Upper Feather River Lakes

The Upper Feather River is the area above Oroville. As I research, visit, and make YouTube videos about the lakes, dams, and powerhouses in that area, I will post some of the information here. YouTube videos can be found in the YouTube Tab on the main menu.

Lake Oroville

Name of Dam: Oroville Dam
Impounds: Feather River
Owner: California Department of Water Resources
Location: Butte County, California

Type of Dam: Earthfill embankment dam, completed in 1968 by California Department of Water Resources
Size of Dam: 770 feet high and 6,920 feet across
Reservoir Capacity: 3,537,580 acre feet.
Surface Area: 15,500 acres
Crest Elevation: 922 feet
Depth: Maximum depth approximately 695 feet
Shoreline: 167 miles
Catchment Area: 3,950 square miles
Primary Inflows: Feather River (North Fork, Middle Fork, West Branch, and South Fork) and various creeks and streams
Primary Outflows: Feather River

Other Info: Keystone of the California State Water Project. Tallest dam in United States. Second largest reservoir in state of California. In addition to supplying California State Water Project with water and hydropower, uses include flood control storage, recreation, releases for fisheries, and fulfillment of downstream water rights and contracts.

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Antelope Lake

Name of Dam: Antelope Dam or Antelope Valley Dam 
Impounds: Indian Creek
Owner: California Department of Water Resources
Location: Plumas County, California

Type of Dam: Earthfill dam completed in 1963
Size of Dam: 120 feet high and 1,320 feet across
Reservoir Capacity: 22,570 acre feet
Surface Area: 930 acres
Crest Elevation: 5,025 feet
Depth: Maximum 80 feet
Shoreline: 15 miles
Catchment Area: 71 square miles
Primary Inflows: Indian Creek
Primary Outflows: Indian Creek

Other Info: Part of the California State Water Project. Entire site is surrounded by the Plumas National Forest. Primary uses include recreation and downstream releases for fisheries. Antelope Dam has the longest crest of the Department of Water Resources three Upper Feather River dams (Antelope, Davis, and Frenchman

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Lake Davis

Name of Dam: Grizzly Valley Dam
Impounds: Big Grizzly Creek
Owner: California Department of Water Resources
Location: Plumas County, California

Type of Dam: Rock-fill and earthen dam completed in 1966
Size of Dam: 132 feet high and 800 feet across
Reservoir Capacity: 84,370 acre feet
Surface Area: 4,030 acres
Crest Elevation: 5,785 feet
Depth: Maximum 108 feet; Average 21 feet
Shoreline: 32 miles
Catchment Area: 44 square miles
Primary Inflows Big Grizzly Creek, Freeman Creek, Cow Creek, Dan Blough Creek
Primary Outflows: Big Grizzly Creek

Other Info: Part of the California State Water Project. Lake is named for California Assemblyman Lester T. Davis (1906-1952). Primary uses are recreation and downstream releases for fisheries. Also provides water for nearby town of Portola. Lake Davis is the largest of the Department of Water Resources three Upper Feather River lakes (Antelope, Davis, and Frenchman).

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Frenchman Lake

Name of Dam: Frenchman Dam
Impounds: Little Last Chance Creek
Owner: California Department of Water Resources
Location: Plumas County, California

Type of Dam: Rock-fill and earthen dam, completed in 1961 as an irrigation project of the California Department of Water Resources
Size of Dam: 139 feet high and 720 feet across
Reservoir Capacity: 55,480 acre feet.
Surface Area: 1,580 acres
Crest Elevation: 5,607 feet
Depth: Maximum 101 feet; average 35 feet
Shoreline: 21 miles
Catchment Area: 82 square miles
Primary Inflows: Little Last Chance Creek
Primary Outflows: Little Last Chance Creek

Other Info: Part of the California State Water Project. Named after Claude Francois Seltier, a French immigrant who settled in the area in 1858. Primary uses are recreation and downstream releases for fisheries. Frenchman Dam is the tallest of the Department of Water Resources three Upper Feather River dams (Antelope, Davis, and Frenchman).

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