OPINION: DWR Asks To Improve Access To Lake Oroville

With the most pressing part of the Oroville spillway emergency over, the state Department of Water Resources now turns its attention to another juggling act. The challenge is keeping the lake low enough so the spillway doesn’t need to be used again until winter, yet high enough so that tourists still come to the lake for recreation — and hopefully spend money in an area that’s already taken a huge hit to its economy and its image. Another challenge is what to do if the tourists do come, because the largest boat ramp on the lake is inaccessible.