Lake Oroville Offers 10 Free Recreation Days This Summer

In order to entice boaters and swimmers back to Lake Oroville following the Oroville Dam spillway collapse in 2017, state officials will offer 10 free recreation days to visitors this summer.

The California Department of Water Resources and California State Parks announced free day use and boat launching at Lake Oroville State Recreational Area for all visitors on the following days: May 17-18, June 7-8, July 5-6, August 2-3 and September 6-7, 2018.

“The month of May kicks off the busy recreation season at Lake Oroville and we look forward to offering free access on select days to encourage more visitors to the area,” said DWR Director Karla Nemeth in a news release. “We’re committed to public safety while the construction in Oroville continues and we are equally focused on making sure visitors continue to enjoy the beauty of Lake Oroville.”

The recreation was significantly diminished on the lake in 2017 after the the crisis and now that the lake sits at a healthy 824 feet, the area is primed for a rebound year. Lake Oroville is a popular location for fishing, houseboating and water skiing throughout the warmer months.

Phase 2 has begun to finish the repairs of the Oroville Dam spillway and the DWR released the below video of the current progress:

Here’s to a great summer on the lake!