OROVILLE — The Department of Water Resources announced Tuesday that hydropower generation has resumed at the Hyatt Power Plant at Oroville Dam in Butte County.
The powerplant was taken offline Aug. 5 because of falling water levels driven by the state’s ongoing severe drought conditions. The water levels had reached a historic low. Operations were resumed after recent storms have increased water levels and provided colder water in the reservoir.
According to the DWR’s data exchange center, the Oroville Dam was at 721 feet reservoir elevation Thursday.
“This is a significant milestone as California sees some relief from drought conditions,” DWR Director Karla Nemeth said. “Providing clean hydropower to the state energy grid allows DWR to assist in meeting the state’s clean energy goals.”
According to a statement from the Department of Water Resources, the power plant is using one generating unit to produce electricity. It is supplying it to the state’s electrical grid that is managed by the California Independent System Operator. Outflows from the plant and generation are expected to initially remain low because of reduced agricultural demands and improved delta salinity conditions.
The Department of Water Resources said in the statement that it anticipates an average outflow of about 900 cubic feet per second. This would generate around 30 megawatts of power. DWR will bring back additional units online as lake levels rise and demands increase.
DWR completed major maintenance activities while the power plant was offline to help make sure that the plant maintains its reliability. This was also done to make sure that the plant is available for water deliveries and power generation.
“DWR continues to manage Lake Oroville to balance storage needs with requirements for Delta outflows, water quality, and public health and safety requirements,” the statement read. “In an effort to conserve as much storage as possible in the event of another dry year.”
