Feather

The Feather River from Oroville to the Sacramento River confluence is a wide, flat, but scenic river with regular high flows.  Much of these high flows are destined to be pumped into the California Aquaduct at Tracy and send south to farms in the San Joaquin Valley, coastal cities and farms, and even on to the Los Angeles basin.

The river is contained between high levees to protect the surrounding farmland from periodic flooding.  In many areas the riparian zone is sadly narrow, but there are also large areas of wildlands and wildland preserves.  The Department of Fish and Game has a number of wildlife areas along the river which are open to exploration by the public.  Salmon, steelhead, shad, and striped bass can be found in the Feather River, making this area very popular with fishermen.

Put in: Oroville Wildlife Area is open for day use, from one hour before sunrise to one hour after sunset.  There is also an overnight camping area near the Thermolito outlet.  There are numerous alternate put in and take out locations along the river.

Francis Coats has kindly supplied the following information about the river between Yuba City and Nicolaus.

1. Putting in at Boyd Pump, a public boat ramp, ($5 days use fee) (right bank of river) off Garden Highway south of Yuba City between Barry Road and Oswald Road (if you put in at Yuba City you will have to portage around the rapids/chute at Shanghai Bend, a clay formation in rapid transition and very variable depending on water height - don't try running this unless you have scouted it that day and really know what you are doing);

2. At Starr Bend Road / north end of O'Connor Lakes Wildlife area on right bank, you can pull out or put in, but it is a quarter mile or so between where you can park your vehicle and where you can get in the river.  This is where the river makes a hard left turn and runs east.  Right

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