Oroville Dam was finished by California’s Department of Water Resources in 1967 after five years of work, according to California State Parks. It stands 770 feet above the bed of the Feather River, the tallest dam in the country, and holds back Lake Oroville.
The Short Version
The dam stores Feather River water for the State Water Project, which sends it to the Bay Area, the San Joaquin Valley and Southern California. It also controls floods and makes power. At its highest the lake covers about 15,500 acres with 167 miles of shoreline, and State Parks runs the recreation area around it.
| Fact | What State Parks prints | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Built by | The State Department of Water Resources | State Parks |
| Finished | 1967, after 5 years of construction | State Parks |
| Height | 770 feet above the streambed of the Feather River; the tallest dam in the country | State Parks |
| Lake size at full | About 15,500 surface acres and 167 miles of shoreline | State Parks |
| Purpose | Water for the State Water Project, flood control, electric power and recreation | State Parks |
| Day-use fee | Vehicle Day Use: $8.00; Boat Launch: $5.00; Combo: $13.00 | State Parks |
| Day-use hours | Day use areas are open 8 a.m. to Sunset. | State Parks |
Why The Dam Was Built
State Parks’ page for Lake Oroville State Recreation Area says the lake “conserves water for distribution by the State Water Project to homes, farms, and industries in the San Francisco Bay area, the San Joaquin Valley and Southern California,” and that the Oroville facilities also provide flood control and power. Below the dam, the Feather River Fish Hatchery was built by the Department of Water Resources and, in State Parks’ words, operated by the Department of Fish and Game to replace salmon and steelhead spawning grounds lost to the dam.
Seeing The Story Today
The Department of Water Resources runs the Kelly Ridge Visitor Center at 917 Kelly Ridge Road, phone (530) 538-2219. State Parks says it has displays on the dam’s construction and the State Water Project, a history of the Native people of the Lake Oroville area, films, and a 47-foot viewing tower with two telescopes looking over the lake and dam. Not confirmed The visitor center’s current hours are not printed on the State Parks page; call before you go.
The 2017 Spillway Emergency
Not confirmed In 2017 the dam’s spillways were damaged and later rebuilt by the Department of Water Resources. We could not open the Department of Water Resources’ own pages on the rebuild when this page was written, so dates, costs and details are left out until we can read them there.
Chico Legend
Oroville Dam Is The Tallest Dam in America
Locals like to say Oroville beats even Hoover Dam for height. Bragging rights or fact?
Believe it? Make your guess, then open the answer.
Show What Is Actually True
What is actually true: California State Parks says the lake was “formed by the tallest dam in the country (770 feet above the streambed of the Feather River).” We have not compared official heights for every U.S. dam ourselves, so this is State Parks' claim, printed on its Lake Oroville page.
Sources: California State Parks, Lake Oroville State Recreation Area page
Questions People Ask
How Tall Is Oroville Dam?
770 feet above the Feather River streambed, per California State Parks.
When Was Oroville Dam Built?
State Parks says the Department of Water Resources completed it in 1967 after five years of construction.
Who Runs Lake Oroville?
The Department of Water Resources runs the dam and Kelly Ridge Visitor Center; California State Parks runs the Lake Oroville State Recreation Area.
Is There a Fee to Visit Lake Oroville?
State Parks lists $8 vehicle day use, $5 boat launch or $13 for both.
Still Unconfirmed
- Not confirmed The dam's formal dedication date; State Parks gives only the 1967 completion year.
- Not confirmed Dates, cost and details of the 2017 spillway damage and rebuild, until read on the Department of Water Resources' own pages.
- Not confirmed Kelly Ridge Visitor Center hours.
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Sources
- California State Parks, Lake Oroville State Recreation Area page, read October 29, 2026.
Cite this page: It's Chico, “Oroville Dam and Lake Oroville History”, itschico.com/history/oroville-dam/ (updated ). By the It's Chico editorial team. Free to quote with attribution and a link to this page; data and tables are licensed CC BY 4.0.