played an important role in advancing the contract that reserved a 227-square-mile tract for the tribes.

![](https://chicosol.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Michelle-Shover-1-300x200.jpg)

photo by Yucheng Tang

Michele Shover

But Shover found a different story through her research. She said Bidwell wrote a letter to California Congressman Joseph McCorkle and U.S. Sen. William Gwin after the meeting, recommending they not ratify the treaty. “He wrote it from a perspective as if he was protecting the Indians, but he was really protecting his control (of his Indian labor force),” Shover said.

“Should the Mechoopdas move to a reservation, he would lose a great asset — his substantial, cheap, available and usually stable Indian workforce,” Shover wrote in her 2017 book.


path: web_results/2025_04_24_chico-state-historian-dug-deep-tell-bidwell-story.html
title: Chico State historian dug deep to tell the Bidwell story - ChicoSol News
url:
https://git.client.guacamolebox.net/butterfly/ragdocs/raw/branch/main/web_results/2025_04_24_chico-state-historian-dug-deep-tell-bidwell-story.html

content:
The
[Mechoopda Indian Tribe website](https://www.mechoopda-nsn.gov/)
explains that the U.S. Senate secretly rejected treaties signed during the 1851-52 period.

In a
[2011 speech](https://media.csuchico.edu/media/John+Bidwell+and+the+1851+Indian+Treaty/0_u7m8xn9f/66947152)
at Chico State, Shover shared a heart-wrenching detail about the labor exploitation on Bidwell’s ranch.

During the wheat harvest on the ranch, the wheat was spread in a huge circle and was separated from the chaff by having massive herds of horses racing around on top of the wheat. “The way they stopped the horses was, they sent the Indians out in front of them,” Shover said, pausing for a few seconds with a solemn expression after sharing detail of this dangerous work.

“He did things that I really regret,” Shover told ChicoSol on an early spring afternoon in the study of her Chapmantown home where, when this reporter arrived, she had been watching television news. However, Shover also thinks it’s important to recognize the good things Bidwell did and said she considers his “larger impact more positive than negative.”

Shover agrees with many community residents who note that the Mechoopda people were not well represented in the previous Bidwell Mansion State Historic Park, and would also like to see two new memorial structures on the park property.
*(Read our story on the
[Bidwell Mansion rebuild here](https://chicosol.org/2025/04/13/fire-aftermath-bidwell-mansions-future-still-unclear/)
.)*


path: web_results/2025_04_24_chico-state-historian-dug-deep-tell-bidwell-story.html
title: Chico State historian dug deep to tell the Bidwell story - ChicoSol News
content:
According to her, Bidwell moved the indigenous valley village “sort of more behind” the headquarters of the ranch to protect its residents from attack by the
[mountain Maidu](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maidu)
, another subgroup of local Native Americans; on one occasion he brought a doctor from Sacramento to save the life of a Mechoopda tribal member, who had been shot by mountain Maidu.

“He taught them skills. He never demanded that they stay. They could have left. But most of them stayed,” Shover noted. “When I started this (research), I was pretty skeptical about John Bidwell. The more I did it, the more I saw the complexity of the situation.”

When Shover was growing up, there was a common belief in white culture that Indians were bad and settlers were good, and when the counterculture emerged decades later, the settlers became evil and the Indians became “good,” she said.

But Shover tried to sidestep such simplifications in her work, and in her book, shows the complexity of the interplay between groups.

Her efforts were rewarded when she says she was thanked on two occasions by local Native people. In one case, a young man came up to her when she was shopping in a store downtown. The man said he was a member of the mountain Maidu group, and told Shover, “I want to thank you. You were so fair in writing this book.”


path: web_results/2025_04_24_chico-state-historian-dug-deep-tell-bidwell-story.html
title: Chico State historian dug deep to tell the Bidwell story - ChicoSol News
content:
*This is the third story in a three-part series on the fire that destroyed Bidwell Mansion and the role the Mansion played in our community. Read the first story
[here](https://chicosol.org/2025/04/13/fire-aftermath-bidwell-mansions-future-still-unclear/)
and the second
[here](https://chicosol.org/2025/04/18/carlson-serving-time-bidwell-mansion-arson/)
.*

*Yucheng Tang is a California Local News Fellow reporting for ChicoSol.*



![](https://chicosol.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/ChicoSol-people_0008_Yucheng-150x150.jpg)

##### [Yucheng Tang](https://chicosol.org/author/yucheng-tang/)

Yucheng Tang is a California Local News fellow who began reporting full-time for ChicoSol in September 2024. Tang completed an MFA at New York University in narrative nonfiction writing and covers city government at ChicoSol. He received a national health fellowship from the University of Southern California after arriving that funded a two-part series on Butte County’s mental health diversion court.

## 1 Comment

* Charles Fredrick Withuhn

 says:

 [April 25, 2025 at 7:03 am](https://chicosol.org/2025/04/24/chico-state-historian-dug-deep-tell-bidwell-story/#comment-24459)

 Thank you for this article. A more balanced view of our local history is important to our current experiences of our civil rights.

 [Reply](#comment-24459)

### Leave a Reply [Cancel reply](/2025/04/24/chico-state-historian-dug-deep-tell-bidwell-story/#respond)

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path: web_results/wiki_Lake_Oroville.html
title: Lake Oroville - Wikipedia
url:
https://git.client.guacamolebox.net/butterfly/ragdocs/raw/branch/main/web_results/wiki_Lake_Oroville.html

content:
Lake Oroville - Wikipedia

[Jump to content](#bodyContent)

[Coordinates](/wiki/Geographic_coordinate_system "Geographic coordinate system")
:
[39°32′14″N

121°29′00″W

﻿ / ﻿


39.53722°N 121.48333°W

﻿ /
39.53722; -121.48333](https://geohack.toolforge.org/geohack.php?pagename=Lake_Oroville&params=39_32_14_N_121_29_00_W_scale:100000_type:waterbody_region:US-CA)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Reservoir in Butte County, California, U.S.


path: web_results/wiki_Lake_Oroville.html
title: Lake Oroville - Wikipedia
url:
https://git.client.guacamolebox.net/butterfly/ragdocs/raw/branch/main/web_results/wiki_Lake_Oroville.html

content:
| Lake Oroville | |
| --- | --- |
| Satellite image of the lake by [Sentinel-2](/wiki/Sentinel-2 "Sentinel-2") | |
| [Location of Lake Oroville in California, USA.](/wiki/File:Relief_map_of_California.png "Location of Lake Oroville in California, USA.") Location of Lake Oroville in California, USA. Lake Oroville Show map of California [Location of Lake Oroville in California, USA.](/wiki/File:Usa_edcp_relief_location_map.png "Location of Lake Oroville in California, USA.") Location of Lake Oroville in California, USA.


path: web_results/wiki_Lake_Oroville.html
title: Lake Oroville - Wikipedia
url:
https://git.client.guacamolebox.net/butterfly/ragdocs/raw/branch/main/web_results/wiki_Lake_Oroville.html

content:
Lake Oroville Show map of the United States | |
| Location | [Oroville East](/wiki/Oroville_East "Oroville East") , [Butte County](/wiki/Butte_County,_California "Butte County, California") , [California](/wiki/California "California") |
| Coordinates | [39°32′14″N 121°29′00″W ﻿ / ﻿ 39.53722°N 121.48333°W ﻿ / 39.53722; -121.48333](https://geohack.toolforge.org/geohack.php?pagename=Lake_Oroville&params=39_32_14_N_121_29_00_W_scale:100000_type:waterbody_region:US-CA) [[ 1 ]](#cite_note-GNIS-1) at [Oroville Dam](/wiki/Oroville_Dam "Oroville Dam") |
| [Lake type](/wiki/Lake#Types_of_lakes "Lake") | [Reservoir](/wiki/Reservoir "Reservoir") |
| [Primary inflows](/wiki/Inflow_(hydrology) "Inflow (hydrology)") | [North Fork Feather River](/wiki/North_Fork_Feather_River "North Fork Feather River") , [Middle Fork Feather River](/wiki/Middle_Fork_Feather_River "Middle Fork Feather River") , [West Branch Feather River](/wiki/West_Branch_Feather_River "West Branch Feather River") , [South Fork Feather River](/wiki/South_Fork_Feather_River "South Fork Feather River") , various other smaller streams |
| [Primary outflows](/wiki/Discharge_(hydrology) "Discharge (hydrology)") | [Feather River](/wiki/Feather_River "Feather River") |
| [Catchment area](/wiki/Drainage_basin "Drainage basin") | 3,950 square miles (10,200 km 2 ) |
| [Basin](/wiki/Drainage_basin "Drainage basin") countries | [United States](/wiki/United_States "United States") |
| Managing agency | [California Department of Water Resources](/wiki/California_Department_of_Water_Resources "California Department of Water Resources") |
| Built | 1961 (Construction started on Oroville Dam) 2017-2019 (Spillway Rebuilt) |
| First flooded | 1969 |
| | |
| [Water volume](/wiki/List_of_lakes_by_volume "List of lakes by volume") | 3,537,577 acre-feet (4.363537 × 10 9 m 3 ) |
| Shore length 1 | 167 miles (269 km) |
| Surface elevation | 901 feet (275 m) [[ 2 ]](#cite_note-2) |
| | |
| Frozen | Never |
| [Islands](/wiki/Category:Lake_islands "Category:Lake islands") | Bloomer Island, Foreman Island, others unnamed |
| Settlements | [Oroville](/wiki/Oroville,_California "Oroville, California") |
| Website | [water .ca .gov /programs /state-water-project /swp-facilities /oroville](https://water.ca.gov/programs/state-water-project/swp-facilities/oroville) |
| 1 Shore length is [not a well-defined measure](/wiki/Coastline_paradox "Coastline paradox") .


path: web_results/wiki_Lake_Oroville.html
title: Lake Oroville - Wikipedia
content:
| |. **Lake Oroville**
[[
1
]](#cite_note-GNIS-1)
is a
[reservoir](/wiki/Reservoir "Reservoir")
formed by the
[Oroville Dam](/wiki/Oroville_Dam "Oroville Dam")
impounding the
[Feather River](/wiki/Feather_River "Feather River")
, located in
[Butte County](/wiki/Butte_County,_California "Butte County, California")
, northern
[California](/wiki/California "California")
. The lake is situated 5 miles (8 km) northeast of the city of
[Oroville](/wiki/Oroville,_California "Oroville, California")
, within the
[Lake Oroville State Recreation Area](/wiki/Lake_Oroville_State_Recreation_Area "Lake Oroville State Recreation Area")
, in the western foothills of the
[Sierra Nevada](/wiki/Sierra_Nevada "Sierra Nevada")
. Known as the
[second-largest reservoir in California](/wiki/List_of_largest_reservoirs_of_California "List of largest reservoirs of California")
, Lake Oroville is treated as a keystone facility within the
[California State Water Project](/wiki/California_State_Water_Project "California State Water Project")
by storing water, providing
[flood control](/wiki/Flood_control "Flood control")
, recreation, freshwater releases to assist in controlling the salinity intrusion into the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta and protecting fish and wildlife.


path: web_results/wiki_Lake_Oroville.html
title: Lake Oroville - Wikipedia
content:
The lake is a popular nationally renowned
[bass](/wiki/Bass_(fish) "Bass (fish)")
fishing location,
[[
3
]](#cite_note-3)
while
[coho salmon](/wiki/Coho_salmon "Coho salmon")
are stocked from the Feather River Fish Hatchery.
[[
4
]](#cite_note-4)
This hatchery is a main component of Lake Oroville.

## History

[
[edit](/w/index.php?title=Lake_Oroville&action=edit&section=1 "Edit section: History")

]

[![](assets/lossy-page1-250px-thumbnail.tif.jpg)](/wiki/File:GENERAL_ELEVATION_VIEW,_LOOKING_SOUTH_-_Bidwell_Bar_Suspension_Bridge_and_Stone_Toll_House,_Near_Lake_Oroville_(moved_from_fork_of_Feather_River),_Oroville,_Butte_County,_CA_HAER_CAL,4-ORO.V,1-5.tif)


[Bidwell Bar Suspension Bridge](/wiki/Bidwell_Bar_Suspension_Bridge "Bidwell Bar Suspension Bridge")


path: web_results/wiki_Lake_Oroville.html
title: Lake Oroville - Wikipedia
content:
The local indigenous tribe were the Konkow
[Maidu](/wiki/Maidu "Maidu")
(translation is 'man') who originally settled the lake region and Feather River for many years. Today many of the small towns including Oroville were originally occupied by the Maidu people.
[[
5
]](#cite_note-5)
In 2002, a
[Sonoma State](/wiki/Sonoma_State_University "Sonoma State University")
study took archaeological inventory of the 15,476 acres (6,263 ha) of Lake Oroville to learn 250 sites are from the prehistoric era relating to the Native American life along the
[Feather River](/wiki/Feather_River "Feather River")
and an additional 478 sites dating to the
[Gold Rush](/wiki/Gold_rush "Gold rush")
. These sites included open-air residential sites, caves and rockshelters, limited lithic scatters, rock art, quarries and workshops, bedrock milling sites and cemetery areas. Natives' lives were disrupted by gold discovery in 1848 and the miners infiltrated their lands. In April 1848, only three months after gold was discovered at
[Sutter's Mill](/wiki/Sutter%27s_Mill "Sutter's Mill")
,
[John Bidwell](/wiki/John_Bidwell "John Bidwell")
found gold on the Feather River at a spot known today as the town of Bidwell Bar. Bidwell began to work the claim using local Konkow Maidu workers. Due to the rapidly spreading news of the California strikes, in under a year California's non-native population climbed from 20,000 to 100,000. By 1850, Butte County alone supported 3,052 miners.
[[
6
]](#cite_note-6)


path: web_results/wiki_Lake_Oroville.html
title: Lake Oroville - Wikipedia
content:
Construction on the dam began in 1957 to relocate what is now Highway 70 and the then
[Western Pacific](/wiki/Western_Pacific_Railroad "Western Pacific Railroad")
(now
[Union Pacific](/wiki/Union_Pacific_Railroad "Union Pacific Railroad")
) Railroad. A few years later the partially completed dam checked flooding on the Feather River in December 1964. This saved the Sacramento Valley from flooding.
[[
7
]](#cite_note-watereducation.org-7)

Prior to impoundment by the
[Oroville Dam](/wiki/Oroville_Dam "Oroville Dam")
, the current
[main basin of Lake Oroville](/wiki/North_Fork_Feather_River "North Fork Feather River")
was the location of the confluence of the
[North Fork Feather River](/wiki/North_Fork_Feather_River "North Fork Feather River")
with the
[Feather River](/wiki/Feather_River "Feather River")
(

[39°33′20″N

121°28′0″W

﻿ / ﻿


39.55556°N 121.46667°W

﻿ /
39.55556; -121.46667](https://geohack.toolforge.org/geohack.php?pagename=Lake_Oroville&params=39_33_20_N_121_28_0_W_region:US-CA_type:waterbody)
) and the now-inundated towns of
[Bidwell](/w/index.php?title=Bidwell,_California&action=edit&redlink=1 "Bidwell, California (page does not exist)")
(

[39°33′25″N

121°27′56″W

﻿ / ﻿


39.55694°N 121.46556°W

﻿ /
39.55694; -121.46556](https://geohack.toolforge.org/geohack.php?pagename=Lake_Oroville&params=39_33_25_N_121_27_56_W_region:US-CA_type:event)
) and
[Land](/w/index.php?title=Land,_California&action=edit&redlink=1 "Land, California (page does not exist)")
(


path: web_results/wiki_Lake_Oroville.html
title: Lake Oroville - Wikipedia
content:
[39°33′13″N

121°28′04″W

﻿ / ﻿


39.55361°N 121.46778°W

﻿ /
39.55361; -121.46778](https://geohack.toolforge.org/geohack.php?pagename=Lake_Oroville&params=39_33_13_N_121_28_04_W_region:US-CA_type:event)
). Completed in 1968, Oroville Dam is an
[earthen dam](/wiki/Embankment_dam "Embankment dam")
and is the tallest dam located in the
[United States](/wiki/United_States "United States")
, measuring over 770 ft (230 m) high and 6,920 ft (2,110 m) across. The dam was the largest earth-fill dam in the world until succeeded by
[Aswan High Dam](/wiki/Aswan_High_Dam "Aswan High Dam")
in
[Egypt](/wiki/Egypt "Egypt")
. It was built by the
[California Department of Water Resources](/wiki/California_Department_of_Water_Resources "California Department of Water Resources")
as part of the
[California State Water Project](/wiki/California_State_Water_Project "California State Water Project")
. The dam houses the
[Edward Hyatt Powerplant](/wiki/Edward_Hyatt_Power_Plant "Edward Hyatt Power Plant")
, an underground hydro-electric plant that was completed in 1967.
[[
8
]](#cite_note-8)
Six generators are used to provide a maximum generating capacity of 819 MW.

## Hydrology

[
[edit](/w/index.php?title=Lake_Oroville&action=edit&section=2 "Edit section: Hydrology")

]


path: web_results/wiki_Lake_Oroville.html
title: Lake Oroville - Wikipedia
content:
Lake Oroville and
[Oroville Dam](/wiki/Oroville_Dam "Oroville Dam")
are part of the
[Oroville–Thermalito Complex](/wiki/Oroville%E2%80%93Thermalito_Complex "Oroville–Thermalito Complex")
, a water infrastructure complex including the Hyatt Powerplant, Thermalito Diversion Dam and Powerplant, the Feather River Fish Hatchery, Thermalito Power Canal, Thermalito Forebay, Thermalito Pumping-Generating Plant, Thermalito Afterbay, and the Lake Oroville Visitors Center.

The lake is fed by the North Fork, Middle Fork, West Branch and South Fork of the Feather River watershed. This watershed drains an area of 3,611 square miles (9,350 km
2
). The North Fork and Middle Fork Feather Rivers comprise 3,222 square miles (8,340 km
2
) of this area which includes portions of the foothill and mountain regions of the northern Sierra Nevada and southern Cascade Range.
[[
9
]](#cite_note-9)
Storing over 3,500,000 acre-feet (4.3
×
10
9
m
3
), it is the second-largest reservoir in California, after
[Shasta Lake](/wiki/Shasta_Lake "Shasta Lake")
. About one-third of the water released from the reservoir goes to uses between the Oroville and Sacramento–San Joaquin Delta.


path: web_results/wiki_Lake_Oroville.html
title: Lake Oroville - Wikipedia
content:
Lake Oroville plays an important role in flood management, water quality, and the health of fisheries affecting areas downstream like the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta. During the warm season, the primary source of streamflow is melting snow, occurring April 1 – July 31, and Lake Oroville receives about 40 percent of the annual total inflow. The lake's storage and releases are a key part of the hydropower and water-supply facilities of the Oroville Complex, the reason it's a pillar and major source of flexibility of the SWP.
[[
10
]](#cite_note-10)
The downstream flow limits set by the USACE for Lake Oroville are 150,000 cu ft/s (4,200 m
3
/s) north of Honcut Creek, 180,000 cu ft/s (5,100 m
3
/s) above the mouth of the Yuba River, and 320,000 cu ft/s (9,100 m
3
/s) south of the Bear River.
[[
11
]](#cite_note-water.ca.gov-11)

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) licenses hydroelectric facilities such as the Edward Hyatt Power Plant at Oroville Dam. California's Department of Water Resources and stakeholders recently participated in a six-year renewal process for a 50-year hydroelectric license for the Oroville Facilities. This agreement commits the state to: restore salmon and steelhead habitat, improved river recreation and community benefits, and a fish passage study to determine and launch a project to enhance passage in the Feather and surrounding river basins.


path: web_results/wiki_Lake_Oroville.html
title: Lake Oroville - Wikipedia
content:
Due to federal flood control requirements, by mid-October each year, the lake's storage must be reduced to a specified level within the range of a maximum flood control pool of 750,000 acre-feet (0.93 km
3
) and a minimum of 375,000 acre-feet (463,000,000 m
3
). Each day the allowable level within the range is recalculated using an index reflecting the watershed wetness and the anticipation of heavy runoff from incoming storms. As a wet season like 1997–98 progresses, the allowable storage tends to coincide with the maximum flood control pool. The reservoir operators must balance the conflicting objectives of controlling the current flood event and preparing for a possible future one.
[[
11
]](#cite_note-water.ca.gov-11)

### Spillway emergency

[
[edit](/w/index.php?title=Lake_Oroville&action=edit&section=3 "Edit section: Spillway emergency")

]

[![](assets/250px-Lake_Oroville_aerial.jpg)](/wiki/File:Lake_Oroville_aerial.jpg)


Aerial view from the west of Lake Oroville, the Oroville Dam, Thermalito Forebay and Thermalito Afterbay, and vicinity

Main article:
[Oroville Dam crisis](/wiki/Oroville_Dam_crisis "Oroville Dam crisis")


path: web_results/wiki_Lake_Oroville.html
title: Lake Oroville - Wikipedia
content:
In February 2017, extreme precipitation and high spillway releases caused significant damage to the main concrete spillway. Due to this damage, releases were cut back and lake level increased to 101% of capacity, causing the emergency spillway to overflow for the first time in the Lake's history.
[[
12
]](#cite_note-12)
Below the emergency spillway, severe erosion occurred, and fear of a failure of the emergency spillway prompted an evacuation of downstream residents.
[[
13
]](#cite_note-13)

Phase 1 of emergency spillway repairs was completed in 2017. The main spillway was successfully reconstructed by November 1, 2018.
[[
14
]](#cite_note-14)

[![](//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/92/Lake_Oroville_events_timeline.jpg/250px-Lake_Oroville_events_timeline.jpg)](/wiki/File:Lake_Oroville_events_timeline.jpg)

## Recreation

[
[edit](/w/index.php?title=Lake_Oroville&action=edit&section=4 "Edit section: Recreation")

]

The lake offers multiple recreational activities for the public to participate in. The Lake Oroville Visitor Center has a museum, exhibits, videos and a store. People like to look through the two high-powered telescopes on the 47-foot tall tower to see the lake, Sierra Nevada, valley, foothills, and the
[Sutter Buttes](/wiki/Sutter_Buttes "Sutter Buttes")
mountain range.

### Fishing

[
[edit](/w/index.php?title=Lake_Oroville&action=edit&section=5 "Edit section: Fishing")

]


path: web_results/wiki_Lake_Oroville.html
title: Lake Oroville - Wikipedia
content:
Fishing is described as outstanding at Lake Oroville State Recreation Area. People can fish for largemouth, smallmouth, and spotted bass, Chinook, catfish, mackinaw, sturgeon, white crappie and brown trout. The largest mackinaw caught was 19 pounds (8.6 kg) and a 3 pounds (1.4 kg) white crappie. It is permitted all year long but a California sport fishing license is required.

The
[California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment](/wiki/California_Office_of_Environmental_Health_Hazard_Assessment "California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment")
(OEHHA) has developed a safe eating advisory for Lake Oroville based on levels of mercury or
[PCBs](/wiki/Polychlorinated_biphenyl "Polychlorinated biphenyl")
found in fish caught from this water body.
[[
15
]](#cite_note-15)

### Boating

[
[edit](/w/index.php?title=Lake_Oroville&action=edit&section=6 "Edit section: Boating")

]


path: web_results/wiki_Lake_Oroville.html
title: Lake Oroville - Wikipedia
content:
Boating occurs year round, including
[waterskiing](/wiki/Water_skiing "Water skiing")
,
[wakeboarding](/wiki/Wakeboarding "Wakeboarding")
,
[houseboats](/wiki/Houseboat "Houseboat")
,
[PWC](/wiki/Personal_watercraft "Personal watercraft")
, and
[trolling](/wiki/Trolling_(fishing) "Trolling (fishing)")
. There are five multi-lane boat launch ramps. These are located at Bidwell Canyon, Loafer Creek, Spillway, Lime Saddle, Enterprise, Nelson Bar, Vinton Gulch, Foreman Creek, and Dark Canyon. Boat supplies and rentals are available on the south end of the Lake at Bidwell Marina or the north end at Lake Oroville Marina.
[
*[citation needed](/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed "Wikipedia:Citation needed")*
]

Visitors can rent kayaks, canoes, sailboats, paddleboats and more at the Forebay Aquatic Center located at the North Forebay.
[[
16
]](#cite_note-16)

### Camping

[
[edit](/w/index.php?title=Lake_Oroville&action=edit&section=7 "Edit section: Camping")

]

Another major activity is camping by using the campground, floating campsites, boat-in camps, or equestrian campsites.

## Feather River fish hatchery

[
[edit](/w/index.php?title=Lake_Oroville&action=edit&section=8 "Edit section: Feather River fish hatchery")

]


path: web_results/wiki_Lake_Oroville.html
title: Lake Oroville - Wikipedia
content:
A key component of Lake Oroville is the hatchery that manages thriving populations of
[Chinook salmon](/wiki/Chinook_salmon "Chinook salmon")
and
[steelhead trout](/wiki/Steelhead_trout "Steelhead trout")
for the Feather River ecosystem.
[[
17
]](#cite_note-17)
Before the Oroville Dam was constructed, a majority of the fish hatcheries were located on the eastern side of the mountain range (about 100 miles northeast of the hatchery's current location). The first hatchery was constructed in 1916, the Yuba River Shad Hatchery was built on the Feather River to stop the over fishing of shad in the lower Sacramento River. This effort failed, leading to the hatchery closure, because the Shad's first run did not produce enough eggs and the river had a light run. The main goal of Domingo Springs, built in 1916, was to supply fish to the lakes and streams in Lassen National Park and the surrounding area. In 1937, floods damaged the hatchery and it was eventually abandoned. The next phase, built near
[Clio](/wiki/Clio,_California "Clio, California")
in Plumas County, was a trout hatchery building and employee cabins that operated for 30 years. By 1953, the work was outdated, so the operation was abandoned, creating a 14-year gap in hatchery work. The Department of Water Resources built the Oroville Dam in 1961, which altered the river flow, so DWR built the present hatchery with the Department of Fish and Wildlife.


path: web_results/wiki_Lake_Oroville.html
title: Lake Oroville - Wikipedia
content:
The dam blocked salmon and steelhead access to upstream spawning areas, so to further mitigate impacts, a barrier and ladder system was built that allows adult salmon and steelhead to be captured at the Feather River Fish Hatchery.
[[
18
]](#cite_note-18). Today the hatchery is managed by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, raising spring- and fall-run Chinook salmon and steelhead along the Feather River, directly below Lake Oroville. The hatchery is divided into two sections. The first section located on the east side of Table Mountain Boulevard includes a fish barrier dam, an observation platform, and underwater viewing. The second section, located on the west side of Table Mountain Boulevard, includes a spawning room, a hatchery, and rearing ponds. Salmon-spawning operations can be observed mid-September until mid-November, but fish are present in the rearing ponds all year.

Annually on the fourth Saturday of September, the Oroville Salmon Festival occurs at the hatchery and downtown Oroville. It is known as the only California salmon festival where personnel work Chinook salmon to harvest and fertilize eggs.
[[
19
]](#cite_note-19)

## Climate

[
[edit](/w/index.php?title=Lake_Oroville&action=edit&section=9 "Edit section: Climate")

]


path: web_results/wiki_Lake_Oroville.html
title: Lake Oroville - Wikipedia
content:
[![](//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/44/Boats_on_Lake_Oroville_during_the_2021_drought.jpg/250px-Boats_on_Lake_Oroville_during_the_2021_drought.jpg)](/wiki/File:Boats_on_Lake_Oroville_during_the_2021_drought.jpg)


In May 2021, water levels of Lake Oroville dropped significantly, exposing much of the lake's banks as shown in this photograph, as California headed into another drought year. The Edward Hyatt hydroelectric power plant at Oroville Dam was forced to shut down due to low water levels later in the summer.
[[
20
]](#cite_note-20)

Lake Oroville has a Mediterranean type climate with hot, dry summers and cool wet winters. A semi-permanent, high pressure area of the mid-Pacific Ocean dominates and controls the weather in northern California. During the summer this high-pressure cell pushes storm tracks into the north causing this hot dry summer. In winter, it moves south allowing storms to cross northern California bringing wetter and cooler winters.
[[
21
]](#cite_note-21)


path: web_results/wiki_Lake_Oroville.html
title: Lake Oroville - Wikipedia
content:
The annual average high temperature is 75.2 °F (24.0 °C) and annual average low is 49 °F (9 °C) with average temperature of 62.1 °F (16.7 °C). The coldest months are winter – December to January with average high 56 °F (13 °C) and low 38 °F (3 °C). The warmest months are in the summer – June, July, and August with average high 93 °F (34 °C). The average annual rainfall precipitation is 30.66 inches (779 mm); January is the wettest month at 5.71 inches (145 mm) and July the driest at 0.08 inches (2 mm).
[[
22
]](#cite_note-22)

In 2015, Northern California experienced a drastic drought reducing the lake level to 39% capacity in January 2016.

The year 2017 has made up for the five-year drought by having above-average precipitation.
[[
23
]](#cite_note-23)
The excess of water created a new danger – see
[2017 Oroville Dam crisis](/wiki/2017_Oroville_Dam_crisis "2017 Oroville Dam crisis")
.

In 2021, another drought affected California which resulted in the lake level falling to 35% of its capacity in July. In August, the Hyatt hydroelectric plant was turned off for the first time when levels fell near the minimum necessary to generate power (640 feet (200 m) above sea level). The loss of power could cause an increased number of rolling blackouts during the summer heat wave.
[[
24
]](#cite_note-24)
Operations resumed in January 2022 following significant rainfall in December.
[[
25
]](#cite_note-25)

## Wildlife


path: web_results/wiki_Lake_Oroville.html
title: Lake Oroville - Wikipedia
content:
[
[edit](/w/index.php?title=Lake_Oroville&action=edit&section=10 "Edit section: Wildlife")

]

### Species of fish

[
[edit](/w/index.php?title=Lake_Oroville&action=edit&section=11 "Edit section: Species of fish")

]

The species raised at the Feather River Fish Hatchery include
[Chinook salmon](/wiki/Chinook_salmon "Chinook salmon")
(
*Oncorhynchus tshawytscha*
) and
[steelhead trout](/wiki/Steelhead_trout "Steelhead trout")
(Oncorhynchus mykiss).

Chinook salmon are supported by California streams. They display a wide array of life history patterns allowing them to live in the diverse, variable riverine and ocean environments. As
[anadromous](/wiki/Anadromous "Anadromous")
fish, they migrate upstream as adults to spawn in freshwater streams, and as juveniles migrate downstream to the ocean, where they grow into mature adults. There are seventeen distinct runs of Chinook salmon recognized in California, classified into six major groups or evolutionarily significant units. Currently, these are a Species of Concern under the Federal Endangered Species Act.
[[
26
]](#cite_note-26)

The hatchery spawn, rear and release the Fall and Spring Run Chinook salmon of local origin. The trout, being an anadromous form of rainbow trout, spawn for multiple years in rivers and creeks, transition into the ocean but return to the rivers to start the lifecycle again.

## Downriver facilities

[
[edit](/w/index.php?title=Lake_Oroville&action=edit&section=12 "Edit section: Downriver facilities")


path: web_results/wiki_Lake_Oroville.html
title: Lake Oroville - Wikipedia
content:
]

For hydroelectric generation using the water from the Thermalito Diversion Pool, see
[Oroville–Thermalito Complex](/wiki/Oroville%E2%80%93Thermalito_Complex "Oroville–Thermalito Complex")
.

The
[Hyatt Generating–Pumping Plant](/wiki/Oroville_Dam#Edward_Hyatt_Power_Plant "Oroville Dam")
source water for the
[Feather River](/wiki/Feather_River "Feather River")
is released from two discharge tunnels
[[
27
]](#cite_note-Chap3-27)
at up to 17,500 cu ft/s (500 m
3
/s) during peak demand and "little or no release the remainder of the day".
[[
28
]](#cite_note-AppJ-28)
The power plant also routinely draws up to 5,610 cu ft/s (159 m
3
/s)
[[
27
]](#cite_note-Chap3-27)
[
*[dead link](/wiki/Wikipedia:Link_rot "Wikipedia:Link rot")*
]
of Feather River water for "pumpback" into Lake Oroville.
[[
29
]](#cite_note-FERC-29)
Hyatt releases are stored in the 4.40 mi (7.08 km) serpentine river channel (Thermalito Diversion Pool) which extends from the river's source to the Thermalito Diversion Dam.
[[
30
]](#cite_note-Wikimapia-30)

## See also

[
[edit](/w/index.php?title=Lake_Oroville&action=edit&section=13 "Edit section: See also")

]


path: web_results/wiki_Lake_Oroville.html
title: Lake Oroville - Wikipedia
content:
* [California State Water Project](/wiki/California_State_Water_Project "California State Water Project")
* [Feather Headwaters](/wiki/Feather_Headwaters "Feather Headwaters")
* [Feather River](/wiki/Feather_River "Feather River")
* [Lake Oroville State Recreation Area](/wiki/Lake_Oroville_State_Recreation_Area "Lake Oroville State Recreation Area")
* [List of dams and reservoirs in California](/wiki/List_of_dams_and_reservoirs_in_California "List of dams and reservoirs in California")
* [List of lakes in California](/wiki/List_of_lakes_in_California "List of lakes in California")
* [List of largest reservoirs in the United States](/wiki/List_of_largest_reservoirs_in_the_United_States "List of largest reservoirs in the United States")
* [List of largest reservoirs of California](/wiki/List_of_largest_reservoirs_of_California "List of largest reservoirs of California")

## References

[
[edit](/w/index.php?title=Lake_Oroville&action=edit&section=14 "Edit section: References")

]

1. ^
 [***a***](#cite_ref-GNIS_1-0)
 [***b***](#cite_ref-GNIS_1-1)


path: web_results/wiki_Lake_Oroville.html
title: Lake Oroville - Wikipedia
content:
["Lake Oroville"](https://edits.nationalmap.gov/apps/gaz-domestic/public/search/names/264404)
 .
 *[Geographic Names Information System](/wiki/Geographic_Names_Information_System "Geographic Names Information System")*
 .
 [United States Geological Survey](/wiki/United_States_Geological_Survey "United States Geological Survey")
 ,
 [United States Department of the Interior](/wiki/United_States_Department_of_the_Interior "United States Department of the Interior")
 . 1981-01-19
 . Retrieved
 2010-10-25
 .
2. **[^](#cite_ref-2)**



 [*USGS Topo Maps for United States*](http://mapper.acme.com/)
 (Map). Cartography by
 [United States Geological Survey](/wiki/United_States_Geological_Survey "United States Geological Survey")
 . ACME Mapper
 . Retrieved
 2010-10-25
 .
3. **[^](#cite_ref-3)**



 ["Beautiful Lake Oroville Camping"](http://www.orovilleareachamber.com/lakeoroville/fishing_tournaments.html)
 . Oroville Area Chamber of Commerce
 . Retrieved
 2010-09-17
 .
4. **[^](#cite_ref-4)**



 ["Fishing at Lake Oroville"](https://web.archive.org/web/20110710021601/http://www.ifished.com/california/lake-oroville)
 . iFished.com. Archived from
 [the original](http://www.ifished.com/california/lake-oroville)
 on 2011-07-10
 . Retrieved
 2010-09-19
 .
5. **[^](#cite_ref-5)**


path: web_results/wiki_Lake_Oroville.html
title: Lake Oroville - Wikipedia
content:
["Recreation, Locations"](https://web.archive.org/web/20170218053037/http://www.water.ca.gov/recreation/locations/oroville/native.cfm)
 .
 *Lake Oroville History*
 . Archived from
 [the original](http://www.water.ca.gov/recreation/locations/oroville/native.cfm)
 on 2017-02-18
 . Retrieved
 2016-05-09
 .
6. **[^](#cite_ref-6)**



 Walker, Mark (2003).
 [*The Archaeological and Historical Site Inventory at Lake Oroville, Butte County, A Report for the Public*](https://www.sonoma.edu/asc/publications/pdfs/Lake_Orovlle_Public_Report.pdf)

 (PDF)
 . Sonoma State University Anthropological Studiens Center. pp. 8, 11.
7. **[^](#cite_ref-watereducation.org_7-0)**



 ["Oroville Dam - Water Education Foundation"](http://www.watereducation.org/aquapedia/oroville-dam)
 .
 *watereducation.org*

 . Retrieved
 2016-05-15
 .
8. **[^](#cite_ref-8)**

 [About the Lake - Hyatt Powerplant Statistics](http://www.lakeoroville.water.ca.gov/about/stats/hyatt.cfm)
 [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20070620083143/http://www.lakeoroville.water.ca.gov/about/stats/hyatt.cfm)
 2007-06-20 at the
 [Wayback Machine](/wiki/Wayback_Machine "Wayback Machine")
9. **[^](#cite_ref-9)**



 Buer, Koll (April 2003).
 ["Physiographic Description of the SP-G1 and SP-G2 Study Areas"](https://web.archive.org/web/20161026174231/http://www.water.ca.gov/orovillerelicensing/docs/wg_study_reports_and_docs/EWG/g1_progress_report_app_c.pdf)


path: web_results/wiki_Lake_Oroville.html
title: Lake Oroville - Wikipedia
content:
(PDF)
 .
 *DWR Oroville Licensing*
 . CA DWR. Archived from
 [the original](http://www.water.ca.gov/orovillerelicensing/docs/wg_study_reports_and_docs/EWG/g1_progress_report_app_c.pdf)

 (PDF)
 on 2016-10-26
 . Retrieved
 2016-05-14
 .
10. **[^](#cite_ref-10)**



 Koczot, Kathryn (2005).
 *Precipitation-Runoff Processes in the Feather River Basin, Northeastern California, and Streamflow Predictability, Water Years 1971-97*
 . USGS: USGS. pp.
 10–
 15.
11. ^
 [***a***](#cite_ref-water.ca.gov_11-0)
 [***b***](#cite_ref-water.ca.gov_11-1)



 ["California State Water Project-Oroville Federal Flood Control"](https://web.archive.org/web/20160610174707/http://www.water.ca.gov/swp/facilities/Oroville/FCRules.cfm)
 .
 *water.ca.gov*
 . Archived from
 [the original](http://www.water.ca.gov/swp/facilities/Oroville/FCRules.cfm)
 on 2016-06-10
 . Retrieved
 2016-05-15
 .




 ![Public Domain](//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/6/62/PD-icon.svg/20px-PD-icon.svg.png)
 This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the
 [public domain](/wiki/Public_domain "Public domain")
 .
12. **[^](#cite_ref-12)**



 ["Water continues to spill over Oroville emergency spillway"](https://www.kcra.com/article/water-begins-to-spill-over-oroville-emergency-spillway/8732032)
 . 12 February 2017.
13. **[^](#cite_ref-13)**


path: web_results/wiki_Lake_Oroville.html
title: Lake Oroville - Wikipedia
content:
["Updates: New storms approach, but officials confident Oroville Dam and spillways will hold up"](http://www.latimes.com/local/california/la-live-updates-oroville-dam-biggest-fear-at-oroville-dam-a-30-foot-1486999579-htmlstory.html)
 .
 *[Los Angeles Times](/wiki/Los_Angeles_Times "Los Angeles Times")*
 . 2017-02-17.
14. **[^](#cite_ref-14)**



 ["Oroville Spillways Recovery"](https://web.archive.org/web/20191210073954/https://water.ca.gov/What-We-Do/Emergency-Response/Oroville-Spillways)
 . California Department of Water Resources. Archived from
 [the original](https://water.ca.gov/What-We-Do/Emergency-Response/Oroville-Spillways)
 on December 10, 2019
 . Retrieved
 December 9,
 2019
 .
15. **[^](#cite_ref-15)**



 Admin, OEHHA (2014-12-30).
 ["Lake Oroville"](https://oehha.ca.gov/advisories/lake-oroville)
 .
 *OEHHA*

 . Retrieved
 2018-06-13
 .
16. **[^](#cite_ref-16)**



 ["Lake Oroville - Oroville Dam - Oroville California - Boating Overview"](http://www.lakeoroville.net/boating-overview.htm)
 .
 *lakeoroville.net*

 . Retrieved
 2016-05-15
 .


 [
 *[permanent dead link](/wiki/Wikipedia:Link_rot "Wikipedia:Link rot")*
 ]
17. **[^](#cite_ref-17)**



 ["CA DFG Feather River Hatchery"](https://www.wildlife.ca.gov/Fishing/Hatcheries/Feather-River)
 .
18. **[^](#cite_ref-18)**



 ["The History of the Feather River Hatchery"](https://www.wildlife.ca.gov/Fishing/Hatcheries/Feather-River/History)
 .
 *wildlife.ca.gov*

 . Retrieved
 2016-05-09
 .
19. **[^](#cite_ref-19)**


path: web_results/wiki_Lake_Oroville.html
title: Lake Oroville - Wikipedia
content:
["Feather River Fish Hatchery"](https://web.archive.org/web/20160320110808/http://salmonfestoroville.org/feather-river-fish-hatchery/)
 .
 *21st Annual Oroville Salmon Festival – Sept. 26. Feather River Nature Center Dinner & Dance is Friday Sept. 25*
 . Archived from
 [the original](http://salmonfestoroville.org/feather-river-fish-hatchery/)
 on 2016-03-20
 . Retrieved
 2016-05-15
 .
20. **[^](#cite_ref-20)**



 Meeks, Alexandra; Andone, Dakin (6 August 2021).
 ["California hydropower plant forced to shut down as water levels fall at Lake Oroville"](https://www.cnn.com/2021/08/06/us/lake-oroville-water-level-power-plant/index.html)
 .
 *CNN*

 . Retrieved
 22 May
 2022
 .
21. **[^](#cite_ref-21)**



 ["Lake Oroville SRA"](http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=462)
 .
 *parks.ca.gov*

 . Retrieved
 2016-05-15
 .
22. **[^](#cite_ref-22)**



 ["10 Day Weather - Oroville, CA"](https://weather.com/weather/tenday/l/Oroville+CA+USCA0818:1:US)
 .
 *The Weather Channel*

 . Retrieved
 2016-05-15
 .
23. **[^](#cite_ref-23)**



 ["California Drought Information"](https://ca.water.usgs.gov/data/drought/)
 .
 *U.S. Geological Survey California Water Science Center*
 . U.S. Department of the Interior | U.S. Geological Survey. February 16, 2017
 . Retrieved
 February 20,
 2017
 .
24. **[^](#cite_ref-24)**


path: web_results/wiki_Lake_Oroville.html
title: Lake Oroville - Wikipedia
content:
Newburger, Emma (August 6, 2021).
 ["California shuts down major hydroelectric plant amid record-low water levels at Lake Oroville"](https://www.cnbc.com/2021/08/06/california-shuts-down-major-hydroelectric-plant-amid-severe-drought.html)
 . CNBC
 . Retrieved
 8 August
 2021
 .
25. **[^](#cite_ref-25)**



 Rogers, Paukl (2022-01-04).
 ["Lake Oroville rises 89 feet, power plant resumes operation after December rains"](https://www.mercurynews.com/2022/01/04/lake-oroville-rises-89-feet-power-plant-resumes-operation-after-december-rains)
 .
 *The Mercury News*

 . Retrieved
 2022-01-05
 .
26. **[^](#cite_ref-26)**



 ["Chinook Salmon - California Department of Fish and Wildlife"](http://www.dfg.ca.gov/fish/Resources/Chinook/)
 .
 *dfg.ca.gov*

 . Retrieved
 2016-05-15
 .
27. ^
 [***a***](#cite_ref-Chap3_27-0)
 [***b***](#cite_ref-Chap3_27-1)



 ["3.0"](http://www.buttecounty.net/Administration/Projects/~/media/County%20Files/AdminOffice/Public%20Internet/Lake%20Oroville%20Facilities%20Project/Draft%20DEIS/Ch%203%20Description%20of%20Facilities%20Operations%20%20Alts.ashx)
 .
 *Description of Existing Facilities and Operations, the Proposed Project, and Alternatives*
 . May 2007. p. 3.2–1
 . Retrieved
 2010-09-20
 .



 `{{
 cite book
 }}`
 :

 `|work=`
 ignored (
 [help](/wiki/Help:CS1_errors#periodical_ignored "Help:CS1 errors")
 )
 [
 *[dead link](/wiki/Wikipedia:Link_rot "Wikipedia:Link rot")*
 ]
28. **[^](#cite_ref-AppJ_28-0)**


path: web_results/wiki_Lake_Oroville.html
title: Lake Oroville - Wikipedia
content:
["Appendix J Feather River Water Temperature Model"](https://web.archive.org/web/20221003090116/https://www.usbr.gov/mp/cvo/OCAP/sep08_docs/Appendix_J.pdf)

 (PDF)
 .
 *Biological Assessment on the Continued Long-term Operations of the Central Valley Project and the State Water Project*
 .
 [Bureau of Reclamation](/wiki/Bureau_of_Reclamation "Bureau of Reclamation")
 , Mid-Pacific Region. August 2008. p. J-1. Archived from
 [the original](https://www.usbr.gov/mp/cvo/OCAP/sep08_docs/Appendix_J.pdf)

 (PDF)
 on 2022-10-03
 . Retrieved
 2022-05-30
 .
29. **[^](#cite_ref-FERC_29-0)**



 [Federal Energy Regulatory Commission](/wiki/Federal_Energy_Regulatory_Commission "Federal Energy Regulatory Commission")
 (2007-05-18).
 ["Section 2: Proposed Action and Alternatives"](http://link.jaxpubliclibrary.org/portal/Final-environmental-impact-statement-for/1j9NcO4r7rA/x)
 . Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Final Environmental Impact Statement for the Oroville Facilities Project (Report). p. 17. P-2100-052
 . Retrieved
 2022-05-30
 .


 **NOTE**
 : Pumpback returns Feather River water back to Lake Oroville during off-peak periods when
 [California Edison Company](/wiki/Southern_California_Edison "Southern California Edison")
 external power is inexpensive, allowing subsequent hydroelectric generation (6-7% of Hyatt total) during peak (higher price) periods.
30. **[^](#cite_ref-Wikimapia_30-0)**


path: web_results/wiki_Lake_Oroville.html
title: Lake Oroville - Wikipedia
content:
["Oroville Dam"](http://www.wikimapia.org/#lat=39.5338357&lon=-121.5181017&z=16&l=0&m=b&search=Oroville%20Dam)
 (Map).
 *[wikimapia.org](/wiki/Wikimapia "Wikimapia")*
 . 2022-05-30
 . Retrieved
 2022-05-30
 .


 **NOTE**
 : The Wikimapia path line from the
 [spillway](/wiki/Spillway "Spillway")
 's confluence with the Feather River/Thermalito Diversion Pool to the Thermalito Diversion Dam defines 12 line segments of the river channel.

## External links

[
[edit](/w/index.php?title=Lake_Oroville&action=edit&section=15 "Edit section: External links")

]

[![logo](//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/40px-Commons-logo.svg.png)](/wiki/File:Commons-logo.svg)

Wikimedia Commons has media related to
[Lake Oroville](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Lake_Oroville "commons:Category:Lake Oroville")
.

* [Official website](https://water.ca.gov/programs/state-water-project/swp-facilities/oroville)
* [Current Conditions, Oroville Reservoir, California Department of Water Resources](http://cdec.water.ca.gov/cgi-progs/queryDaily?ORO)
 [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20081026103514/http://cdec.water.ca.gov/cgi-progs/queryDaily?ORO)
 2008-10-26 at the
 [Wayback Machine](/wiki/Wayback_Machine "Wayback Machine")


path: web_results/wiki_Lake_Oroville.html
title: Lake Oroville - Wikipedia
content:
| * [v](/wiki/Template:State_Water_Project "Template:State Water Project") * [t](/wiki/Template_talk:State_Water_Project "Template talk:State Water Project") * [e](/wiki/Special:EditPage/Template:State_Water_Project "Special:EditPage/Template:State Water Project") [California State Water Project](/wiki/California_State_Water_Project "California State Water Project") | |
| --- | --- |
| [Dams](/wiki/Dam "Dam") | * [Antelope](/wiki/Antelope_Dam_(California) "Antelope Dam (California)") * [B.F.


path: web_results/wiki_Lake_Oroville.html
title: Lake Oroville - Wikipedia
content:
Sisk](/wiki/San_Luis_Dam "San Luis Dam") * [Bethany](/w/index.php?title=Bethany_Dam&action=edit&redlink=1 "Bethany Dam (page does not exist)") * [Castaic](/wiki/Castaic_Dam "Castaic Dam") * [Cedar Springs](/wiki/Cedar_Springs_Dam "Cedar Springs Dam") * [Del Valle](/wiki/Del_Valle_Dam "Del Valle Dam") * [Elderberry Forebay](/wiki/Elderberry_Forebay_Dam "Elderberry Forebay Dam") * [Fish Barrier](/w/index.php?title=Fish_Barrier_Dam&action=edit&redlink=1 "Fish Barrier Dam (page does not exist)") * [Frenchman](/wiki/Frenchman_Lake_(California) "Frenchman Lake (California)") * [Grizzly Valley](/wiki/Grizzly_Valley_Dam "Grizzly Valley Dam") * [Little Panoche](/w/index.php?title=Little_Panoche_Detention_Dam&action=edit&redlink=1 "Little Panoche Detention Dam (page does not exist)") * [Los Banos Dam](/w/index.php?title=Los_Banos_Detention_Dam&action=edit&redlink=1 "Los Banos Detention Dam (page does not exist)") * [O'Neill](/wiki/O%27Neill_Dam "O'Neill Dam") * [Oroville](/wiki/Oroville_Dam "Oroville Dam") * [Perris](/wiki/Perris_Dam "Perris Dam") * [Pyramid](/wiki/Pyramid_Dam "Pyramid Dam") * [Quail Lake](/w/index.php?title=Quail_Lake_Dam&action=edit&redlink=1 "Quail Lake Dam (page does not exist)") * [Thermalito Afterbay](/wiki/Thermalito_Afterbay_Dam "Thermalito Afterbay Dam") * [Thermalito Diversion](/w/index.php?title=Thermalito_Diversion_Dam&action=edit&redlink=1 "Thermalito Diversion Dam (page does not exist)") * [Thermalito Forebay](/w/index.php?title=Thermalito_Forebay_Dam&action=edit&redlink=1 "Thermalito Forebay Dam (page does not exist)") |
| [Reservoirs](/wiki/Reservoir "Reservoir") | * [Antelope Lake](/wiki/Antelope_Dam_(California) "Antelope Dam (California)") * [Bethany Reservoir](/wiki/Bethany_Reservoir "Bethany Reservoir") * [Castaic Lake](/wiki/Castaic_Lake "Castaic Lake") * [Clifton Court Forebay](/wiki/Clifton_Court_Forebay "Clifton Court Forebay") * [Elderberry Forebay](/wiki/Elderberry_Forebay "Elderberry Forebay") * [Frenchman Lake](/wiki/Frenchman_Lake_(California) "Frenchman Lake (California)") * [Lake Davis](/wiki/Lake_Davis "Lake Davis") * [Lake Del Valle](/wiki/Lake_Del_Valle "Lake Del Valle") * Lake Oroville * [Lake Perris](/wiki/Lake_Perris "Lake Perris") * [Little Panoche Reservoir](/w/index.php?title=Little_Panoche_Reservoir&action=edit&redlink=1 "Little Panoche Reservoir (page does not exist)") * [Los Banos Reservoir](/w/index.php?title=Los_Banos_Reservoir&action=edit&redlink=1 "Los Banos Reservoir (page does not exist)") * [O'Neill Forebay](/wiki/O%27Neill_Forebay "O'Neill Forebay") * [Pyramid Lake](/wiki/Pyramid_Lake_(Los_Angeles_County,_California) "Pyramid Lake (Los Angeles County, California)") * [Quail Lake](/wiki/Quail_Lake "Quail Lake") * [San Luis Reservoir](/wiki/San_Luis_Reservoir "San Luis Reservoir") * [Silverwood Lake](/wiki/Silverwood_Lake "Silverwood Lake") * [Tehachapi Afterbay](/w/index.php?title=Tehachapi_Afterbay&action=edit&redlink=1 "Tehachapi Afterbay (page does not exist)") * [Thermalito Afterbay](/wiki/Thermalito_Afterbay "Thermalito Afterbay") * [Thermalito Forebay](/wiki/Thermalito_Forebay "Thermalito Forebay") |
| [Rivers](/wiki/River "River") and bodies of water | * [Feather River](/wiki/Feather_River "Feather River") * [Piru Creek](/wiki/Piru_Creek "Piru Creek") * [Sacramento River](/wiki/Sacramento_River "Sacramento River") * [Sacramento–San Joaquin River Delta](/wiki/Sacramento%E2%80%93San_Joaquin_River_Delta "Sacramento–San Joaquin River Delta") * [San Luis Creek](/wiki/San_Luis_Creek_(California) "San Luis Creek (California)") |
| [Aqueducts](/wiki/Aqueduct_(water_supply) "Aqueduct (water supply)") and [canals](/wiki/Canal "Canal") | * [California Aqueduct](/wiki/California_Aqueduct "California Aqueduct") * [North Bay Aqueduct](/wiki/North_Bay_Aqueduct "North Bay Aqueduct") * [South Bay Aqueduct](/wiki/South_Bay_Aqueduct "South Bay Aqueduct") |
| Other facilities | * [Banks Pumping Plant](/wiki/Banks_Pumping_Plant "Banks Pumping Plant") * [Buena Vista Pumping Plant](/wiki/Buena_Vista_Pumping_Plant "Buena Vista Pumping Plant") * [Castaic Power Plant](/wiki/Castaic_Power_Plant "Castaic Power Plant") * [Devil Canyon Power Plant](/w/index.php?title=Devil_Canyon_Power_Plant&action=edit&redlink=1 "Devil Canyon Power Plant (page does not exist)") * [Dos Amigos Pumping Plant](/wiki/Dos_Amigos_Pumping_Plant "Dos Amigos Pumping Plant") * [Edmonston Pumping Plant](/wiki/Edmonston_Pumping_Plant "Edmonston Pumping Plant") * [Feather River Fish Hatchery](/wiki/Feather_River_Fish_Hatchery "Feather River Fish Hatchery") * [Kern River Intertie](/w/index.php?title=Kern_River_Intertie&action=edit&redlink=1 "Kern River Intertie (page does not exist)") * [O'Neill Pumping-Generating Plant](/wiki/O%27Neill_Pumping-Generating_Plant "O'Neill Pumping-Generating Plant") * [Oroville–Thermalito Complex](/wiki/Oroville%E2%80%93Thermalito_Complex "Oroville–Thermalito Complex") * [South Bay Pumping Plant](/wiki/South_Bay_Pumping_Plant "South Bay Pumping Plant") |
| Related | * [CALFED Bay-Delta Program](/wiki/CALFED_Bay-Delta_Program "CALFED Bay-Delta Program") * [California Department of Water Resources](/wiki/California_Department_of_Water_Resources "California Department of Water Resources") * [Peripheral Canal](/wiki/Peripheral_Canal "Peripheral Canal") * [Bay Delta Conservation Plan](/wiki/Bay_Delta_Conservation_Plan "Bay Delta Conservation Plan") |.


path: web_results/wiki_Lake_Oroville.html
title: Lake Oroville - Wikipedia
content:
| * [v](/wiki/Template:Sierra_Nevada "Template:Sierra Nevada") * [t](/wiki/Template_talk:Sierra_Nevada "Template talk:Sierra Nevada") * [e](/wiki/Special:EditPage/Template:Sierra_Nevada "Special:EditPage/Template:Sierra Nevada") [Sierra Nevada](/wiki/Sierra_Nevada "Sierra Nevada") | |
| --- | --- |
| Mountains | | | | | | --- | --- | --- | | Peaks >14,000 ft | * [Whitney](/wiki/Mount_Whitney "Mount Whitney") * [Williamson](/wiki/Mount_Williamson "Mount Williamson") * [North Palisade](/wiki/North_Palisade "North Palisade") * [Sill](/wiki/Mount_Sill "Mount Sill") * [Russell](/wiki/Mount_Russell_(California) "Mount Russell (California)") * [Split](/wiki/Split_Mountain_(California) "Split Mountain (California)") * [Langley](/wiki/Mount_Langley "Mount Langley") * [Tyndall](/wiki/Mount_Tyndall "Mount Tyndall") * [Muir](/wiki/Mount_Muir "Mount Muir") * [Middle Palisade](/wiki/Middle_Palisade "Middle Palisade") | | | Northern peaks | * [Lola](/wiki/Mount_Lola "Mount Lola") * [Castle](/wiki/Castle_Peak_(California) "Castle Peak (California)") * [Granite Chief](/wiki/Granite_Chief "Granite Chief") * [Rose](/wiki/Mount_Rose_(Nevada) "Mount Rose (Nevada)") * [Tallac](/wiki/Mount_Tallac "Mount Tallac") * [Pyramid](/wiki/Pyramid_Peak_(El_Dorado_County,_California) "Pyramid Peak (El Dorado County, California)") * [Freel](/wiki/Freel_Peak "Freel Peak") | | Central peaks | * [Red Lake](/wiki/Red_Lake_Peak "Red Lake Peak") * [Round Top](/wiki/Round_Top_(Alpine_County,_California) "Round Top (Alpine County, California)") * [Mokelumne](/wiki/Mokelumne_Peak "Mokelumne Peak") * [Sonora](/wiki/Sonora_Peak "Sonora Peak") * [Leavitt](/wiki/Leavitt_Peak "Leavitt Peak") * [Dana](/wiki/Mount_Dana "Mount Dana") * [Lyell](/wiki/Mount_Lyell_(California) "Mount Lyell (California)") * [Banner](/wiki/Banner_Peak "Banner Peak") * [Ritter](/wiki/Mount_Ritter "Mount Ritter") * [Mammoth](/wiki/Mammoth_Mountain "Mammoth Mountain") | | Southern peaks | * [Humphreys](/wiki/Mount_Humphreys "Mount Humphreys") * [Tom](/wiki/Mount_Tom_(California) "Mount Tom (California)") * [Bear Creek Spire](/wiki/Bear_Creek_Spire "Bear Creek Spire") * [Darwin](/wiki/Mount_Darwin_(California) "Mount Darwin (California)") * [Agassiz](/wiki/Mount_Agassiz_(California) "Mount Agassiz (California)") * [Kaweah](/wiki/Mount_Kaweah "Mount Kaweah") * [Brewer](/wiki/Mount_Brewer "Mount Brewer") * [Olancha](/wiki/Olancha_Peak "Olancha Peak") * [Kern](/wiki/Kern_Peak "Kern Peak") * [Double](/wiki/Double_Mountain_(California) "Double Mountain (California)") | | Climbing | * [Peak list](/wiki/Sierra_Peaks_Section "Sierra Peaks Section") * [First ascents](/wiki/List_of_first_ascents_in_the_Sierra_Nevada_(U.S.) "List of first ascents in the Sierra Nevada (U.S.)") | |
| Passes | * [Fredonyer](/wiki/Fredonyer_Pass "Fredonyer Pass") * [Beckwourth](/wiki/Beckwourth_Pass "Beckwourth Pass") * [Yuba](/wiki/Yuba_Pass_(Sierra_County) "Yuba Pass (Sierra County)") * [Donner](/wiki/Donner_Pass "Donner Pass") * [Mt.


path: web_results/wiki_Lake_Oroville.html
title: Lake Oroville - Wikipedia
content:
Rose](/wiki/Mount_Rose_Summit "Mount Rose Summit") * [Spooner](/wiki/Spooner_Summit "Spooner Summit") * [Echo](/wiki/Echo_Summit "Echo Summit") * [Carson](/wiki/Carson_Pass "Carson Pass") * [Monitor](/wiki/Monitor_Pass "Monitor Pass") * [Ebbetts](/wiki/Ebbetts_Pass "Ebbetts Pass") * [Sonora](/wiki/Sonora_Pass "Sonora Pass") * [Tioga](/wiki/Tioga_Pass "Tioga Pass") * [Minaret](/wiki/Minaret_Summit "Minaret Summit") * [Kaweah](/wiki/Kaweah_Gap "Kaweah Gap") * [Sherman](/wiki/Sherman_Pass_(California) "Sherman Pass (California)") * [Tehachapi](/wiki/Tehachapi_Pass "Tehachapi Pass") |
| Rivers | * [Feather](/wiki/Feather_River "Feather River") + [Yuba](/wiki/Yuba_River "Yuba River") + [Bear](/wiki/Bear_River_(Feather_River_tributary) "Bear River (Feather River tributary)") * [American](/wiki/American_River "American River") * [Mokelumne](/wiki/Mokelumne_River "Mokelumne River") + [Cosumnes](/wiki/Cosumnes_River "Cosumnes River") * [Calaveras](/wiki/Calaveras_River "Calaveras River") * [Stanislaus](/wiki/Stanislaus_River "Stanislaus River") * [Tuolumne](/wiki/Tuolumne_River "Tuolumne River") * [Merced](/wiki/Merced_River "Merced River") * [Chowchilla](/wiki/Chowchilla_River "Chowchilla River") * [Fresno](/wiki/Fresno_River "Fresno River") * [San Joaquin](/wiki/San_Joaquin_River "San Joaquin River") * [Kings](/wiki/Kings_River_(California) "Kings River (California)") * [Kaweah](/wiki/Kaweah_River "Kaweah River") * [Tule](/wiki/Tule_River "Tule River") * [Kern](/wiki/Kern_River "Kern River") * [Truckee](/wiki/Truckee_River "Truckee River") * [Carson](/wiki/Carson_River "Carson River") * [Walker](/wiki/Walker_River "Walker River") * [Owens](/wiki/Owens_River "Owens River") |
| Lakes | * [Tahoe](/wiki/Lake_Tahoe "Lake Tahoe") + [Aloha](/wiki/Lake_Aloha "Lake Aloha") + [Echo](/wiki/Echo_Lake_(California) "Echo Lake (California)") + [Fallen Leaf](/wiki/Fallen_Leaf_Lake "Fallen Leaf Lake") + [Spooner](/wiki/Spooner_Lake "Spooner Lake") * [Mono](/wiki/Mono_Lake "Mono Lake") * [Almanor](/wiki/Lake_Almanor "Lake Almanor") * Oroville * [Isabella](/wiki/Lake_Isabella "Lake Isabella") * [Donner](/wiki/Donner_Lake "Donner Lake") * [Independence](/wiki/Independence_Lake_(California) "Independence Lake (California)") * [Shaver](/wiki/Shaver_Lake "Shaver Lake") * [Huntington](/wiki/Huntington_Lake "Huntington Lake") * [Florence](/wiki/Florence_Lake_Dam "Florence Lake Dam") * [Edison](/wiki/Lake_Thomas_A_Edison "Lake Thomas A Edison") * [Wishon](/wiki/Wishon_Dam "Wishon Dam") * [Courtright](/wiki/Courtright_Reservoir "Courtright Reservoir") * [Tenaya](/wiki/Tenaya_Lake "Tenaya Lake") * [Mammoth](/wiki/Mammoth_Pool_Reservoir "Mammoth Pool Reservoir") * [Bass](/wiki/Bass_Lake_(Madera_County,_California) "Bass Lake (Madera County, California)") * [Crowley](/wiki/Crowley_Lake "Crowley Lake") * [Convict](/wiki/Convict_Lake "Convict Lake") * [Hell for Sure](/wiki/Hell_for_Sure_Lake "Hell for Sure Lake") |
| [Protected areas](/wiki/Protected_areas_of_the_Sierra_Nevada "Protected areas of the Sierra Nevada") | | | | | --- | --- | | National parks and monuments | * [Kings Canyon](/wiki/Kings_Canyon_National_Park "Kings Canyon National Park") * [Sequoia](/wiki/Sequoia_National_Park "Sequoia National Park") * [Yosemite](/wiki/Yosemite_National_Park "Yosemite National Park") * [Devils Postpile](/wiki/Devils_Postpile_National_Monument "Devils Postpile National Monument") * [Giant Sequoia](/wiki/Giant_Sequoia_National_Monument "Giant Sequoia National Monument") | | National forests | * [Eldorado](/wiki/Eldorado_National_Forest "Eldorado National Forest") * [Humboldt–Toiyabe](/wiki/Humboldt%E2%80%93Toiyabe_National_Forest "Humboldt–Toiyabe National Forest") * [Inyo](/wiki/Inyo_National_Forest "Inyo National Forest") * [Lake Tahoe Basin](/wiki/Lake_Tahoe_Basin_Management_Unit "Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit") * [Lassen](/wiki/Lassen_National_Forest "Lassen National Forest") * [Plumas](/wiki/Plumas_National_Forest "Plumas National Forest") * [Sequoia](/wiki/Sequoia_National_Forest "Sequoia National Forest") * [Sierra](/wiki/Sierra_National_Forest "Sierra National Forest") * [Stanislaus](/wiki/Stanislaus_National_Forest "Stanislaus National Forest") * [Tahoe](/wiki/Tahoe_National_Forest "Tahoe National Forest") | | Wilderness areas | * [Ansel Adams](/wiki/Ansel_Adams_Wilderness "Ansel Adams Wilderness") * [Bright Star](/wiki/Bright_Star_Wilderness "Bright Star Wilderness") * [Bucks Lake](/wiki/Bucks_Lake_Wilderness "Bucks Lake Wilderness") * [Carson–Iceberg](/wiki/Carson%E2%80%93Iceberg_Wilderness "Carson–Iceberg Wilderness") * [Chimney Peak](/wiki/Chimney_Peak_Wilderness "Chimney Peak Wilderness") * [Dinkey Lakes](/wiki/Dinkey_Lakes_Wilderness "Dinkey Lakes Wilderness") * [Domeland](/wiki/Domeland_Wilderness "Domeland Wilderness") * [Emigrant](/wiki/Emigrant_Wilderness "Emigrant Wilderness") * [Golden Trout](/wiki/Golden_Trout_Wilderness "Golden Trout Wilderness") * [Hoover](/wiki/Hoover_Wilderness "Hoover Wilderness") * [Ishi](/wiki/Ishi_Wilderness "Ishi Wilderness") * [Jennie Lakes](/wiki/Jennie_Lakes_Wilderness "Jennie Lakes Wilderness") * [John Krebs](/wiki/John_Krebs_Wilderness "John Krebs Wilderness") * [John Muir](/wiki/John_Muir_Wilderness "John Muir Wilderness") * [Kaiser](/wiki/Kaiser_Wilderness "Kaiser Wilderness") * [Kiavah](/wiki/Kiavah_Wilderness "Kiavah Wilderness") * [Mokelumne](/wiki/Mokelumne_Wilderness "Mokelumne Wilderness") * [Monarch](/wiki/Monarch_Wilderness "Monarch Wilderness") * [Mount Rose](/wiki/Mount_Rose_Wilderness "Mount Rose Wilderness") * [Owens Peak](/wiki/Owens_Peak_Wilderness "Owens Peak Wilderness") * [Owens River Headwaters](/wiki/Owens_River_Headwaters_Wilderness "Owens River Headwaters Wilderness") * [Sacatar Trail](/wiki/Sacatar_Trail_Wilderness "Sacatar Trail Wilderness") * [Sequoia-Kings Canyon](/wiki/Sequoia-Kings_Canyon_Wilderness "Sequoia-Kings Canyon Wilderness") * [Yosemite](/wiki/Yosemite_Wilderness "Yosemite Wilderness") | | State parks | * [Burton Creek](/wiki/Burton_Creek_State_Park "Burton Creek State Park") * [Calaveras Big Trees](/wiki/Calaveras_Big_Trees_State_Park "Calaveras Big Trees State Park") * [D.


path: web_results/wiki_Lake_Oroville.html
title: Lake Oroville - Wikipedia
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Bliss State Park") * [Donner Memorial](/wiki/Donner_Memorial_State_Park "Donner Memorial State Park") * [Ed Z'berg Sugar Pine Point](/wiki/Ed_Z%27berg_Sugar_Pine_Point_State_Park "Ed Z'berg Sugar Pine Point State Park") * [Emerald Bay](/wiki/Emerald_Bay_State_Park "Emerald Bay State Park") * [Grover Hot Springs](/wiki/Grover_Hot_Springs_State_Park "Grover Hot Springs State Park") * [Lake Tahoe Nevada](/wiki/Lake_Tahoe_%E2%80%93_Nevada_State_Park "Lake Tahoe – Nevada State Park") * [Plumas-Eureka](/wiki/Plumas-Eureka_State_Park "Plumas-Eureka State Park") * [South Yuba River](/wiki/South_Yuba_River_State_Park "South Yuba River State Park") * [Van Sickle](/wiki/Van_Sickle_Bi-State_Park "Van Sickle Bi-State Park") | |
| Communities | * [Angels Camp](/wiki/Angels_Camp,_California "Angels Camp, California") * [Auburn](/wiki/Auburn,_California "Auburn, California") * [Bridgeport](/wiki/Bridgeport,_California "Bridgeport, California") * [Chester](/wiki/Chester,_California "Chester, California") * [Colfax](/wiki/Colfax,_California "Colfax, California") * [Grass Valley](/wiki/Grass_Valley,_California "Grass Valley, California") * [Incline Village](/wiki/Incline_Village,_Nevada "Incline Village, Nevada") * [Jackson](/wiki/Jackson,_California "Jackson, California") * [Kernville](/wiki/Kernville,_California "Kernville, California") * [Loyalton](/wiki/Loyalton,_California "Loyalton, California") * [Mammoth Lakes](/wiki/Mammoth_Lakes,_California "Mammoth Lakes, California") * [Mariposa](/wiki/Mariposa,_California "Mariposa, California") * [Markleeville](/wiki/Markleeville,_California "Markleeville, California") * [Nevada City](/wiki/Nevada_City,_California "Nevada City, California") * [Oakhurst](/wiki/Oakhurst,_California "Oakhurst, California") * [Paradise](/wiki/Paradise,_California "Paradise, California") * [Placerville](/wiki/Placerville,_California "Placerville, California") * [Portola](/wiki/Portola,_California "Portola, California") * [Quincy](/wiki/Quincy,_California "Quincy, California") * [San Andreas](/wiki/San_Andreas,_California "San Andreas, California") * [Sonora](/wiki/Sonora,_California "Sonora, California") * [South Lake Tahoe](/wiki/South_Lake_Tahoe,_California "South Lake Tahoe, California") * [Susanville](/wiki/Susanville,_California "Susanville, California") * [Sutter Creek](/wiki/Sutter_Creek,_California "Sutter Creek, California") * [Tahoe City](/wiki/Tahoe_City,_California "Tahoe City, California") * [Tehachapi](/wiki/Tehachapi,_California "Tehachapi, California") * [Truckee](/wiki/Truckee,_California "Truckee, California") |
| Ski areas | * [Alpine Meadows](/wiki/Alpine_Meadows_(ski_resort) "Alpine Meadows (ski resort)") * [Badger Pass](/wiki/Badger_Pass_Ski_Area "Badger Pass Ski Area") * [Bear Valley](/wiki/Bear_Valley_(resort) "Bear Valley (resort)") * [Boreal](/wiki/Boreal_Mountain_Resort "Boreal Mountain Resort") * [China Peak](/wiki/China_Peak "China Peak") * [Dodge Ridge](/wiki/Dodge_Ridge_Ski_Area "Dodge Ridge Ski Area") * [Donner Ski Ranch](/wiki/Donner_Ski_Ranch "Donner Ski Ranch") * [Heavenly](/wiki/Heavenly_Mountain_Resort "Heavenly Mountain Resort") * [Homewood](/wiki/Homewood_Mountain_Resort "Homewood Mountain Resort") * [June Mountain](/wiki/June_Mountain_ski_area "June Mountain ski area") * [Kirkwood](/wiki/Kirkwood_Mountain_Resort "Kirkwood Mountain Resort") * [Mammoth Mountain](/wiki/Mammoth_Mountain_Ski_Area "Mammoth Mountain Ski Area") * [Northstar](/wiki/Northstar_California "Northstar California") * [Sierra at Tahoe](/wiki/Sierra-at-Tahoe "Sierra-at-Tahoe") * [Palisades Tahoe](/wiki/Palisades_Tahoe "Palisades Tahoe") * [Sugar Bowl](/wiki/Sugar_Bowl_Ski_Resort "Sugar Bowl Ski Resort") * [Tahoe Donner](/wiki/Tahoe_Donner_Downhill "Tahoe Donner Downhill") |
| Trails | * [High Sierra Trail](/wiki/High_Sierra_Trail "High Sierra Trail") * [John Muir Trail](/wiki/John_Muir_Trail "John Muir Trail") * [Pacific Crest Trail](/wiki/Pacific_Crest_Trail "Pacific Crest Trail") * [Sierra High Route](/wiki/Sierra_High_Route "Sierra High Route") |.


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| [Authority control databases](/wiki/Help:Authority_control "Help:Authority control") [Edit this at Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q6477226#identifiers "Edit this at Wikidata") | |
| --- | --- |
| International | * [VIAF](https://viaf.org/viaf/315530212) |
| National | * [United States](https://id.loc.gov/authorities/sh87001439) * [Israel](https://www.nli.org.il/en/authorities/987007541572105171) |

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path: web_results/wiki_Oroville_Dam.html
title: Oroville Dam - Wikipedia
url:
https://git.client.guacamolebox.net/butterfly/ragdocs/raw/branch/main/web_results/wiki_Oroville_Dam.html

content:
Oroville Dam - Wikipedia

[Jump to content](#bodyContent)

[Coordinates](/wiki/Geographic_coordinate_system "Geographic coordinate system")
:
[39°32′20″N

121°29′08″W

﻿ / ﻿


39.53889°N 121.48556°W

﻿ /
39.53889; -121.48556](https://geohack.toolforge.org/geohack.php?pagename=Oroville_Dam&params=39_32_20_N_121_29_08_W_type:landmark)

[![This is a good article. Click here for more information.](//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/9/94/Symbol_support_vote.svg/20px-Symbol_support_vote.svg.png)](/wiki/Wikipedia:Good_articles* "This is a good article. Click here for more information.")

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Dam in California

Dam in Oroville, California


path: web_results/wiki_Oroville_Dam.html
title: Oroville Dam - Wikipedia
url:
https://git.client.guacamolebox.net/butterfly/ragdocs/raw/branch/main/web_results/wiki_Oroville_Dam.html

content:
| Oroville Dam | |
| --- | --- |
| | |
| [Oroville Dam is located in California](/wiki/File:Relief_map_of_California.png "Oroville Dam is located in California") Oroville Dam Oroville Dam Oroville Dam Show map of California [Oroville Dam is located in the United States](/wiki/File:Usa_edcp_relief_location_map.png "Oroville Dam is located in the United States") Oroville Dam Oroville Dam Oroville Dam (the United States) Show map of the United States | |
| Country | United States |
| Location | [Oroville, California](/wiki/Oroville,_California "Oroville, California") |
| Coordinates | [39°32′20″N 121°29′08″W ﻿ / ﻿ 39.53889°N 121.48556°W ﻿ / 39.53889; -121.48556](https://geohack.toolforge.org/geohack.php?pagename=Oroville_Dam&params=39_32_20_N_121_29_08_W_type:landmark) [[ 1 ]](#cite_note-1) |
| Purpose | Water supply, [flood control](/wiki/Flood_control "Flood control") , power |
| Status | Operational |
| Construction began | 1961 ; 65 years ago ( 1961 ) |
| Opening date | May 4, 1968 ; 57 years ago ( 1968-05-04 ) |
| Owner | [California Department of Water Resources](/wiki/California_Department_of_Water_Resources "California Department of Water Resources") |
| Dam and spillways | |
| [Type of dam](/wiki/Dam#Types "Dam") | Zoned Earthfill |
| Impounds | [Feather River](/wiki/Feather_River "Feather River") |
| Height (foundation) | 770 ft (235 m) [[ 2 ]](#cite_note-NPDP-2) |
| Length | 6,920 ft (2,109 m) [[ 2 ]](#cite_note-NPDP-2) |
| Dam volume | 77,619,000 yd 3 (59,344,000 m 3 ) |
| Spillway type | Service, 8× gate-controlled |
| Spillway capacity | 150,000 cu ft/s (4,200 m 3 /s) (service) [[ 3 ]](#cite_note-FERC-3) |
| Reservoir | |
| Creates | [Lake Oroville](/wiki/Lake_Oroville "Lake Oroville") |
| Total capacity | 3,537,577 acre⋅ft (4.363537 km 3 ) [[ 4 ]](#cite_note-CDEC-4) |
| Inactive capacity | 29,600 acre⋅ft (0.0365 km 3 ) [[ 5 ]](#cite_note-5) |
| [Catchment area](/wiki/Drainage_basin "Drainage basin") | 3,607 mi 2 (9,340 km 2 ) [[ 4 ]](#cite_note-CDEC-4) |
| Surface area | 15,805 acres (6,396 ha) [[ 4 ]](#cite_note-CDEC-4) |
| Normal elevation | 901 ft (275 m) (spillway crest) [[ 3 ]](#cite_note-FERC-3) |
| Power Station | |
| [Hydraulic head](/wiki/Hydraulic_head "Hydraulic head") | 615 ft (187 m) [[ 6 ]](#cite_note-power-6) |
| [Turbines](/wiki/Water_turbine "Water turbine") | * 3 × 132 MW conventional * 3 × 141 MW [pump-generators](/wiki/Pumped-storage_hydroelectricity "Pumped-storage hydroelectricity") |
| [Installed capacity](/wiki/Nameplate_capacity "Nameplate capacity") | 819 [MW](/wiki/Megawatt "Megawatt") [[ 6 ]](#cite_note-power-6) |
| [Capacity factor](/wiki/Capacity_factor "Capacity factor") | 21% |
| [Annual generation](/wiki/Net_generation "Net generation") | 1,629 [GWh](/wiki/Kilowatt_hour#Watt_hour_multiples_and_billing_units "Kilowatt hour") (2001–2012) [[ 7 ]](#cite_note-7) |
| **Website** [water .ca .gov /Programs /State-Water-Project /SWP-Facilities /Oroville](https://water.ca.gov/Programs/State-Water-Project/SWP-Facilities/Oroville) | |.


path: web_results/wiki_Oroville_Dam.html
title: Oroville Dam - Wikipedia
url:
https://git.client.guacamolebox.net/butterfly/ragdocs/raw/branch/main/web_results/wiki_Oroville_Dam.html

content:
**Oroville Dam**
is an earthfill
[embankment dam](/wiki/Embankment_dam "Embankment dam")
on the
[Feather River](/wiki/Feather_River "Feather River")
east of the city of
[Oroville, California](/wiki/Oroville,_California "Oroville, California")
, in the
[Sierra Nevada](/wiki/Sierra_Nevada_(U.S.) "Sierra Nevada (U.S.)")
foothills east of the
[Sacramento Valley](/wiki/Sacramento_Valley "Sacramento Valley")
. At 770 feet (235 m) high, it is the tallest dam in the U.S.
[[
8
]](#cite_note-8)
and serves mainly for water supply,
[hydroelectricity](/wiki/Hydroelectricity "Hydroelectricity")
generation, and flood control. The dam impounds
[Lake Oroville](/wiki/Lake_Oroville "Lake Oroville")
, the second-largest
[reservoir](/wiki/Reservoir "Reservoir")
in California, capable of storing more than 3.5 million acre-feet (1.1
×
10
~~^~~
12
US gal; 4.3
×
10
9
m
3
).
[[
9
]](#cite_note-Over_40000!-9)


path: web_results/wiki_Oroville_Dam.html
title: Oroville Dam - Wikipedia
content:
Built by the
[California Department of Water Resources](/wiki/California_Department_of_Water_Resources "California Department of Water Resources")
, Oroville Dam is one of the key features of the
[California State Water Project](/wiki/California_State_Water_Project "California State Water Project")
(SWP), one of two major projects passed that set up California's
[statewide water system](/wiki/Water_in_California "Water in California")
. Construction was initiated in 1961, and despite numerous difficulties encountered during its construction, including multiple floods and a major train wreck on the rail line used to transport materials to the dam site, the embankment was topped out in 1967 and the entire project was ready for use in 1968. The dam began to generate electricity shortly afterwards with completion of the
[Edward Hyatt Power Plant](/wiki/Edward_Hyatt_Power_Plant "Edward Hyatt Power Plant")
, then the country's largest
[underground power station](/wiki/Underground_power_station "Underground power station")
.


path: web_results/wiki_Oroville_Dam.html
title: Oroville Dam - Wikipedia
content:
Since its completion in 1968, the Oroville Dam has allocated the flow of the Feather River from the
[Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta](/wiki/Sacramento%E2%80%93San_Joaquin_River_Delta "Sacramento–San Joaquin River Delta")
into the SWP's
[California Aqueduct](/wiki/California_Aqueduct "California Aqueduct")
, which provides a major supply of water for irrigation in the
[San Joaquin Valley](/wiki/San_Joaquin_Valley "San Joaquin Valley")
, as well as municipal and industrial water supplies to coastal
[Southern California](/wiki/Southern_California "Southern California")
, and has prevented large amounts of flood damage to the area—more than $1.3 billion between 1987 and 1999.
[[
10
]](#cite_note-10)
The dam stops fish migration up the Feather River and the controlled flow of the river; as a result, the Oroville Dam has affected
[riparian](/wiki/Riparian_zone "Riparian zone")
habitat. Multiple attempts at trying to counter the dam's impacts on
[fish migration](/wiki/Fish_migration "Fish migration")
have included the construction of a
[salmon](/wiki/Salmon "Salmon")
/
[steelhead](/wiki/Rainbow_trout "Rainbow trout")
[fish hatchery](/wiki/Fish_hatchery "Fish hatchery")
on the river, which began shortly after the dam was completed.


path: web_results/wiki_Oroville_Dam.html
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content:
In February 2017,
[the main and emergency spillways threatened to fail](/wiki/Oroville_Dam_crisis "Oroville Dam crisis")
, leading to the evacuation of 188,000 people living near the dam.
[[
11
]](#cite_note-SacBeeEvac-11)
After deterioration of the main spillway largely stabilized
[[
12
]](#cite_note-12)
and the water level of the dam's reservoir dropped below the top of the emergency spillway, the evacuation order was lifted.
[[
13
]](#cite_note-LiftOrdersCNBC-13)

The main spillway was reconstructed by November 1, 2018, and water releases were successfully tested, up to 25,000 cu ft/s (710 m
3
/s), during April 2019.

## History

[
[edit](/w/index.php?title=Oroville_Dam&action=edit&section=1 "Edit section: History")

]

### Planning

[
[edit](/w/index.php?title=Oroville_Dam&action=edit&section=2 "Edit section: Planning")

]


path: web_results/wiki_Oroville_Dam.html
title: Oroville Dam - Wikipedia
content:
In 1935, work began on the
[Central Valley Project](/wiki/Central_Valley_Project "Central Valley Project")
, a federal water project that would develop the Sacramento and
[San Joaquin River](/wiki/San_Joaquin_River "San Joaquin River")
systems for irrigation of the highly fertile
[Central Valley](/wiki/Central_Valley_(California) "Central Valley (California)")
. However, after the end of
[World War II](/wiki/World_War_II "World War II")
in 1945, the state experienced an economic boom that led to rapid urban and commercial growth in the central and southern portions of the state, and it became clear that California's economy could not depend solely on a state water system geared primarily towards agriculture. A new study of California's water supplies by the Division of Water Resources (now
[California Department of Water Resources](/wiki/California_Department_of_Water_Resources "California Department of Water Resources")
, DWR) was carried out under an act of the
[California State Legislature](/wiki/California_State_Legislature "California State Legislature")
in 1945.
[[
14
]](#cite_note-SWP-14)


path: web_results/wiki_Oroville_Dam.html
title: Oroville Dam - Wikipedia
content:
In 1951, California State Engineer A. D. Edmonston proposed the Feather River Project, the direct predecessor to the SWP, which included a major dam on the Feather River at Oroville, and aqueducts and pumping plants to transfer stored water to destinations in central and southern California. The proposed project was strongly opposed by voters in Northern California and parts of Southern California that received water from the
[Colorado River](/wiki/Colorado_River "Colorado River")
, but was supported by other Southern Californians and San Joaquin Valley farmers. However, major flooding in the 1950s prompted the 1957 passage of an emergency flood-control bill that provided sufficient funding for construction for a dam at Oroville – regardless of whether it would become part of the SWP.
[[
14
]](#cite_note-SWP-14)
[[
15
]](#cite_note-Keats-15)

### Construction

[
[edit](/w/index.php?title=Oroville_Dam&action=edit&section=3 "Edit section: Construction")

]


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Groundbreaking on the dam site occurred in May 1957 with the relocation of the
[Western Pacific Railroad](/wiki/Western_Pacific_Railroad "Western Pacific Railroad")
tracks that ran through the Feather River Canyon. The Burns-Porter Act of the California Legislature, which authorized the SWP, was not passed until November 8, 1960, and only by a slim margin.
[[
14
]](#cite_note-SWP-14)
[[
15
]](#cite_note-Keats-15)
Engineer Donald Thayer of the DWR was commissioned to design and head construction of Oroville Dam, and the primary work contract was awarded to Oro Dam Constructors Inc., a joint venture led by Oman Construction Co.
[[
16
]](#cite_note-16)


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title: Oroville Dam - Wikipedia
content:
Two concrete-lined diversion tunnels, each 4,400 ft (1,341 m) long and 35 ft (11 m) in diameter, were excavated to channel the Feather River around the dam site. One of the tunnels was located at river level and was to carry normal water flows, while the second one was only to be used during floods.
[[
17
]](#cite_note-17)
In May 1963, workers poured the last of 252,000 yd
3
(6.8 million cu ft; 193,000 m
3
) of concrete that comprised the 128 ft (39 m) high
[cofferdam](/wiki/Cofferdam "Cofferdam")
, to protect the construction site from floods. This structure later served as an impervious core for the completed dam. With the cofferdam in place, an 11-mile (18 km) rail line was constructed to move earth and rock to the dam site. An average of 120 train cars ran along the line each hour, transporting fill that was mainly excavated from enormous piles of
[hydraulic mining](/wiki/Hydraulic_mining "Hydraulic mining")
debris that was washed down by the Feather River after the
[California Gold Rush](/wiki/California_Gold_Rush "California Gold Rush")
.
[[
18
]](#cite_note-PM1985-18)


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content:
On December 22, 1964, disaster nearly struck when the Feather River, after days of heavy rain, reached a peak flow of 250,000 cu ft/s (7,100 m
3
/s) above the Oroville Dam site. The water rose behind the partially completed embankment dam and nearly overtopped it, while a maximum of 157,000 cu ft/s (4,400 m
3
/s) poured from the diversion tunnels. This
[Christmas flood of 1964](/wiki/Christmas_flood_of_1964 "Christmas flood of 1964")
was one of the most disastrous floods on record in Northern California, but the incomplete dam was able to reduce the peak flow of the Feather River by nearly 40%, averting massive damage to the area.
[[
19
]](#cite_note-19)
[[
20
]](#cite_note-20)

Ten months later, four men died in a tragic accident on the construction rail line. On October 7, 1965, two 40-car work trains, one fully loaded and the other empty, collided head-on at a tunnel entrance, igniting 10,000 US gallons (38,000 L) of diesel fuel, completely destroying two locomotives. The burning fuel from the collision started a forest fire that burned 100 acres (40 ha) before it could be extinguished. The crash delayed construction of the dam by a week while the train wreckage was cleared.
[[
21
]](#cite_note-21)
[[
22
]](#cite_note-train-22)
Overall, 34 men died in the construction of the dam.
[[
22
]](#cite_note-train-22)


path: web_results/wiki_Oroville_Dam.html
title: Oroville Dam - Wikipedia
content:
Oroville Dam was designed to withstand the strongest possible earthquake for the region, and was fitted with hundreds of instruments that serve to measure water pressure and settlement of the earth fill used in its construction, earning it the nickname "the dam that talks back".
[[
23
]](#cite_note-23)
(A
[M
L](/wiki/Local_magnitude_scale "Local magnitude scale")
5.7 earthquake in the Oroville area in 1975 is believed to have been caused by
[induced seismicity](/wiki/Induced_seismicity "Induced seismicity")
from the weight of the Oroville Dam and reservoir on a local fault line.
[[
24
]](#cite_note-24)
) The embankment was finally topped out on October 6, 1967, with the last of 155 million
[short tons](/wiki/Short_ton "Short ton")
(140.6 million
[tonnes](/wiki/Tonne "Tonne")
) of material that took over 40,000 train trips to transport.
[[
18
]](#cite_note-PM1985-18)
On May 4, 1968, Oroville Dam was officially dedicated by the state of California.
[[
25
]](#cite_note-25)
Among the notable figures present were California governor
[Ronald Reagan](/wiki/Ronald_Reagan "Ronald Reagan")
, who spoke,
[[
26
]](#cite_note-26)
[[
27
]](#cite_note-27)
[[
28
]](#cite_note-Maddow-28)
[Chief Justice](/wiki/Chief_Justice_of_the_United_States "Chief Justice of the United States")
(formerly California governor)
[Earl Warren](/wiki/Earl_Warren "Earl Warren")
, Senator
[Thomas Kuchel](/wiki/Thomas_Kuchel "Thomas Kuchel")
, and California Representative
[Harold T.


path: web_results/wiki_Oroville_Dam.html
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content:
"Bizz" Johnson](/wiki/Harold_T._Johnson "Harold T. Johnson")
.
[[
29
]](#cite_note-29)
The dedication was accompanied by a week of festivities in nearby Oroville, attended by nearly 50,000 people.
[[
30
]](#cite_note-30). ### 2005 dam relicensing

[
[edit](/w/index.php?title=Oroville_Dam&action=edit&section=4 "Edit section: 2005 dam relicensing")

]

On October 17, 2005, three environmental groups filed a motion with the
[Federal Energy Regulatory Commission](/wiki/Federal_Energy_Regulatory_Commission "Federal Energy Regulatory Commission")
(FERC) urging federal officials to require that the dam's emergency spillway be armored with concrete, rather than remain as an earthen spillway, as it did not meet modern safety standards. "In the event of extreme rain and flooding, fast-rising water would overwhelm the main concrete spillway, then flow down the emergency spillway, and that could cause heavy erosion that would create flooding for communities downstream, but also could cause a failure, known as 'loss of crest control'." FERC water agencies responsible for the cost of the upgrades said this was unnecessary and that concerns were overblown.
[[
31
]](#cite_note-31)
[[
32
]](#cite_note-sjmn-32)


path: web_results/wiki_Oroville_Dam.html
title: Oroville Dam - Wikipedia
content:
In 2006, a senior civil engineer sent a memorandum to his managers stating, "The emergency spillway meets FERC's engineering guidelines for an emergency spillway", and "The guidelines specify that during a rare flood event, it is acceptable for the emergency spillway to sustain significant damage."
[[
32
]](#cite_note-sjmn-32)

### 2009 river valve accident

[
[edit](/w/index.php?title=Oroville_Dam&action=edit&section=5 "Edit section: 2009 river valve accident")

]

At around 7:30

am on July 22, 2009, several workers were deep below the reservoir operating flow controls to test a river valve chamber in the Oroville Dam. When the flow reached 85%, suction pulled a breakaway wall downstream into a 35-foot (11 m) diversion tunnel, cutting lights and nearly sending three workers to their deaths in the roaring current.

One of the workers who was badly injured survived by clinging to a bent rail, where he was struck by tools and equipment being sucked into the tunnel. He was hospitalized for four days with head trauma, a broken leg and arm, cuts, and bruises.
[[
33
]](#cite_note-2009-KXTV-33)


path: web_results/wiki_Oroville_Dam.html
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content:
The
[California Division of the Occupational Health and Safety Administration](/w/index.php?title=California_Division_of_the_Occupational_Health_and_Safety_Administration&action=edit&redlink=1 "California Division of the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (page does not exist)")
(Cal OSHA) concluded opening the valves without an energy-dispersion ring, which reportedly was absent, "created water flow with such great turbulence that it blocked an air vent and created a vacuum".
[[
34
]](#cite_note-2009-OMR-34)
It sanctioned the DWR with six citations, including five classified as serious, and the department was initially fined $141,375. Two of the "serious" citations were overturned on appeal.
[[
33
]](#cite_note-2009-KXTV-33)
[[
35
]](#cite_note-35)


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title: Oroville Dam - Wikipedia
content:
This river valve system was one of the first parts of the dam to be built when the dam project started in 1961, because its initial purpose was to divert the river while the dam was under construction. After that, it served various purposes, including as a possible emergency release valve.
[[
33
]](#cite_note-2009-KXTV-33)
Since the accident, DWR had implemented a standing order that prohibited the operation of the river outlet system and significantly limited access to the river valve chamber.
[[
34
]](#cite_note-2009-OMR-34)
Following the accident, DWR entered into a 2012 agreement with Cal OSHA to hire a third-party expert to improve the safety of the river valve outlet system (RVOS) and make it operational again. In 2014, DWR embarked on an accelerated refurbishment program to respond to concerns about operational needs during the ongoing drought. The system was mostly refurbished and was used during 2014 and 2015 to meet
[Endangered Species Act](/wiki/Endangered_Species_Act "Endangered Species Act")
temperature requirements for the Feather River. Some additional refurbishments were being made to portions of the RVOS and were expected to conclude in early 2017.
[[
36
]](#cite_note-36)

### 2013, 2015 spillway cracks and inspection

[
[edit](/w/index.php?title=Oroville_Dam&action=edit&section=6 "Edit section: 2013, 2015 spillway cracks and inspection")

]


path: web_results/wiki_Oroville_Dam.html
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content:
The spillway cracked in 2013. A senior civil engineer with the DWR was interviewed by the
*Sacramento Bee*
, and explained, "It’s common for spillways to develop a void because of the drainage systems under them", and "There were some patches needed and so we made repairs and everything checked out."
[[
37
]](#cite_note-CBS-37)

In July 2015, the state Division of Safety of Dams inspected the dam spillway visually "from some distance" and did not walk it.
[[
38
]](#cite_note-38)

## 2017 spillway failure

[
[edit](/w/index.php?title=Oroville_Dam&action=edit&section=7 "Edit section: 2017 spillway failure")

]

Main article:
[Oroville Dam crisis](/wiki/Oroville_Dam_crisis "Oroville Dam crisis")

[![](//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/24/Oroville_Dam_spillway_damage_27_Feb_2017.jpg/250px-Oroville_Dam_spillway_damage_27_Feb_2017.jpg)](/wiki/File:Oroville_Dam_spillway_damage_27_Feb_2017.jpg)


Oroville Dam spillway damage, February 27, 2017

### Initial spillway damage

[
[edit](/w/index.php?title=Oroville_Dam&action=edit&section=8 "Edit section: Initial spillway damage")

]


path: web_results/wiki_Oroville_Dam.html
title: Oroville Dam - Wikipedia
content:
The rainy season of 2016–2017 was
[Northern California's wettest winter in over 100 years](/wiki/2017_California_floods "2017 California floods")
. Heavy rainfall resulted in record inflows from the Feather River, and the spillway was opened in January to relieve pressure on Oroville Dam. After a second series of heavy storms in February, the spillway flow was increased to 50,000 cu ft/s (1,400 m
3
/s), and on February 7, DWR employees noticed an unusual flow pattern. This halted spillway outflow, and DWR brought engineers onto the spillway to inspect its integrity. The engineers found a large area of concrete and foundation erosion. This erosion feature was too massive to repair without diverting water to the emergency spillway, and halted outflow along the main spillway for a period to fix the hole.
[[
39
]](#cite_note-39)
High inflows to Lake Oroville forced dam operators to continue using the damaged spillway, causing additional damage. The spillway hole continued to grow.
[[
40
]](#cite_note-40)
Debris from the crater in the main spillway was carried downstream, and caused damage to the
[Feather River Fish Hatchery](#Feather_River_Fish_Hatchery)
due to high
[turbidity](/wiki/Turbidity "Turbidity")
.
[[
41
]](#cite_note-41)


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content:
Although engineers had hoped that using the damaged spillway could drain the lake enough to avoid use of the emergency spillway,
[[
42
]](#cite_note-42)
they were forced to reduce its discharge from 65,000 cu ft/s (1,800 m
3
/s) to 55,000 cu ft/s (1,600 m
3
/s) due to potential damage to nearby power lines.
[[
43
]](#cite_note-43)
[[
44
]](#cite_note-44)

### Emergency spillway use and evacuation

[
[edit](/w/index.php?title=Oroville_Dam&action=edit&section=9 "Edit section: Emergency spillway use and evacuation")

]

[![](//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3f/Oroville_dam_spillover_2017-02-11.jpg/250px-Oroville_dam_spillover_2017-02-11.jpg)](/wiki/File:Oroville_dam_spillover_2017-02-11.jpg)

Water overflowed the parking lot past the emergency spillway (in the background), while water continued to flow through the main spillway (in the foreground), on February 11.

[![](//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3b/Oroville_Emergency_Spillway_Carrying_Water.jpg/250px-Oroville_Emergency_Spillway_Carrying_Water.jpg)](/wiki/File:Oroville_Emergency_Spillway_Carrying_Water.jpg)

Water from the Oroville Dam flows over the emergency spillway on Sunday, February 12


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Shortly after 8:00 pm on February 11, 2017, the emergency spillway began carrying water for the first time since the dam's construction in 1968.
[[
45
]](#cite_note-45)
The water flowed directly onto the earthen hillside below the emergency spillway, as designed. However,
[headward erosion](/wiki/Headward_erosion "Headward erosion")
of the emergency spillway threatened to undermine and collapse the concrete
[weir](/wiki/Weir "Weir")
.

On February 12, an evacuation was ordered for low-lying areas, due to possible failure of the emergency spillway.
[[
46
]](#cite_note-46)
The flow over the main spillway was increased to 100,000 cu ft/s (2,800 m
3
/s) to try to slow erosion of the emergency spillway.
[[
47
]](#cite_note-47)

By 8:00 pm on the evening of February 12, the increased flow had lowered the water level, causing the emergency spillway to stop overflowing. On February 14, the sheriff of Butte County lifted the mandatory evacuation order.
[[
13
]](#cite_note-LiftOrdersCNBC-13)

### Investigation and reconstruction

[
[edit](/w/index.php?title=Oroville_Dam&action=edit&section=10 "Edit section: Investigation and reconstruction")

]


path: web_results/wiki_Oroville_Dam.html
title: Oroville Dam - Wikipedia
content:
On May 19, 2017, the spillway was shut down for the summer, to allow demolition and repair work to begin.
[[
48
]](#cite_note-48)
The total cost of the repair was projected to exceed $400 million, with the $275 million primary contract awarded to
[Kiewit Construction](/wiki/Kiewit_Corporation "Kiewit Corporation")
.
[[
49
]](#cite_note-49)
[FEMA](/wiki/Federal_Emergency_Management_Agency "Federal Emergency Management Agency")
was expected to cover a large portion of the expenses.
[[
50
]](#cite_note-50)

According to an independent forensics team led by John France, the exact cause of the spillway failure remains uncertain, though they identified "24 possible causes for the spillway failure, including a faulty drainage system, variations in concrete thickness, and corrosion in the structure's rebar".
[[
51
]](#cite_note-51)

For 2018 the DWR planned to demolish and reconstruct the portion of the spillway which was undamaged by the flood, but which also has been identified as structurally defective. In addition, crews worked to extend a cutoff wall under the emergency spillway to prevent erosion should that structure be used again in the future.
[[
52
]](#cite_note-52)


path: web_results/wiki_Oroville_Dam.html
title: Oroville Dam - Wikipedia
content:
On November 1, 2017, DWR director Grant Davis said, "Lake Oroville's main spillway is indeed ready to safely handle winter flows if needed".
[[
53
]](#cite_note-DWRNOV2017-53)
While this completes phase 1 of the construction, there remained a phase 2 to be completed in 2018. The second phase would include rebuilding the top section of the spillway (which was not rebuilt this season), putting slabs over the roller compacted concrete section, and constructing a concrete
[secant cutoff wall](/wiki/Deep_foundation#Secant_piled_walls "Deep foundation")
for the emergency spillway.
[[
53
]](#cite_note-DWRNOV2017-53)
The cost estimate at this point is over $500 million.
[[
54
]](#cite_note-54)
In October 2017, hairline cracks were found in the rebuilt spillway.
[[
55
]](#cite_note-55)
Things that added to the cost included relocating power lines, dredging the river downstream of the dam, as well as the discovery that the bedrock under the spillway was weak, necessitating deeper excavations and more concrete.
[[
53
]](#cite_note-DWRNOV2017-53)

The DWR commissioned an independent board of consultants (BOC) to review and comment on repairs to Oroville Dam.
[[
56
]](#cite_note-56)
Memoranda (reports) prepared by the BOC are posted at the DWR web site.
[[
57
]](#cite_note-57)
The independent forensic team (IFT) was selected to determine the cause of the spillways incident, including effects of operations, management, structural design and geological conditions.
[[
58
]](#cite_note-58)


path: web_results/wiki_Oroville_Dam.html
title: Oroville Dam - Wikipedia
content:
| Progression of spillway conditions, [Sentinel-2](/wiki/Sentinel-2 "Sentinel-2") true-color satellite images |
| --- |
| * [January 30, 2017, before spillways failed](/wiki/File:Oroville_Dam,_California,_January_30,_2017,_Sentinel-6,_true-color_satellite_image.tif "January 30, 2017, before spillways failed") January 30, 2017, before spillways failed * [March 11, 2017, after spillways failed](/wiki/File:Oroville_Dam,_California,_March_11,_2017,_Sentinel-5,_true-color_satellite_image.tif "March 11, 2017, after spillways failed") March 11, 2017, after spillways failed * [July 29, 2017, construction progress](/wiki/File:Oroville_Dam,_California,_July_29,_2017,_Sentinel-4,_true-color_satellite_image.tif "July 29, 2017, construction progress") July 29, 2017, construction progress * [November 6, 2017, construction progress](/wiki/File:Oroville_Dam,_California,_November_6,_2017,_Sentinel-3,_true-color_satellite_image.tif "November 6, 2017, construction progress") November 6, 2017, construction progress * [January 30, 2018, construction progress](/wiki/File:Oroville_Dam,_California,_January_30,_2018,_Sentinel-2,_true-color_satellite_image.tif "January 30, 2018, construction progress") January 30, 2018, construction progress |

[![](//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/95/Oroville_Dam_main_spillway_rebuild_phase_2.jpg/250px-Oroville_Dam_main_spillway_rebuild_phase_2.jpg)](/wiki/File:Oroville_Dam_main_spillway_rebuild_phase_2.jpg)


path: web_results/wiki_Oroville_Dam.html
title: Oroville Dam - Wikipedia
content:
The Oroville Dam main spillway on August 5, 2018, during phase-two repairs

According to its 2017–18 operations plan, the DWR maintained Lake Oroville at a lower-than-normal level to reduce the possibility that the spillway would have to be used the following winter.
[[
59
]](#cite_note-59)

In a second phase of spillway repairs in 2018–19, temporary repairs on the main spillway done during phase one were being torn out and replaced with steel-reinforced structural concrete.
[[
60
]](#cite_note-60)

On April 2, 2019, due to heavy rainfall upstream, the DWR began releasing water over the newly reconstructed spillway at a rate of 8,300 cubic feet per second (240 m
3
/s).
[[
61
]](#cite_note-61)
Releases were increased to 25,000 cubic feet per second (710 m
3
/s) on April 7 to test how the spillway performed in higher flows. They were decreased to 15,000 cubic feet per second (420 m
3
/s) on April 9.

#### 2020 Safety assessment

[
[edit](/w/index.php?title=Oroville_Dam&action=edit&section=11 "Edit section: 2020 Safety assessment")

]

The DWR released an assessment, dated October 1, 2020, concluding that Oroville Dam was suitable for continued safe and reliable operation.
[[
62
]](#cite_note-October_1,_2020-62)


path: web_results/wiki_Oroville_Dam.html
title: Oroville Dam - Wikipedia
content:
Meanwhile, the
[Federal Energy Regulatory Commission](/wiki/Federal_Energy_Regulatory_Commission "Federal Energy Regulatory Commission")
has demanded that California submit a plan by September 2022, for addressing the issue of greater amounts of rain predicted in the future.
[[
63
]](#cite_note-ferc-63)

## 2020–21 drought

[
[edit](/w/index.php?title=Oroville_Dam&action=edit&section=12 "Edit section: 2020–21 drought")

]

[![](//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/21/Edward_Hyatt_Powerplant_during_its_shutdown_in_August_2021-5993.jpg/250px-Edward_Hyatt_Powerplant_during_its_shutdown_in_August_2021-5993.jpg)](/wiki/File:Edward_Hyatt_Powerplant_during_its_shutdown_in_August_2021-5993.jpg)


Edward Hyatt Powerplant at Oroville Dam on August 15, 2021: In early August 2021, the hydroelectric power plant was shut down due to low water levels in Lake Oroville caused by the drought in California.

Due to the low precipitation in the catchment area, water levels were below normal beginning in 2020.
In August 2021, the Hyatt power plant had to be shut down because the water level fell below its water inlets.
[[
64
]](#cite_note-64)
After falling to a record low of 22% capacity by September 30, winter storms increased the lake level by December and the plant was restarted on January 4, 2022.
[[
65
]](#cite_note-65)

## Operations

[
[edit](/w/index.php?title=Oroville_Dam&action=edit&section=13 "Edit section: Operations")

]

### Hydroelectricity


path: web_results/wiki_Oroville_Dam.html
title: Oroville Dam - Wikipedia
content:
[
[edit](/w/index.php?title=Oroville_Dam&action=edit&section=14 "Edit section: Hydroelectricity")

]

[![](//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/04/Oroville.jpg/250px-Oroville.jpg)](/wiki/File:Oroville.jpg)


Satellite view showing Lake Oroville (right), Oroville Dam (bottom center), and Thermalito Forebay (bottom left)

Construction of the underground Edward Hyatt Pump-Generating Plant was finished shortly after the completion of Oroville Dam. At the time, it was the largest underground power station in the United States,
[[
18
]](#cite_note-PM1985-18)
with three 132-
[megawatt](/wiki/Megawatt "Megawatt")
(MW) conventional turbines and three 141 MW pump-generators for a total installed capacity of 819 MW.
[[
6
]](#cite_note-power-6)
The Hyatt Powerplant is capable of pumping water back into Lake Oroville when surplus power is available. The pump-generators at Hyatt can lift up to 5,610 cubic feet per second (159 m
3
/s) into Lake Oroville (with a net consumption of 519 MW), while the six turbines combined use a flow of 16,950 cu ft/s (480 m
3
/s) at maximum generation.
[[
66
]](#cite_note-facilities-66)


path: web_results/wiki_Oroville_Dam.html
title: Oroville Dam - Wikipedia
content:
Since 1969, the Hyatt plant has worked in tandem with an extensive pumped-storage operation comprising two
[offstream](/wiki/Offstream "Offstream")
reservoirs west of Oroville. These two facilities are collectively known as the
[Oroville–Thermalito Complex](/wiki/Oroville%E2%80%93Thermalito_Complex "Oroville–Thermalito Complex")
.
[[
67
]](#cite_note-67)
Water is diverted into the upper Thermalito reservoir (Thermalito Forebay) via the Thermalito Diversion Dam on the Feather River. During periods of off-peak power use, surplus energy generated at Hyatt is used to lift water from Thermalito's lower reservoir (the Thermalito Afterbay) to the forebay, which releases water back into the afterbay to generate up to 114 MW of power at times of high demand.
[[
68
]](#cite_note-68)
The Hyatt and Thermalito plants produce an average of 2,200
[gigawatt hours](/wiki/Gigawatt_hour "Gigawatt hour")
(GWh) of electricity each year, about half of the total power produced by the SWP's eight hydroelectric facilities.
[[
69
]](#cite_note-69)
[[
70
]](#cite_note-SWPb-70)

### Water supply

[
[edit](/w/index.php?title=Oroville_Dam&action=edit&section=15 "Edit section: Water supply")

]


path: web_results/wiki_Oroville_Dam.html
title: Oroville Dam - Wikipedia
content:
Water released from Oroville Dam travels down the Feather River before joining with the
[Sacramento River](/wiki/Sacramento_River "Sacramento River")
, eventually reaching the
[Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta](/wiki/Sacramento-San_Joaquin_Delta "Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta")
, where the SWP's
[California Aqueduct](/wiki/California_Aqueduct "California Aqueduct")
diverts the fresh water for transport to the arid San Joaquin Valley and Southern California. Oroville–Thermalito hydroelectric facilities furnish about one-third of the power necessary to drive the pumps that lift the water in the aqueduct from the delta into the valley, and then from the valley over the
[Tehachapi Mountains](/wiki/Tehachapi_Mountains "Tehachapi Mountains")
into coastal Southern California.
[[
70
]](#cite_note-SWPb-70)
[[
71
]](#cite_note-71)
Water and power from the dam contribute to the irrigation of 755,000 acres (306,000 ha) in the arid San Joaquin Valley Westside and municipal supplies to some 25 million people.
[[
72
]](#cite_note-72)
At least 2.8 million acre⋅ft (910 billion US gal; 3.5 trillion L) of water is released.
[[
73
]](#cite_note-watershed1-73)

### Flood control

[
[edit](/w/index.php?title=Oroville_Dam&action=edit&section=16 "Edit section: Flood control")

]

[![](//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c5/Oroville_dam.jpg/250px-Oroville_dam.jpg)](/wiki/File:Oroville_dam.jpg)


path: web_results/wiki_Oroville_Dam.html
title: Oroville Dam - Wikipedia
content:
Partial view of the dam's emergency spillway (left) next to its main service spillway (far right) (2008)

During the winter and early spring, Lake Oroville is required to have at least 750,000 acre⋅ft (240 billion US gal; 930 billion L), or a fifth of the reservoir's storage capacity, available for flood control.
[[
74
]](#cite_note-74)
The dam is operated to maintain an objective flood-control release of 150,000 cubic feet per second (4,200 m
3
/s), which may be further reduced during large storms when flows below the Feather's confluence with the
[Yuba River](/wiki/Yuba_River "Yuba River")
exceed 300,000 cubic feet per second (8,500 m
3
/s).
[[
75
]](#cite_note-75)
In the particularly devastating flood of 1997, inflows to the reservoir hit more than 331,000 cubic feet per second (9,400 m
3
/s), but dam operators managed to limit the outflow to 160,000 cubic feet per second (4,500 m
3
/s), sparing large regions of the Sacramento Valley from flooding.
[[
76
]](#cite_note-76)
[[
77
]](#cite_note-77)

### Feather River Fish Hatchery

[
[edit](/w/index.php?title=Oroville_Dam&action=edit&section=17 "Edit section: Feather River Fish Hatchery")

]


path: web_results/wiki_Oroville_Dam.html
title: Oroville Dam - Wikipedia
content:
Oroville Dam completely blocks the
[anadromous migrations](/wiki/Fish_migration#Classification "Fish migration")
of
[Chinook salmon](/wiki/Chinook_salmon "Chinook salmon")
and
[steelhead trout](/wiki/Rainbow_trout#Steelhead_life_cycle "Rainbow trout")
in the Feather River. In 1967, in an effort to compensate for lost habitat, the DWR and the
[California Department of Fish and Game](/wiki/California_Department_of_Fish_and_Game "California Department of Fish and Game")
completed the Feather River Fish Hatchery.
[[
78
]](#cite_note-78)
The Fish Barrier Dam, built in 1962, intercepts salmon and trout before they reach the base of the impassable Thermalito Diversion Dam and forces them to swim up a
[fish ladder](/wiki/Fish_ladder "Fish ladder")
to the hatchery, which is located on the north bank of the Feather River. The hatchery produces 10 million salmon
[smolt](/wiki/Juvenile_fish "Juvenile fish")
, along with 450,000 trout smolt, to stock in the river each year.
[[
79
]](#cite_note-79)
The salmon smolt are released in two runs, with 20% for the spring run and 80% for the fall run. This facility has been successful enough that concern exists that salmon of hatchery stock are outcompeting remaining wild salmon in the Feather River system.
[[
80
]](#cite_note-80)
[[
81
]](#cite_note-81)

## See also

[
[edit](/w/index.php?title=Oroville_Dam&action=edit&section=18 "Edit section: See also")

]


path: web_results/wiki_Oroville_Dam.html
title: Oroville Dam - Wikipedia
content:
* ![flag](//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/01/Flag_of_California.svg/40px-Flag_of_California.svg.png)

 [California portal](/wiki/Portal:California "Portal:California")
* [![icon](//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/ae/Drinking_water.jpg/20px-Drinking_water.jpg)](/wiki/File:Drinking_water.jpg)

 [Water portal](/wiki/Portal:Water "Portal:Water")
* [![icon](//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/ad/Wind-turbine-icon.svg/40px-Wind-turbine-icon.svg.png)](/wiki/File:Wind-turbine-icon.svg)

 [Renewable energy portal](/wiki/Portal:Renewable_energy "Portal:Renewable energy")


path: web_results/wiki_Oroville_Dam.html
title: Oroville Dam - Wikipedia
content:
* [New Bullards Bar Dam](/wiki/New_Bullards_Bar_Dam "New Bullards Bar Dam")
* [List of hydroelectric power station failures](/wiki/List_of_hydroelectric_power_station_failures "List of hydroelectric power station failures")
* [List of dams and reservoirs in California](/wiki/List_of_dams_and_reservoirs_in_California "List of dams and reservoirs in California")
* [List of lakes in California](/wiki/List_of_lakes_in_California "List of lakes in California")
* [List of largest reservoirs of California](/wiki/List_of_largest_reservoirs_of_California "List of largest reservoirs of California")
* [List of power stations in California](/wiki/List_of_power_stations_in_California "List of power stations in California")
* [List of tallest dams in the United States](/wiki/List_of_tallest_dams_in_the_United_States "List of tallest dams in the United States")
* [New Bidwell Bar Bridge](/wiki/New_Bidwell_Bar_Bridge "New Bidwell Bar Bridge")

## References

[
[edit](/w/index.php?title=Oroville_Dam&action=edit&section=19 "Edit section: References")

]

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)**


path: web_results/wiki_Oroville_Dam.html
title: Oroville Dam - Wikipedia
content:
["Lake Oroville"](https://edits.nationalmap.gov/apps/gaz-domestic/public/search/names/264404)
 .
 *[Geographic Names Information System](/wiki/Geographic_Names_Information_System "Geographic Names Information System")*
 .
 [United States Geological Survey](/wiki/United_States_Geological_Survey "United States Geological Survey")
 ,
 [United States Department of the Interior](/wiki/United_States_Department_of_the_Interior "United States Department of the Interior")
 . January 19, 1981
 . Retrieved
 March 31,
 2012
 .
2. ^
 [***a***](#cite_ref-NPDP_2-0)
 [***b***](#cite_ref-NPDP_2-1)



 ["Oroville Dam"](http://npdp.stanford.edu/DamDirectory/DamDetail.jsp?npdp_id=CA00035)
 .
 *National Performance of Dams Program*
 . Stanford University
 . Retrieved
 March 31,
 2012
 .


 [
 *[permanent dead link](/wiki/Wikipedia:Link_rot "Wikipedia:Link rot")*
 ]
3. ^
 [***a***](#cite_ref-FERC_3-0)
 [***b***](#cite_ref-FERC_3-1)



 ["Oroville Facilities (FERC Project No. 2100)"](https://web.archive.org/web/20170525090645/http://www.water.ca.gov/orovillerelicensing/docs/app_ferc_license_2005/Vol_I_Exhibit%20A.pdf)

 (PDF)
 . California Department of Water Resources. January 2005. Archived from
 [the original](http://www.water.ca.gov/orovillerelicensing/docs/app_ferc_license_2005/Vol_I_Exhibit%20A.pdf)

 (PDF)
 on May 25, 2017
 . Retrieved
 February 13,
 2017
 .
4. ^
 [***a***](#cite_ref-CDEC_4-0)
 [***b***](#cite_ref-CDEC_4-1)
 [***c***](#cite_ref-CDEC_4-2)


path: web_results/wiki_Oroville_Dam.html
title: Oroville Dam - Wikipedia
content:
["Oroville Dam (ORO)"](http://cdec.water.ca.gov/cgi-progs/profile?s=ORO&type=dam)
 .
 *California Data Exchange Center*
 . California Department of Water Resources
 . Retrieved
 March 31,
 2012
 .
5. **[^](#cite_ref-5)**



 Ritzema, Randall S.; Newlin, Brad D.; Van Lienden, Brian J. (October 2001).
 ["Appendix H: Infrastructure"](https://web.archive.org/web/20171106132356/https://calvin.ucdavis.edu/files/content/page/AppendixH%20(1).pdf)

 (PDF)
 .
 *CALVIN Project*
 . University of California Davis. Archived from
 [the original](http://calvin.ucdavis.edu/files/content/page/AppendixH%20(1).pdf)

 (PDF)
 on November 6, 2017
 . Retrieved
 January 25,
 2014
 .
6. ^
 [***a***](#cite_ref-power_6-0)
 [***b***](#cite_ref-power_6-1)
 [***c***](#cite_ref-power_6-2)



 ["Edward Hyatt Powerplant"](https://web.archive.org/web/20120407054356/http://www.water.ca.gov/swp/facilities/Oroville/hyatt.cfm)
 .
 *California State Water Project*
 . California Department of Water Resources. June 17, 2009. Archived from
 [the original](http://www.water.ca.gov/swp/facilities/Oroville/hyatt.cfm)
 on April 7, 2012
 . Retrieved
 April 2,
 2012
 .
7. **[^](#cite_ref-7)**


path: web_results/wiki_Oroville_Dam.html
title: Oroville Dam - Wikipedia
content:
["California Hydroelectric Statistics & Data"](https://web.archive.org/web/20180226135225/http://www.energy.ca.gov/almanac/renewables_data/hydro/index.php)
 . California Energy Commission. Archived from
 [the original](http://www.energy.ca.gov/almanac/renewables_data/hydro/index.php)
 on February 26, 2018
 . Retrieved
 April 26,
 2018
 .
8. **[^](#cite_ref-8)**



 ["Dam, Hydropower and Reservoir Statistics"](https://web.archive.org/web/20120325153036/http://www.ussdams.org/uscold_s.html)
 . United States Society on Dams. Archived from
 [the original](http://www.ussdams.org/uscold_s.html)
 on March 25, 2012
 . Retrieved
 March 31,
 2012
 .
9. **[^](#cite_ref-Over_40000!_9-0)**



 ["Alphabetical List of California Dams (Over 40,000 acre feet)"](https://web.archive.org/web/20120205223601/http://cee.engr.ucdavis.edu/faculty/lund/dams/DamList.htm)
 .
 *Civil and Environmental Engineering*
 . University of California Davis. Archived from
 [the original](http://cee.engr.ucdavis.edu/faculty/lund/dams/DamList.htm)
 on February 5, 2012
 . Retrieved
 March 31,
 2012
 .
10. **[^](#cite_ref-10)**



 ["The Benefits of Dams to Society"](https://web.archive.org/web/20121001040007/http://ussdams.org/ben_9903.html)
 .
 *USCOLD Newsletter*
 . United States Society on Dams. March 1999. Archived from
 [the original](http://ussdams.org/ben_9903.html)
 on October 1, 2012
 . Retrieved
 September 4,
 2012
 .
11. **[^](#cite_ref-SacBeeEvac_11-0)**


path: web_results/wiki_Oroville_Dam.html
title: Oroville Dam - Wikipedia
content:
Rodriguez, Olga R.; Thompson, Don (February 12, 2017).
 ["188,000 under evacuation orders near Northern California dam"](https://web.archive.org/web/20170223133046/http://www.sacbee.com/news/business/technology/article132299174.html)
 .
 *The Sacramento Bee*
 . Associated Press. Archived from
 [the original](http://www.sacbee.com/news/business/technology/article132299174.html)
 on February 23, 2017.
12. **[^](#cite_ref-12)**



 ["Updates: New storms approach, but officials confident Oroville Dam and spillways will hold up"](http://www.orlandosentinel.com/la-live-updates-oroville-dam-oroville-dam-crisis-how-we-got-to-this-1487089359-htmlstory.html)
 .
 *Orlande Sentinel*

 . Retrieved
 February 23,
 2017
 .
13. ^
 [***a***](#cite_ref-LiftOrdersCNBC_13-0)
 [***b***](#cite_ref-LiftOrdersCNBC_13-1)



 Daniels, Jeff (February 14, 2017).
 ["Authorities lift mandatory evacuation orders for Oroville Dam emergency"](https://www.cnbc.com/2017/02/14/authorities-lift-mandatory-evacuation-orders-for-oroville-dam-emergency.html)
 . CNBC
 . Retrieved
 February 14,
 2017
 .
14. ^
 [***a***](#cite_ref-SWP_14-0)
 [***b***](#cite_ref-SWP_14-1)
 [***c***](#cite_ref-SWP_14-2)


path: web_results/wiki_Oroville_Dam.html
title: Oroville Dam - Wikipedia
content:
["History of Water Development and the State Water Project"](https://web.archive.org/web/20100823082851/http://www.water.ca.gov/swp/history.cfm)
 . California Department of Water Resources. October 8, 2008. Archived from
 [the original](http://www.water.ca.gov/swp/history.cfm)
 on August 23, 2010
 . Retrieved
 April 2,
 2012
 .
15. ^
 [***a***](#cite_ref-Keats_15-0)
 [***b***](#cite_ref-Keats_15-1)



 Keats, Adam (October 2007).
 ["2. State Water Project"](https://web.archive.org/web/20130515142259/http://www.pcl.org/projects/2011symposium/proceedings/Keats8.pdf)

 (PDF)
 .
 *Water Wars: Present and Future*
 . Planning and Conservation League. Archived from
 [the original](http://www.pcl.org/projects/2011symposium/proceedings/Keats8.pdf)

 (PDF)
 on May 15, 2013
 . Retrieved
 April 2,
 2012
 .
16. **[^](#cite_ref-16)**



 ["Exhibit C: Construction History and Proposed Construction Schedule"](https://web.archive.org/web/20120404170818/http://www.water.ca.gov/orovillerelicensing/docs/app_ferc_license_2005/Vol_I_Exhibit%20C.pdf)

 (PDF)
 .
 *Oroville Facilities FERC Project No. 2100*
 . California Department of Water Resources. January 2005. Archived from
 [the original](http://www.water.ca.gov/orovillerelicensing/docs/app_ferc_license_2005/Vol_I_Exhibit%20C.pdf)

 (PDF)
 on April 4, 2012
 . Retrieved
 April 4,
 2012
 .
17. **[^](#cite_ref-17)**


path: web_results/wiki_Oroville_Dam.html
title: Oroville Dam - Wikipedia
content:
["History"](https://web.archive.org/web/20130516093200/http://library.thinkquest.org/trio/TTQ06035/History.html)
 .
 *Oroville – The Forgotten Golden City*
 . Oracle ThinkQuest Education Foundation. Archived from
 [the original](http://library.thinkquest.org/trio/TTQ06035/History.html)
 on May 16, 2013
 . Retrieved
 April 2,
 2012
 .
18. ^
 [***a***](#cite_ref-PM1985_18-0)
 [***b***](#cite_ref-PM1985_18-1)
 [***c***](#cite_ref-PM1985_18-2)



 Hoffer, William (July 1985). "Taming the Feather River".
 *Popular Mechanics*
 . Vol. 162, no. 7. pp.
 78–
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 [California Department of Fish and Wildlife](/wiki/California_Department_of_Fish_and_Wildlife "California Department of Fish and Wildlife")

 . Retrieved
 February 12,
 2017
 .
79. **[^](#cite_ref-79)**



 ["California Hatchery Review Report"](https://web.archive.org/web/20170525090650/http://cahatcheryreview.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/CA%20Hatchery%20Review%20Report%20Final%207-31-12.pdf#page=92)


path: web_results/wiki_Oroville_Dam.html
title: Oroville Dam - Wikipedia
content:
(PDF)
 . California Hatchery Scientific Review Group. June 2012. Archived from
 [the original](http://cahatcheryreview.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/CA%20Hatchery%20Review%20Report%20Final%207-31-12.pdf#page=92)

 (PDF)
 on May 25, 2017
 . Retrieved
 February 12,
 2017
 .
80. **[^](#cite_ref-80)**



 ["Mariculture: Chinook Salmon and Steelhead Trout"](http://www.marinebio.net/marinescience/06future/salsteelfarm.htm)
 . MarineBio Conservation Society. 2003
 . Retrieved
 April 2,
 2012
 .
81. **[^](#cite_ref-81)**



 Weston, Mary (October 8, 2010).
 ["Salmon spawning under way at Feather River hatchery"](http://www.chicoer.com/news/ci_16285995)
 .
 *Chico Enterprise-Record*

 . Retrieved
 April 2,
 2012
 .



 `{{
 cite news
 }}`
 : CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (
 [link](/wiki/Category:CS1_maint:_deprecated_archival_service "Category:CS1 maint: deprecated archival service")
 )

## Further reading

[
[edit](/w/index.php?title=Oroville_Dam&action=edit&section=20 "Edit section: Further reading")

]

* Reynolds, David W.; Hartzell, Curtis L. (September 1995).
 [Lake Oroville Runoff Enhancement Project — Final Report](https://www.usbr.gov/tsc/techreferences/rec/R9512.pdf)

 (PDF)
 (Report). United States Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation.

## External links

[
[edit](/w/index.php?title=Oroville_Dam&action=edit&section=21 "Edit section: External links")

]


path: web_results/wiki_Oroville_Dam.html
title: Oroville Dam - Wikipedia
content:
[![logo](//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/40px-Commons-logo.svg.png)](/wiki/File:Commons-logo.svg)

Wikimedia Commons has media related to
[Oroville Dam](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Oroville_Dam "commons:Category:Oroville Dam")
.

* [Official website](https://water.ca.gov/Programs/State-Water-Project/SWP-Facilities/Oroville)
* [Oroville Reservoir – Current Conditions](https://cdec.water.ca.gov/resapp/ResDetail?resid=ORO)
 | California Department of Water Resources
* [Oroville Facilities, FERC Project No. 2100](https://web.archive.org/web/20150128071324/http://www.water.ca.gov/hlpco/p2100.cfm)
 at the
 [Wayback Machine](/wiki/Wayback_Machine "Wayback Machine")
 (archived January 28, 2015)
* [Oroville Facilities Relicensing](https://web.archive.org/web/20090218104539/https://orovillerelicensing.water.ca.gov/)
 at the
 [Wayback Machine](/wiki/Wayback_Machine "Wayback Machine")
 (archived February 18, 2009)


path: web_results/wiki_Oroville_Dam.html
title: Oroville Dam - Wikipedia
content:
| * [v](/wiki/Template:Generating_stations_in_California "Template:Generating stations in California") * [t](/w/index.php?title=Template_talk:Generating_stations_in_California&action=edit&redlink=1 "Template talk:Generating stations in California (page does not exist)") * [e](/wiki/Special:EditPage/Template:Generating_stations_in_California "Special:EditPage/Template:Generating stations in California") [Power stations](/wiki/List_of_power_stations_in_California "List of power stations in California") in [California](/wiki/California "California") | |
| --- | --- |
| Battery storage (≥10 [MW](/wiki/Megawatt "Megawatt") ) | * [Beacon BESS 1](/wiki/Beacon_Solar_Project "Beacon Solar Project") * [Elkhorn Battery](/wiki/Moss_Landing_Power_Plant#Battery_storage "Moss Landing Power Plant") |
| Biomass (≥10 [MW](/wiki/Megawatt "Megawatt") ) | * [Hyperion DGUP](/wiki/Hyperion_sewage_treatment_plant "Hyperion sewage treatment plant") * [Puente Hills Energy Recovery](/wiki/Puente_Hills_Landfill "Puente Hills Landfill") * [Sunshine Gas Producers](/wiki/Sunshine_Canyon_Landfill "Sunshine Canyon Landfill") |
| Coal | * [Argus Cogeneration Plant](/wiki/Searles_Valley_Minerals#Argus_Cogeneration_Plant "Searles Valley Minerals") |
| Geothermal | * [Coso](/wiki/Coso_Volcanic_Field "Coso Volcanic Field") * [The Geysers](/wiki/The_Geysers "The Geysers") * [Imperial Valley](/wiki/Imperial_Valley_Geothermal_Project "Imperial Valley Geothermal Project") * [Mammoth](/wiki/Mammoth_Geothermal_Complex "Mammoth Geothermal Complex") |
| Natural gas | * [Alamitos Energy Center](/wiki/Alamitos_Energy_Center "Alamitos Energy Center") * [Donald Von Raesfeld Power Plant](/wiki/Donald_Von_Raesfeld_Power_Plant "Donald Von Raesfeld Power Plant") * [Gateway Generating Station](/wiki/Gateway_Generating_Station "Gateway Generating Station") * [Glenarm Power Plant](/wiki/Glenarm_Power_Plant "Glenarm Power Plant") * [Huntington Beach Energy Project](/wiki/Huntington_Beach_Energy_Project "Huntington Beach Energy Project") * [Los Esteros Critical Energy Center](/wiki/Los_Esteros_Critical_Energy_Facility "Los Esteros Critical Energy Facility") * [Metcalf Energy Center](/wiki/Metcalf_Energy_Center "Metcalf Energy Center") * [Midway Sunset](/wiki/Midway-Sunset_Oil_Field#Cogeneration "Midway-Sunset Oil Field") * [Moss Landing Power Plant](/wiki/Moss_Landing_Power_Plant "Moss Landing Power Plant") * [Russell City Energy Center](/wiki/Russell_City_Energy_Center "Russell City Energy Center") * [Valley](/wiki/Valley_Generating_Station "Valley Generating Station") |
| Nuclear | * [Diablo Canyon](/wiki/Diablo_Canyon_Power_Plant "Diablo Canyon Power Plant") |
| Hydro- electric | | | | | --- | --- | | Conventional | * [Balch Powerhouse](/wiki/North_Fork_Kings_River#River_modifications "North Fork Kings River") * [Belden Powerhouse](/wiki/Upper_North_Fork_Feather_River_Project "Upper North Fork Feather River Project") * [Big Creek No.


path: web_results/wiki_Oroville_Dam.html
title: Oroville Dam - Wikipedia
content:
1, 2, 2A, 3, 4 and 8](/wiki/Big_Creek_Hydroelectric_Project "Big Creek Hydroelectric Project") * [Camino Powerhouse](/wiki/Upper_American_River_Project "Upper American River Project") * [Caribou No. 1 and 2](/wiki/Upper_North_Fork_Feather_River_Project "Upper North Fork Feather River Project") * [Devil Canyon](/wiki/California_State_Water_Project#East_Branch "California State Water Project") * [Folsom Dam](/wiki/Folsom_Dam "Folsom Dam") * [Jaybird Powerhouse](/wiki/Upper_American_River_Project "Upper American River Project") * [Keswick Dam](/wiki/Keswick_Dam "Keswick Dam") * [Loon Lake Powerhouse](/wiki/Upper_American_River_Project "Upper American River Project") * [Mammoth Pool Powerhouse](/wiki/Mammoth_Pool_Dam "Mammoth Pool Dam") * [Moccasin Powerhouse](/wiki/Moccasin_Dam "Moccasin Dam") * [New Bullards Bar Dam](/wiki/New_Bullards_Bar_Dam "New Bullards Bar Dam") * [New Don Pedro Dam](/wiki/New_Don_Pedro_Dam "New Don Pedro Dam") * [New Exchequer Dam](/wiki/New_Exchequer_Dam "New Exchequer Dam") * [New Melones Dam](/wiki/New_Melones_Dam "New Melones Dam") * Oroville Dam * [Parker Dam](/wiki/Parker_Dam "Parker Dam") * [Pine Flat Dam](/wiki/Pine_Flat_Dam "Pine Flat Dam") * [San Francisquito No. 1](/wiki/Los_Angeles_Aqueduct "Los Angeles Aqueduct") * [Shasta Dam](/wiki/Shasta_Dam "Shasta Dam") * [Trinity Dam](/wiki/Trinity_Dam "Trinity Dam") * [White Rock Powerhouse](/wiki/Upper_American_River_Project "Upper American River Project") * [William E.


path: web_results/wiki_Oroville_Dam.html
title: Oroville Dam - Wikipedia
content:
Warne](/wiki/California_State_Water_Project#West_Branch "California State Water Project") | | Pumped- storage | * [Castaic](/wiki/Castaic_Power_Plant "Castaic Power Plant") * [Helms](/wiki/Helms_Pumped_Storage_Plant "Helms Pumped Storage Plant") * [J.S. Eastwood](/wiki/Big_Creek_Hydroelectric_Project "Big Creek Hydroelectric Project") * [O'Neill](/wiki/O%27Neill_Dam "O'Neill Dam") * [Thermalito](/wiki/Oroville%E2%80%93Thermalito_Complex "Oroville–Thermalito Complex") * [William R.


path: web_results/wiki_Oroville_Dam.html
title: Oroville Dam - Wikipedia
content:
Gianelli](/wiki/San_Luis_Dam "San Luis Dam") | |
| Solar | | | | | --- | --- | | [PV](/wiki/Photovoltaic_power_station "Photovoltaic power station") | * [Antelope Valley Solar Ranch](/wiki/Antelope_Valley_Solar_Ranch "Antelope Valley Solar Ranch") * [Beacon Solar Project](/wiki/Beacon_Solar_Project "Beacon Solar Project") * [Blythe Solar Power Project](/wiki/Blythe_Solar_Power_Project "Blythe Solar Power Project") * [California Flats Solar Project](/wiki/California_Flats_Solar_Project "California Flats Solar Project") * [California Valley Solar Ranch](/wiki/California_Valley_Solar_Ranch "California Valley Solar Ranch") * [Campo Verde Solar Project](/wiki/Campo_Verde_Solar_Project "Campo Verde Solar Project") * [Catalina Solar Project](/wiki/Catalina_Solar_Project "Catalina Solar Project") * [Centinela Solar Energy Project](/wiki/Centinela_Solar_Energy_Project "Centinela Solar Energy Project") * [Desert Stateline Solar Facility](/wiki/Stateline_Solar "Stateline Solar") * [Desert Sunlight Solar Farm](/wiki/Desert_Sunlight_Solar_Farm "Desert Sunlight Solar Farm") * [Imperial Solar Energy Center South](/wiki/Imperial_Solar_Energy_Center_South "Imperial Solar Energy Center South") * [Imperial Solar Energy Center West](/wiki/Imperial_Solar_Energy_Center_West "Imperial Solar Energy Center West") * [McCoy Solar Energy Project](/wiki/McCoy_Solar_Energy_Project "McCoy Solar Energy Project") * [Mount Signal Solar](/wiki/Mount_Signal_Solar "Mount Signal Solar") * [Panoche Valley Solar Farm](/wiki/Panoche_Valley_Solar_Farm "Panoche Valley Solar Farm") * [Solar Star](/wiki/Solar_Star "Solar Star") * [Springbok Solar Farm](/wiki/Springbok_Solar_Farm "Springbok Solar Farm") * [Topaz Solar Farm](/wiki/Topaz_Solar_Farm "Topaz Solar Farm") | | Thermal | * [Genesis Solar Energy Project](/wiki/Genesis_Solar_Energy_Project "Genesis Solar Energy Project") * [Ivanpah Solar Power Facility](/wiki/Ivanpah_Solar_Power_Facility "Ivanpah Solar Power Facility") * [Mojave Solar Project](/wiki/Mojave_Solar_Project "Mojave Solar Project") * [Solar Energy Generating Systems](/wiki/Solar_Energy_Generating_Systems "Solar Energy Generating Systems") | |
| Wind | * [Alta Wind Energy Center](/wiki/Alta_Wind_Energy_Center "Alta Wind Energy Center") * [Altamont Pass Wind Farm](/wiki/Altamont_Pass_Wind_Farm "Altamont Pass Wind Farm") * [San Gorgonio Pass Wind Farm](/wiki/San_Gorgonio_Pass_Wind_Farm "San Gorgonio Pass Wind Farm") * [Shiloh Wind Power Plant](/wiki/Shiloh_Wind_Power_Plant "Shiloh Wind Power Plant") * [Tehachapi Pass Wind Farm](/wiki/Tehachapi_Pass_Wind_Farm "Tehachapi Pass Wind Farm") |.


path: web_results/wiki_Oroville_Dam.html
title: Oroville Dam - Wikipedia
content:
Sisk](/wiki/San_Luis_Dam "San Luis Dam") * [Bethany](/w/index.php?title=Bethany_Dam&action=edit&redlink=1 "Bethany Dam (page does not exist)") * [Castaic](/wiki/Castaic_Dam "Castaic Dam") * [Cedar Springs](/wiki/Cedar_Springs_Dam "Cedar Springs Dam") * [Del Valle](/wiki/Del_Valle_Dam "Del Valle Dam") * [Elderberry Forebay](/wiki/Elderberry_Forebay_Dam "Elderberry Forebay Dam") * [Fish Barrier](/w/index.php?title=Fish_Barrier_Dam&action=edit&redlink=1 "Fish Barrier Dam (page does not exist)") * [Frenchman](/wiki/Frenchman_Lake_(California) "Frenchman Lake (California)") * [Grizzly Valley](/wiki/Grizzly_Valley_Dam "Grizzly Valley Dam") * [Little Panoche](/w/index.php?title=Little_Panoche_Detention_Dam&action=edit&redlink=1 "Little Panoche Detention Dam (page does not exist)") * [Los Banos Dam](/w/index.php?title=Los_Banos_Detention_Dam&action=edit&redlink=1 "Los Banos Detention Dam (page does not exist)") * [O'Neill](/wiki/O%27Neill_Dam "O'Neill Dam") * Oroville * [Perris](/wiki/Perris_Dam "Perris Dam") * [Pyramid](/wiki/Pyramid_Dam "Pyramid Dam") * [Quail Lake](/w/index.php?title=Quail_Lake_Dam&action=edit&redlink=1 "Quail Lake Dam (page does not exist)") * [Thermalito Afterbay](/wiki/Thermalito_Afterbay_Dam "Thermalito Afterbay Dam") * [Thermalito Diversion](/w/index.php?title=Thermalito_Diversion_Dam&action=edit&redlink=1 "Thermalito Diversion Dam (page does not exist)") * [Thermalito Forebay](/w/index.php?title=Thermalito_Forebay_Dam&action=edit&redlink=1 "Thermalito Forebay Dam (page does not exist)") |
| [Reservoirs](/wiki/Reservoir "Reservoir") | * [Antelope Lake](/wiki/Antelope_Dam_(California) "Antelope Dam (California)") * [Bethany Reservoir](/wiki/Bethany_Reservoir "Bethany Reservoir") * [Castaic Lake](/wiki/Castaic_Lake "Castaic Lake") * [Clifton Court Forebay](/wiki/Clifton_Court_Forebay "Clifton Court Forebay") * [Elderberry Forebay](/wiki/Elderberry_Forebay "Elderberry Forebay") * [Frenchman Lake](/wiki/Frenchman_Lake_(California) "Frenchman Lake (California)") * [Lake Davis](/wiki/Lake_Davis "Lake Davis") * [Lake Del Valle](/wiki/Lake_Del_Valle "Lake Del Valle") * [Lake Oroville](/wiki/Lake_Oroville "Lake Oroville") * [Lake Perris](/wiki/Lake_Perris "Lake Perris") * [Little Panoche Reservoir](/w/index.php?title=Little_Panoche_Reservoir&action=edit&redlink=1 "Little Panoche Reservoir (page does not exist)") * [Los Banos Reservoir](/w/index.php?title=Los_Banos_Reservoir&action=edit&redlink=1 "Los Banos Reservoir (page does not exist)") * [O'Neill Forebay](/wiki/O%27Neill_Forebay "O'Neill Forebay") * [Pyramid Lake](/wiki/Pyramid_Lake_(Los_Angeles_County,_California) "Pyramid Lake (Los Angeles County, California)") * [Quail Lake](/wiki/Quail_Lake "Quail Lake") * [San Luis Reservoir](/wiki/San_Luis_Reservoir "San Luis Reservoir") * [Silverwood Lake](/wiki/Silverwood_Lake "Silverwood Lake") * [Tehachapi Afterbay](/w/index.php?title=Tehachapi_Afterbay&action=edit&redlink=1 "Tehachapi Afterbay (page does not exist)") * [Thermalito Afterbay](/wiki/Thermalito_Afterbay "Thermalito Afterbay") * [Thermalito Forebay](/wiki/Thermalito_Forebay "Thermalito Forebay") |
| [Rivers](/wiki/River "River") and bodies of water | * [Feather River](/wiki/Feather_River "Feather River") * [Piru Creek](/wiki/Piru_Creek "Piru Creek") * [Sacramento River](/wiki/Sacramento_River "Sacramento River") * [Sacramento–San Joaquin River Delta](/wiki/Sacramento%E2%80%93San_Joaquin_River_Delta "Sacramento–San Joaquin River Delta") * [San Luis Creek](/wiki/San_Luis_Creek_(California) "San Luis Creek (California)") |
| [Aqueducts](/wiki/Aqueduct_(water_supply) "Aqueduct (water supply)") and [canals](/wiki/Canal "Canal") | * [California Aqueduct](/wiki/California_Aqueduct "California Aqueduct") * [North Bay Aqueduct](/wiki/North_Bay_Aqueduct "North Bay Aqueduct") * [South Bay Aqueduct](/wiki/South_Bay_Aqueduct "South Bay Aqueduct") |
| Other facilities | * [Banks Pumping Plant](/wiki/Banks_Pumping_Plant "Banks Pumping Plant") * [Buena Vista Pumping Plant](/wiki/Buena_Vista_Pumping_Plant "Buena Vista Pumping Plant") * [Castaic Power Plant](/wiki/Castaic_Power_Plant "Castaic Power Plant") * [Devil Canyon Power Plant](/w/index.php?title=Devil_Canyon_Power_Plant&action=edit&redlink=1 "Devil Canyon Power Plant (page does not exist)") * [Dos Amigos Pumping Plant](/wiki/Dos_Amigos_Pumping_Plant "Dos Amigos Pumping Plant") * [Edmonston Pumping Plant](/wiki/Edmonston_Pumping_Plant "Edmonston Pumping Plant") * [Feather River Fish Hatchery](/wiki/Feather_River_Fish_Hatchery "Feather River Fish Hatchery") * [Kern River Intertie](/w/index.php?title=Kern_River_Intertie&action=edit&redlink=1 "Kern River Intertie (page does not exist)") * [O'Neill Pumping-Generating Plant](/wiki/O%27Neill_Pumping-Generating_Plant "O'Neill Pumping-Generating Plant") * [Oroville–Thermalito Complex](/wiki/Oroville%E2%80%93Thermalito_Complex "Oroville–Thermalito Complex") * [South Bay Pumping Plant](/wiki/South_Bay_Pumping_Plant "South Bay Pumping Plant") |
| Related | * [CALFED Bay-Delta Program](/wiki/CALFED_Bay-Delta_Program "CALFED Bay-Delta Program") * [California Department of Water Resources](/wiki/California_Department_of_Water_Resources "California Department of Water Resources") * [Peripheral Canal](/wiki/Peripheral_Canal "Peripheral Canal") * [Bay Delta Conservation Plan](/wiki/Bay_Delta_Conservation_Plan "Bay Delta Conservation Plan") |.


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| [Authority control databases](/wiki/Help:Authority_control "Help:Authority control") [Edit this at Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1425594#identifiers "Edit this at Wikidata") | |
| --- | --- |
| National | * [United States](https://id.loc.gov/authorities/sh2006020096) * [Israel](https://www.nli.org.il/en/authorities/987007542462505171) |
| Geographic | * [Structurae](https://structurae.net/structures/20024810) |
| Other | * [Yale LUX](https://lux.collections.yale.edu/view/place/f67710c0-b05c-44ff-a091-53b5db164b2a) |

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* [1968 establishments in California](/wiki/Category:1968_establishments_in_California "Category:1968 establishments in California")
* [Buildings and structures in Butte County, California](/wiki/Category:Buildings_and_structures_in_Butte_County,_California "Category:Buildings and structures in Butte County, California")
* [California Department of Water Resources dams](/wiki/Category:California_Department_of_Water_Resources_dams "Category:California Department of Water Resources dams")
* [California State Water Project](/wiki/Category:California_State_Water_Project "Category:California State Water Project")
* [Dams completed in 1968](/wiki/Category:Dams_completed_in_1968 "Category:Dams completed in 1968")
* [Dams in California](/wiki/Category:Dams_in_California "Category:Dams in California")
* [Dams in the Feather River basin](/wiki/Category:Dams_in_the_Feather_River_basin "Category:Dams in the Feather River basin")
* [Earth-filled dams](/wiki/Category:Earth-filled_dams "Category:Earth-filled dams")
* [Energy infrastructure completed in 1968](/wiki/Category:Energy_infrastructure_completed_in_1968 "Category:Energy infrastructure completed in 1968")
* [Feather River](/wiki/Category:Feather_River "Category:Feather River")
* [Hydroelectric power plants in California](/wiki/Category:Hydroelectric_power_plants_in_California "Category:Hydroelectric power plants in California")
* [Oroville, California](/wiki/Category:Oroville,_California "Category:Oroville, California")
* [Underground power stations](/wiki/Category:Underground_power_stations "Category:Underground power stations")
* [United States Army Corps of Engineers dams](/wiki/Category:United_States_Army_Corps_of_Engineers_dams "Category:United States Army Corps of Engineers dams")
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* [Dams with fish ladders](/wiki/Category:Dams_with_fish_ladders "Category:Dams with fish ladders").


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* [Webarchive template wayback links](/wiki/Category:Webarchive_template_wayback_links "Category:Webarchive template wayback links").


path: web_results/wiki_Lake_Oroville.html
title: Lake Oroville - Wikipedia
content:
The lake is a popular nationally renowned
[bass](/wiki/Bass_(fish) "Bass (fish)")
fishing location,
[[
3
]](#cite_note-3)
while
[coho salmon](/wiki/Coho_salmon "Coho salmon")
are stocked from the Feather River Fish Hatchery.
[[
4
]](#cite_note-4)
This hatchery is a main component of Lake Oroville.

## History

[
[edit](/w/index.php?title=Lake_Oroville&action=edit&section=1 "Edit section: History")

]

[![](//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/57/GENERAL_ELEVATION_VIEW%2C_LOOKING_SOUTH_-_Bidwell_Bar_Suspension_Bridge_and_Stone_Toll_House%2C_Near_Lake_Oroville_%28moved_from_fork_of_Feather_River%29%2C_Oroville%2C_Butte_County%2C_CA_HAER_CAL%2C4-ORO.V%2C1-5.tif/lossy-page1-250px-thumbnail.tif.jpg)](/wiki/File:GENERAL_ELEVATION_VIEW,_LOOKING_SOUTH_-_Bidwell_Bar_Suspension_Bridge_and_Stone_Toll_House,_Near_Lake_Oroville_(moved_from_fork_of_Feather_River),_Oroville,_Butte_County,_CA_HAER_CAL,4-ORO.V,1-5.tif)


[Bidwell Bar Suspension Bridge](/wiki/Bidwell_Bar_Suspension_Bridge "Bidwell Bar Suspension Bridge")


path: web_results/wiki_Lake_Oroville.html
title: Lake Oroville - Wikipedia
content:
Due to federal flood control requirements, by mid-October each year, the lake's storage must be reduced to a specified level within the range of a maximum flood control pool of 750,000 acre-feet (0.93 km
3
) and a minimum of 375,000 acre-feet (463,000,000 m
3
). Each day the allowable level within the range is recalculated using an index reflecting the watershed wetness and the anticipation of heavy runoff from incoming storms. As a wet season like 1997–98 progresses, the allowable storage tends to coincide with the maximum flood control pool. The reservoir operators must balance the conflicting objectives of controlling the current flood event and preparing for a possible future one.
[[
11
]](#cite_note-water.ca.gov-11)

### Spillway emergency

[
[edit](/w/index.php?title=Lake_Oroville&action=edit&section=3 "Edit section: Spillway emergency")

]

[![](//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/ce/Lake_Oroville_aerial.jpg/250px-Lake_Oroville_aerial.jpg)](/wiki/File:Lake_Oroville_aerial.jpg)


Aerial view from the west of Lake Oroville, the Oroville Dam, Thermalito Forebay and Thermalito Afterbay, and vicinity

Main article:
[Oroville Dam crisis](/wiki/Oroville_Dam_crisis "Oroville Dam crisis")


path: web_results/wiki_Lake_Oroville.html
title: Lake Oroville - Wikipedia
content:
In February 2017, extreme precipitation and high spillway releases caused significant damage to the main concrete spillway. Due to this damage, releases were cut back and lake level increased to 101% of capacity, causing the emergency spillway to overflow for the first time in the Lake's history.
[[
12
]](#cite_note-12)
Below the emergency spillway, severe erosion occurred, and fear of a failure of the emergency spillway prompted an evacuation of downstream residents.
[[
13
]](#cite_note-13)

Phase 1 of emergency spillway repairs was completed in 2017. The main spillway was successfully reconstructed by November 1, 2018.
[[
14
]](#cite_note-14)

[![](assets/250px-Lake_Oroville_events_timeline.jpg)](/wiki/File:Lake_Oroville_events_timeline.jpg)

## Recreation

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The lake offers multiple recreational activities for the public to participate in. The Lake Oroville Visitor Center has a museum, exhibits, videos and a store. People like to look through the two high-powered telescopes on the 47-foot tall tower to see the lake, Sierra Nevada, valley, foothills, and the
[Sutter Buttes](/wiki/Sutter_Buttes "Sutter Buttes")
mountain range.

### Fishing

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