Upper Feather River Watershed

The Feather River is the primary tributary to the Sacramento, California’s longest river, and produces roughly 10% of the state's hydroelectric power. The North Fork of the Feather River alone supplies approximately 60% of Lake Oroville's water. Oroville is the principal water storage structure for the State Water Project, from which water flows to irrigate farms in the Central Valley, quench thirsty population centers in Southern California, and provide environmental flows for the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta.

Closer to home, the waters of the Upper Feather River watershed serve as a critical water resource. From hydroelectric power generation along the North Fork, to the Wild and Scenic recreational value of the Middle Fork, to irrigation usage on the East Branch, the branches of the Feather River are critical to enabling residents to maintain the quality of life they currently enjoy. Historically, the Upper Feather River watershed has been impacted by a plethora of issues from logging and grazing, to urbanization and water diversion.

To address the long-term health of the Upper Feather River watershed, and to ensure it continues to provide the diverse array of services which it does today, The Sierra Institute and Plumas Corporation created a shared watershed coordinator position.  The coordinator supports comprehensive work in the watershed, building on the specializations of both organizations in order to increase understanding of watershed conditions, ensure the resiliency of the watershed, and engage stakeholders in a shared future. To learn more about the work happening in a specific area, click one of the regions in the map below.

   

  Middle Fork