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Feather River Watershed Monitoring Study

Published by California Department of Water Resources | State of California | Catalog Last Checked: September 10, 2026 at 06:10 PM | Dataset Last Updated: August 17, 2026 at 08:27 PM
The Feather River watershed serves as a source of water for the State Water Project (SWP), one of the nation’s largest water conveyance projects. The California Department of Water Resources (DWR) owns and operates three reservoirs in the upper portion of this watershed: Antelope Lake, Frenchman Lake, and Lake Davis. Outflows from these reservoirs and runoff from the remainder of the watershed ultimately flow into Lake Oroville, another DWR reservoir. Water in these reservoirs is used as a source for drinking water supply, recreation, and for fish and wildlife beneficial uses. Historically, DWR’s water quality monitoring efforts in this watershed had been minimal due to relatively stable watershed conditions and minimal concerns affecting the SWP. In 2018, however, the Camp Fire resulted in a large burn upstream of Lake Oroville, raising concerns about water quality impacts from the post-fire runoff. In response, DWR initiated a short-term study to monitor runoff from this fire. Results from this study were provided in a [water quality assessment](https://data.cnra.ca.gov/dataset/lake-oroville-water-quality-assessment-for-the-2018-camp-fire). Following the end of that study, large wildfires again impacted the watershed above Lake Oroville. By the end of 2021, approximately 57 percent of the Lake Oroville watershed had burned in a three year period. Additionally, the 2021 Beckwourth Complex fire burned 90 percent of the Frenchman Lake watershed. In response to these fires, DWR initiated a broader post-fire water quality monitoring study. This study encompassed a larger geographic area, included more diverse sample locations, and included both burned and unburned portions of the watershed. The primary objectives of this new study were to assess the water quality of runoff and its impacts from inflow to SWP reservoirs, as well as, providing a larger baseline of water quality data for the watershed than had previously been available. The data provided as part of this study includes both these inflow samples and reservoir samples that were collected as part of DWR's [Routine Water Quality Monitoring Program](https://data.cnra.ca.gov/dataset/state-water-project-water-quality). Suggested Citation: California Department of Water Resources. 2026. _Feather River Watershed Monitoring Study_. California Department of Water Resources. https://data.cnra.ca.gov/dataset/feather-river-watershed-monitoring-study. Accessed [Month Day, Year].

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Complete Metadata
@type dcat:Dataset
accessLevel public
contactPoint 
{
  "fn": "Daniel Wisheropp",
  "@type": "vcard:Contact",
  "hasEmail": "mailto:daniel.wisheropp@water.ca.gov"
}
description The Feather River watershed serves as a source of water for the State Water Project (SWP), one of the nation’s largest water conveyance projects. The California Department of Water Resources (DWR) owns and operates three reservoirs in the upper portion of this watershed: Antelope Lake, Frenchman Lake, and Lake Davis. Outflows from these reservoirs and runoff from the remainder of the watershed ultimately flow into Lake Oroville, another DWR reservoir. Water in these reservoirs is used as a source for drinking water supply, recreation, and for fish and wildlife beneficial uses. Historically, DWR’s water quality monitoring efforts in this watershed had been minimal due to relatively stable watershed conditions and minimal concerns affecting the SWP. In 2018, however, the Camp Fire resulted in a large burn upstream of Lake Oroville, raising concerns about water quality impacts from the post-fire runoff. In response, DWR initiated a short-term study to monitor runoff from this fire. Results from this study were provided in a [water quality assessment](https://data.cnra.ca.gov/dataset/lake-oroville-water-quality-assessment-for-the-2018-camp-fire). Following the end of that study, large wildfires again impacted the watershed above Lake Oroville. By the end of 2021, approximately 57 percent of the Lake Oroville watershed had burned in a three year period. Additionally, the 2021 Beckwourth Complex fire burned 90 percent of the Frenchman Lake watershed. In response to these fires, DWR initiated a broader post-fire water quality monitoring study. This study encompassed a larger geographic area, included more diverse sample locations, and included both burned and unburned portions of the watershed. The primary objectives of this new study were to assess the water quality of runoff and its impacts from inflow to SWP reservoirs, as well as, providing a larger baseline of water quality data for the watershed than had previously been available. The data provided as part of this study includes both these inflow samples and reservoir samples that were collected as part of DWR's [Routine Water Quality Monitoring Program](https://data.cnra.ca.gov/dataset/state-water-project-water-quality). Suggested Citation: California Department of Water Resources. 2026. _Feather River Watershed Monitoring Study_. California Department of Water Resources. https://data.cnra.ca.gov/dataset/feather-river-watershed-monitoring-study. Accessed [Month Day, Year].
distribution 
[
  {
    "@type": "dcat:Distribution",
    "title": "Compiled Study Results",
    "format": "CSV",
    "mediaType": "text/csv",
    "describedBy": "https://data.ca.gov/api/action/datastore_search?resource_id=51ab9976-71ae-4638-8fae-b8d1008bf0ba&limit=0",
    "description": "This dataset contains all data acquired under this study. This includes laboratory results, field measurements, and sample collection notes and metadata.",
    "downloadURL": "https://data.cnra.ca.gov/dataset/ad03e786-0008-4c38-a23c-7dea65f18ac1/resource/ee4a3bc1-d2c6-46aa-860d-39147c6592f2/download/frwms_studyresults.csv",
    "describedByType": "application/json"
  },
  {
    "@type": "dcat:Distribution",
    "title": "Study Data Flags and Qualifiers",
    "format": "CSV",
    "mediaType": "text/csv",
    "describedBy": "https://data.ca.gov/api/action/datastore_search?resource_id=9a2b6fb1-8a34-40a6-8688-e7ec3549896a&limit=0",
    "description": "A list of data flags and qualifiers used in this study's data review process. This list includes the flags/qualifiers and a description of what they mean. These flags/qualifiers are shown on the results file in the "Sample Flag" column. For data points with multiple flags/qualifiers, each successive one is separated by a space or comma.",
    "downloadURL": "https://data.cnra.ca.gov/dataset/ad03e786-0008-4c38-a23c-7dea65f18ac1/resource/471bcf5d-b54b-45a5-b4c2-c5aeb4b89f26/download/frwms_flagsandqualifiers.csv",
    "describedByType": "application/json"
  },
  {
    "@type": "dcat:Distribution",
    "title": "Study Sample Sites",
    "format": "CSV",
    "mediaType": "text/csv",
    "describedBy": "https://data.ca.gov/api/action/datastore_search?resource_id=db6d7f8a-2a85-4480-90be-aaddf3917c9f&limit=0",
    "description": "This dataset contains a list of sample sites used for this study, including metadata for each.",
    "downloadURL": "https://data.cnra.ca.gov/dataset/ad03e786-0008-4c38-a23c-7dea65f18ac1/resource/0ff98684-d3bc-4da7-b116-d5722e70a482/download/frwms_samplesites.csv",
    "describedByType": "application/json"
  },
  {
    "@type": "dcat:Distribution",
    "title": "Enlarged Study Maps",
    "format": "PDF",
    "mediaType": "application/pdf",
    "description": "A map book of enlarged figures from the study overview document. Additional information provided includes identification on the maps of sub-watershed names and higher detail for each individual Upper Feather River reservoir.",
    "downloadURL": "https://data.cnra.ca.gov/dataset/ad03e786-0008-4c38-a23c-7dea65f18ac1/resource/863442ca-d8c0-4f6a-83f1-84dc0056b643/download/frwms_maps.pdf"
  },
  {
    "@type": "dcat:Distribution",
    "title": "Data Dictionary - Study Sample Sites",
    "format": "CSV",
    "mediaType": "text/csv",
    "description": "Data Dictionary for https://data.cnra.ca.gov/dataset/ad03e786-0008-4c38-a23c-7dea65f18ac1/resource/0ff98684-d3bc-4da7-b116-d5722e70a482/download/frwms_samplesites.csv",
    "downloadURL": "https://data.ca.gov/datastore/dictionary_download/db6d7f8a-2a85-4480-90be-aaddf3917c9f",
    "isDataDictionary": true
  },
  {
    "@type": "dcat:Distribution",
    "title": "Data Dictionary - Study Data Flags and Qualifiers",
    "format": "CSV",
    "mediaType": "text/csv",
    "description": "Data Dictionary for https://data.cnra.ca.gov/dataset/ad03e786-0008-4c38-a23c-7dea65f18ac1/resource/471bcf5d-b54b-45a5-b4c2-c5aeb4b89f26/download/frwms_flagsandqualifiers.csv",
    "downloadURL": "https://data.ca.gov/datastore/dictionary_download/9a2b6fb1-8a34-40a6-8688-e7ec3549896a",
    "isDataDictionary": true
  },
  {
    "@type": "dcat:Distribution",
    "title": "Data Dictionary - Compiled Study Results",
    "format": "CSV",
    "mediaType": "text/csv",
    "description": "Data Dictionary for https://data.cnra.ca.gov/dataset/ad03e786-0008-4c38-a23c-7dea65f18ac1/resource/ee4a3bc1-d2c6-46aa-860d-39147c6592f2/download/frwms_studyresults.csv",
    "downloadURL": "https://data.ca.gov/datastore/dictionary_download/51ab9976-71ae-4638-8fae-b8d1008bf0ba",
    "isDataDictionary": true
  },
  {
    "@type": "dcat:Distribution",
    "title": "EAB Interim Discrete Sampling Procedures",
    "format": "PDF",
    "mediaType": "application/pdf",
    "description": "This document provides the standard operating procedures followed by field staff during this study's sampling runs. These procedures were adapted from the “2006 O&M Water Quality Manual” and the DWR “Discrete Water Quality Sample Collection SOP”. These interim procedures were developed to summarize, simplify, and standardize the different procedures into one single easy to follow set of field procedures. These interim procedures were used until the final O&M procedures were adopted in 2025.",
    "downloadURL": "https://data.cnra.ca.gov/dataset/ad03e786-0008-4c38-a23c-7dea65f18ac1/resource/6fe2186d-37f1-45e5-a3d7-dda225ca2e92/download/eab-interim-discrete-sampling-procedures.pdf"
  },
  {
    "@type": "dcat:Distribution",
    "title": "Feather River Watershed Monitoring Study Overview",
    "format": "PDF",
    "mediaType": "application/pdf",
    "description": "This overview provides pertinent information about the study development and design for the Feather River Watershed Monitoring Study. This information is meant to supplement the raw data provided in the compiled study results to give the viewer a more complete picture about where, when, why, and how these data were collected.",
    "downloadURL": "https://data.cnra.ca.gov/dataset/ad03e786-0008-4c38-a23c-7dea65f18ac1/resource/cc757feb-cf51-490d-bc0f-ee3110a8e005/download/feather-river-watershed-monitoring-study-overview.pdf"
  }
]
identifier 6b7a4968-acf6-420a-85b3-ed7f20bac292
issued 2026-05-15T19:16:24.433186
keyword 
[
  "Antelope Lake",
  "Beckwourth Complex Fire",
  "Dixie Fire",
  "Feather River Watershed",
  "Frenchman Lake",
  "Lake Davis",
  "Lake Oroville",
  "State Water Project",
  "california department of water resources",
  "post-fire runoff",
  "water quality",
  "wildfire"
]
license http://www.opendefinition.org/licenses/cc-by
modified 2026-08-17T20:27:27.570323
publisher 
{
  "name": "California Department of Water Resources",
  "@type": "org:Organization"
}
theme 
[
  "Natural Resources",
  "Water"
]
title Feather River Watershed Monitoring Study

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