Lake Oroville Within 18 Feet of Crest

With Lake Oroville at its highest level in nearly four years, state officials were cautiously optimistic that the reservoir will reach the crest this year.

The lake was less than 18 feet from the crest of 900 feet above sea level, as of 5 p.m. Friday. The last time the lake was this high was June 28, 2012. That year marked the last time Lake Oroville came within 13 inches of the crest as California’s current multi-year drought was just beginning.