Introduction
On February 11, 1957, the Federal Power Commission, predecessor to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, issued a 50-year license, effective February 1, 1957, to DWR to construct and operate the Oroville Facilities (FERC Project No. 2100) in Butte County, California.

Constructed at the foot of the Sierra Nevada Mountains in Northern California, the Oroville Facilities, are located on the Feather River in Butte County. The Oroville Facilities include boundaries that extend from south of the City of Oroville to reaches of the South Fork, Middle Fork,  North Fork and the West Branch of the North Fork of the Feather River.

The principal features of Project 2100 include the Oroville Dam and Reservoir, the Edward Hyatt Powerplant, Thermalito Powerplant, Thermalito Diversion Dam Powerplant, Thermalito Forebay and Afterbay, and associated recreational and fish and wildlife preservation and enhancement facilities.  The Oroville Reservoir (also known as Lake Oroville) is the principal water storage facility of the State Water Project (SWP) which conserves and delivers water to over two-thirds of California’s population.  

The hydroelectric facilities at the Oroville Facilities have a combined license capacity of approximately 762 MW.

Lake Oroville, with a gross capacity of 3,537,577 acre-feet, is operated for water supply, power generation, flood control, recreation, and fishery and wildlife habitat enhancement.

Edward Hyatt Powerplant, has six generators (three for reversible pump back operation), and a capacity of approximately 645 MW.

Located downstream from the Edward Hyatt Powerplant are the Thermalito Facilities, comprised of the Thermalito and Thermalito Diversion Dam powerplants, Diversion Pool, Thermalito Forebay and Afterbay, the Feather River Fish Hatchery, and the fish barrier dam.

The primary purpose of the Thermalito Facilities is to regulate releases from Edward Hyatt Powerplant, including storage of onpeak releases for pump back during the offpeak period. In addition, the Thermalito Facilities supplement the power generation of Edward Hyatt Powerplant and enhance recreational opportunities near the City of Oroville.

Thermalito Diversion Dam forms the Diversion Pool, 13,328 acre-feet gross capacity, on the Feather River immediately downstream from the tailrace of Edward Hyatt Powerplant.  Thermalito Forebay, located off stream about four miles west of the Diversion Dam, has a gross capacity of 11,768 acre-feet. 

Thermalito Forebay is formed by water releases from Lake Oroville and diverted by the Diversion Dam through Thermalito Power Canal.  Releases from Thermalito Forebay flow through Thermalito Powerplant into Thermalito Afterbay.  Releases are also made through the Diversion Dam and/or the Diversion Dam power plant directly into the Feather River to maintain flows for fish preservation and water rights entitlements.  

Thermalito Powerplant has four generators (three for reversible pump back operation) and a capacity of approximately 114 MW.   

Thermalito Diversion Dam Powerplant has a  capacity of approximately 3 MW. 

Thermalito Afterbay has a gross storage capacity of 57,041 acre-feet.  Water may be pumped back into Lake Oroville through Thermalito and Edward Hyatt Powerplants; released to the Feather River Channel; or diverted directly to the Sutter Butte Canal, Western Lateral, Richvale Canal, and Western Canal.

The Feather River Fish Barrier Dam diverts migrating salmon and steelhead into the Feather River Fish Hatchery.

The existing license for Project No. 2100 expires on January 31, 2007.  DWR plans to file a notice of intent to seek a new license by January 31, 2002 and will file its application for a new license by January 31, 2005.