Lime Saddle Campground Opening
By Meghan Blake

Lake Oroville not only has an important role in the State Water Project as the largest reservoir, but it also provides great recreational opportunities for Californians. DWR recently added more recreational facilities to those already existing around the lake by opening the new Lime Saddle Campground.

DWR operates the Lake Oroville facilities under a 50-year license granted by the Federal Power Commission, predecessor to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. The initial license, developed with the construction of the dam and powerhouse, called for DWR to provide camping and boating facilities around the lake. This requirement, updated in a 1994 plan that reflected further community input, spurred the construction of additional recreational facilities, including the Lime Saddle Campground.

Three locations were reviewed before locals suggested the current campground area. The chosen site, located at the north end of the lake, just off Pentz Road, will provide easy access to visitors from Chico, Paradise, and Quincy areas.

“Not only were we trying to find a location that was close to other facilities, but also a spot for future development, and conveniently accessed from the highway,” said Don Rasmussen, DWR Supervising Engineer in the Division of Flood Management, who worked for the Division of Engineering during the planning and design phases of the campground.

The chosen location provided room for 50 campsites, double the size of the FERC requirement. The area also offered adequate room for a group campsite and boat spurs where people could park their boat trailers next to their campsites. This venue also provided room for future expansion.

Construction of the Lime Saddle Campground began on September 27, 2000. The contractor, Remcon Construction of Oakdale, worked with Division of Engineering, Oroville Field Division, and Department of Parks and Recreation staff to build the campground.

Construction took place throughout the winter months.

“Sand bags, silt fences, and rock barriers had to be built and placed around the construction zones to prevent storm water, carrying dirt and construction debris, from polluting the lake,” said Jim Peddy, DWR Division of Engineering.

Due to the remoteness of the campground location, bringing in sewer lines from an outside source would be too difficult. The planners decided to create a sewer effluent pond, which would allow the liquid wastes to evaporate and the solids to be stored in a sanitary manner away from the campground. The excavation of the sewer effluent pond was a major undertaking. The rocky soil required the largest bulldozer made to rip through the 93,000 cubic yards of dirt that needed to be removed to create the pond.

Bringing in adequate water and electricity also proved to be a challenge. Almost one mile of pipeline had to be added to existing distant facilities to bring water into the campground. Electricity was also brought in for the 14 recreational vehicle campsites and three comfort stations.

“Dozens of changes were made to satisfy the Department of Parks and Recreation’s needs in order to manage the campground. From water faucets to fire rings, and campsite relocation, we did our best to accommodate them,” said Peddy.

Despite all of these demanding tasks, the campground opened on June 29, 2001. The Lime Saddle Campground is the first new campground in 10 years to be opened by the Department of Parks and Recreation.

“The last month was extremely hectic,” said Dave Ferguson, Supervising Engineer who is now a Retired Annuitant at the Oroville Field Division. “We all had to come together and tie up the loose ends, but the end result was a really good product.”

Construction continued on for a short period of time after June 29 in order to finish the group campground and make some adjustments to be in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

The State Water Project Contractors funded the planning, design, and construction of the Lime Saddle Campground through the Department of Water Resources. The finished product cost $7 million.

The finished 50-site campground offers 30 individual tent spots, a group site for six tents, and 14 recreational vehicle spaces with full hookups. The campground is equipped with restrooms with hot running water and showers, and a network of paved roads connects all of the campsites.

“This is a state of the art campground,” commented Tom Glover, Chief of the Oroville Field Division. “Once the campground is publicized a little more I think that there will be many visitors to the campground during the spring, summer, and fall months.”

Lake Oroville Recreation Facilities
By Meghan Blake

DWR in cooperation with Department of Parks and Recreation and the Department of Boating and Waterways has completed the following recreational projects at Lake Oroville since the dam was completed in 1968:
• Lime Saddle Campground – 50-site campground with 30 individual tent sites, 1 group site, and 14 RV sites
• Loafer Creek Campground – 137 campsites and 6 group sites
• Bidwell Canyon – 74 camp sites
• Boat-in camps – 89 individual sites and 12 group sites
• Monument Hill – Concrete launch ramp, picnic areas, restroom, and parking
• Wilbur Road – concrete launch ramp and parking
• 10 Floating Campsites
• 2 additional floating restrooms
• 41-mile mountain bike trail
• Equestrian group camp with 15 sites and restrooms
• Aquatic Center
• En-route RV parking at North Forebay
• Picnic area and swim beach at South Forebay
• Expansion of Feather River Fish Hatchery
• Fish Cleaning Stations
• Other access roads, parking, and restroom parking improvements in conjunction with the Department of Boating and Waterways
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For more information about California Department of Water Resources water activities write or phone the DWR Office of Water Education
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