Nor Cal Lake Water Levels??

[EricU]

I have not been up to Oroville or Shasta yet this year and I am trying to decide which lake to go to for a week at the end of this month.

I have heard nothing but bad news regarding our Northern California lake levels.

Could I get some input on the Nor Cal lakes from people who have been at them lately, or suggestions for another?

Oroville, is Bidwell’s ramp accessible?
Shasta? I have only seen photos and they looked bad.
Camp Far West? CFW seemed to have a lot of water at the Tige Endless Wave Tour which was the end of May. I think it is a privately owned lake. Has it dropped as much as the others?
Clear Lake? Starts out as a shallow lake, but I have heard they have a minimum water level that they must maintain.
Bullard’s Bar? Love that lake, but is a bit of a pain to tow our heavy pig RZ4 and the pontoon boat to.


The photo below was taken last April at Oroville’s Bidwell ramp! I don’t think it has gotten any better.

Oroville 4-02-2014 (5).jpg

[auburnjensen]

Bullards Bar's water levels are significantly lower than the average summer. I'll be going to Shasta this week and can let you know what they are looking like.

[Wood]

Launched at lime saddle yesterday at lake Oroville. The lake is getting low but still a good choice. There is a lot of info online about lake levels and which ramps are open. Clear lake is getting low also you can launch out of Lakeport no problem.

[ragboy]

Oroville is at the low 700s, lime saddle is still open like Kyle just mentioned, but may not be for long, I think it ends at I think 706 and the lake is at 716 at this moment.

I have launched from Bidwell all the way at 650, and it ends at 640.

Some of our best days on the lake have been when you could only launch at Bidwell. The reason is that there is still TONS of water and no one is out. The low water drives most away and its like a private lake almost even on a hot saturday. The lake is so deep, it is still safe and mostly obstacle free. Because there is few people you can just ride in the main bodies of water.

This video is from the last week or so, and if you notice, the shore is farther away than normal. That is because the forks are getting narrow and too hard to get a straight line, so we are just heading down the main channel. Its also brighter because the sun comes out more, since the shore/hills are farther away.

I just would plan on being on the lake as much as possible and not launching as much. Rent a slip or something.

[MooseX]

not that you'll ever make it up to Tahoe...but it's almost panic time here. They're closing most of the flow on the Truckee soon. So no more raft trips

My bouy has gone from 14 ft. deep to 9 feet

We're surfing in shallow water in our favorite cove (less than 10) and it's not optimum

F**k it was hot today on the water...

[infotom]

We camp and day trip at Rollins Lake in Colfax/Grass Valley. It is small but really cool and as of today was about 95% full. 4 campgrounds to choose from.

[MooseX]

that's not bad for Rollins'. I love that place..I live about 25 min from there right off i 80 at the top of 20

[infotom]

that's not bad for Rollins'. I love that place..I live about 25 min from there right off i 80 at the top of 20

I'm about 15-20 min the other direction in Auburn... Where do you buoy your boat? I'm up in Tahoe quite a bit for work.

[MooseX]

Dollar Point. We surf in Tahoe City in the 'Riviera'...cove. It's near town with alotta' big $$ houses. Best cove near town out of the boating lanes

We're heading south to Rubicon tomorrow for some deep water wave action... and cliff jumpin'

[kenr08]

We have a family house in Dollar Point. How is the lake level? Now living in Texas so don't get up as much as we would like but will be there in August. I love Lake Tahoe!

[EricU]

We hit Berryessa yesterday for just the day, and the water levels were low, but not as low as I expected.

Gonna go up and see what Oroville looks like, I think as long as we can get into the lake it will be ok.

We may just try and see if we can just get a houseboat at Berryessa, if we can get a decent deal. Not willing to pay $5k for a week at Berryessa...

Oh well, problems to have...

[MooseX]

Ken the water is down 4 feet from 3 years ago. When I first bouy' there it was splashing against the break walls. We now have a 35 foot wide beach

By the way I've kept up the maintainance on your Dollar Point house...You know make sure the Big Screen works, Hot Tub gets 'cycled'....Keep Beer from going bad, run the motor on the summer cars.

I promise everything will be 'tight' when August rolls around...

[kenr08]

Moose - appreciate all the extra effort you put in to keep up the house.

Guess I need to invite you over for a beer when we are up there!

[MooseX]

I appreciate that...

but first look the house over in person....

[EricU]

Anyone know about the water level at Camp Far West?

I will find out about Oroville tomorrow.