Current Thoughts: 10 Successful Years

May 2018 officially marked 10 successful years of the Lower Yuba River Accord, a statewide model settlement agreement between 18 different agencies, with many different interests and needs, all working together to make the Yuba River better.

Faces of Yuba Water

Our Faces of Yuba Water series highlights Yuba Water Agency’s great employees and the work that they do to make Yuba County a better place. In this spotlight, we showcase our hydroelectric compliance engineer, who ensures that the agency remains...

Yuba Water welcomes new General Manager Willie Whittlesey

Today marks Willie Whittlesey’s first day as Yuba Water Agency’s new general manager. Whittlesey takes the reins from Curt Aikens, who will retire early next year.

“It’s an honor to lead such an incredible agency and...

Yuba Water funds levee improvements and conservation projects, says farewell to longtime GM

Yuba Water Agency’s Board of Directors today committed $785,000 for levee improvements, water conservation and other Yuba County water projects in support of its core mission areas of flood risk reduction and sustainable water supply management....

Appeal-Democrat Guest View: Once again, Yuba Water Agency invests in our future in a big way

By Mary Jane Griego

For decades, we’ve talked about the need for implementing modern infrastructure to the Highway 65 corridor in order to make new development there possible. My vision for the area seemed impossible to achieve. The ability to de...

Yuba Water employees give back during unprecedented time of need

Donating blood, offering monetary donations, organizing food drives and coordinating behind the scenes – these are just a few of the ways Yuba Water Agency employees have given back to their communities during the coronavirus crisis.

Over the las...

Yuba Water Agency approves $3.5 million for major water infrastructure in southeastern Yuba County

Major infrastructure upgrades that will significantly improve economic development opportunities in Yuba County and help ensure groundwater quality are in the works with the help of Yuba Water Agency. 

Yuba Water today approved a $1.75 million gra...

Comstock's Magazine: Storm Chasers by Russell Nichols

One rainy morning last December, John James stood outside holding a big white balloon, which looked like a perfect target for a lightning strike. Next to him, Carly Ellis, a field researcher with the UC San Diego Scripps Institution of Oceanography, asked...

$2.2 million in funds for fish habitat, infrastructure and water supply reliability improvements

The Yuba Water Agency Board of Directors approved today more than $2.2 million for local and regional improvement projects. The funding will contribute to repairs at Ellis Lake and roads around New Bullards Bar Dam and Reservoir, support local irrigation ...

Yuba Water Agency makes large-scale investment in water education for Yuba County schools

In its first major move toward building a water education center and developing unique lessons to enhance Yuba County schools, Yuba Water Agency today approved approximately $850,000 toward the community-driven effort. 

The board approved a two-pa...

PG&E sells Narrows hydroelectric facility to Yuba Water Agency

Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) has sold its Narrows Hydroelectric Project to Yuba Water Agency.

Escrow closed and the sale finalized today on this facility in Nevada County, which includes the 12-megawatt Narrows No. 1 Powerhouse located on th...

Operations Update

If you see us around Yuba County, it is because we fall under three categories of critical infrastructure, including the dams, energy and water sectors. We also support the agricultural community through water deliveries, also considered essential service...

Offices and Conference Rooms Closed to the Public

For the safety of our employees and the public, and to help prevent the spread of COVID-19, our offices and conference rooms will be closed to the public until further notice. If you need assistance, please call our main phone line at (530)741-5000.

Yuba Water Agency funds water supply improvements, water education

Significant water supply improvements are in the works for the Museum of the Forgotten Warriors with the help of Yuba Water Agency.

The agency today approved a grant, worth up to $3,100, for two new water pressure tanks that will help deliver water from th...

Yuba Water Agency provides grants to four local agencies

Four local agencies received a financial boost today with the help of Yuba Water Agency.

Yuba County inundation mapping - $65,000

A $65,000 grant provides funding for Yuba County to procure flood and levee inundation maps and associated products, providing ...

Yuba Water General Manager Curt Aikens announces retirement; Willie Whittlesey takes reins July 1

After 23 years of dedicated service to Yuba Water Agency, General Manager Curt Aikens will retire in January of 2021.                         &...

Yuba Water Agency adopts Groundwater Sustainability Plan

Yuba County’s groundwater subbasins have been sustainably managed for decades, and with 80 percent of Yuba’s residents relying on groundwater as their sole source, it’s critical that it remain sustainable for the long-term. W...

Grants help local first-responder agencies purchase new emergency response equipment

Two local fire departments will be better equipped to respond to water-related emergencies along the Yuba River with the help of funding from Yuba Water Agency.

Marysville Fire Department - $100,000

This $100,000 grant will provide half of the funding neede...

Yuba Water Agency funds project to improve Wheatland drinking water system

A more efficient water system that will improve the city of Wheatland’s drinking water supply is in the works with the help of a grant from Yuba Water Agency. 

The $700,000 grant, approved today by the agency board, provides funds for th...

Yuba Water Agency elects Randy Fletcher as chairman, Brent Hastey as vice-chairman

Directors Randy Fletcher and Brent Hastey will serve as Yuba Water Agency’s chairman and vice-chairman for the next year. 

The board of directors today approved their appointment for 2020. 

“It is an honor to be able to serve the community...

Yuba Water partners with Scripps, DWR on new atmospheric river research

Atmospheric river storms provide approximately half of California’s annual precipitation, but also are the cause of more than 90 percent of the floods in Northern California, resulting in staggering financial costs.

Those costs are all too famili...

Yuba Water Agency helps fund water supply reliability, flood risk reduction projects, new equipment

Three local agencies received a financial boost today with the help of Yuba Water Agency. 

Olivehurst Public Utility District steel water main project - $1.4 million

A $1.4 million grant provides funding to help OPUD replace the steel water main it...

Innovative partnership to reduce wildfire risk and secure healthier, more resilient forests

MARYSVILLE, Calif. (Nov 7, 2019) – A diverse group of nine organizations announced today their commitment to prioritize, plan, and execute forest restoration on an unprecedented scale in the North Yuba River watershed, covering 275,000 acres of ...

New flood risk reduction and dam safety enhancements underway at New Bullards Bar

Yuba Water Agency is embarking on the largest project its undertaken to reduce flood risk since the building of New Bullards Bar Dam in the 1960s. 

The agency expects to fully implement three major programs and projects in the next six years, whic...

Yuba Water celebrates 60 years of reducing flood risk in Yuba County

Reducing flood risk for the people of Yuba County was the single most important motivation for the creation of Yuba Water Agency.

This year, the agency celebrated its 60th anniversary, marking six decades of reducing flood risk, generating carbon-free ener...

Yuba Water Agency approves grant for project to provide reliable, safe drinking water

Residents in Challenge, Rackerby, Brownsville and Forbestown will have a more reliable, safe drinking water supply with the help of funding from Yuba Water Agency. 

The grant, worth up to $225,725, was approved today by the water agency and provid...

Grant helps local fire department purchase new swift-water rescue equipment

The City of Marysville Fire Department will be better equipped to respond to water-related emergencies with the help of funding from Yuba Water Agency. 

As part of the Bill Shaw Rescue Equipment and Training Grant Program, Yuba Water today approve...

Grant helps Yuba County Sheriff's Department purchase safety equipment

The Yuba County Sheriff’s Department marijuana eradication team will be better protected with the help of Yuba Water Agency’s Bill Shaw Rescue Equipment and Training Grant Program.

A $5,000 grant, approved today by Yuba Water Agency, wi...

Yuba Water Agency provides water education programming, materials for local schools

Water-related educational programming is finding its way to classrooms throughout Yuba County, as Yuba Water Agency ramps up plans to build a first-class, river-front water education center.

At today’s meeting of the agency’s board of d...

Grants help local fire districts purchase upgraded swift water rescue equipment

Two local fire districts will be better equipped to respond to water-related emergencies along the Yuba River with the help of funding from Yuba Water Agency.

As part of the Bill Shaw Rescue Equipment and Training Grant Program, Yuba Water today approved t...

Yuba Water Agency funds program to reduce fire risk, improve watershed health in foothills

In an effort to reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfire in the Yuba County foothills and preserve the critical water supply of the Yuba River, Yuba Water Agency today approved a $45,000 grant to launch a Firewise USA Site Activation Program.  

Th...

Yuba Water Agency general manager wins ASCE 2019 Lifetime Achievement Award

Honoring his outstanding efforts and professional achievements in civil engineering, Yuba Water Agency General Manager Curt Aikens this week received the American Society of Civil Engineers Sacramento Section 2019 Lifetime Achievement Award.  

Thi...

Agency to fund approx. $2.7 million for water supply reliability, flood risk reduction projects

Three critical projects to reduce flood risk and ensure a sustainable water supply for the people of Yuba County received much-needed financial support this week from Yuba Water Agency. 

Browns Valley Irrigation District’s Sicard Ditch P...

Yuba Water Agency funds trauma intervention training in support of local first-responder agencies

The Yuba-Sutter Trauma Intervention Program will be better able to support victims of crime and survivors of tragedy with the help of a grant from Yuba Water Agency. 

The $10,000 grant, approved today by the agency as part of the Bill Shaw Rescue ...

Yuba Water Agency provides funding for communication, rescue equipment

Three Yuba County first-responder agencies will purchase new equipment with the help of Yuba Water Agency’s Bill Shaw Rescue Equipment and Training Grant Program.

Each of these agencies provide emergency and rescue services for areas near Yuba Wa...

Yuba Water Agency dams deemed safe in recent state assessment

Yuba Water Agency’s New Bullards Bar Dam, constructed in 1970, recently received the highest safety rating possible by California’s Department of Water Resources Division of Safety of Dams.

A comprehensive listing of California’s major dams issued this mon...

Yuba Water Agency to purchase 20-acre property in Dobbins

Yuba Water Agency today approved the purchase of a property in Dobbins for approximately $220,000 to further support agency operations.

The 20-acre parcel is located between Lake Francis and New Colgate Powerhouse, and will be used to construct a new wareh...