Yuba Water Agency

A beautiful, sunny afternoon at our Narrows 2 Powerhouse on the lower Yuba River. Shout-out to Plant Mechanic Dustin Eggleston for snapping this stunning pic before the next storm rolls in!

💦 Happy Groundwater Awareness Week! 💦 Did you know groundwater is the sole source of water supply for approximately 80 percent of Yuba County residents? It's also an important part of our local agricultural economy. As a public agency responsible for reducing the risk of catastrophic flooding and ensuring a reliable water supply for the people of Yuba County, we take our commitment to managing this valuable resource seriously. Learn more about groundwater and how it's managed: bit.ly/yubawater-GSP

Attracting and retaining top talent is essential to the agency's success – and Senior Human Resources Analyst Nicole Deme’ plays a huge role in making that happen! In addition to recruiting and hiring, Nicole provides critical guidance to staff on things like compensation and benefits, and makes sure our policies align with current laws and regulations. When she’s off the clock, you can find Nicole outdoors or cheering on her boys at their baseball games. Get to know Nicole in our latest Faces of Yuba Water: adobe.ly/41rKHEX

🚧Power Systems facilities construction update🚧 Big news! We officially have electricity at our future Power Systems facilities along Marysville Road in Oregon House! Crews continue to install interior fixtures and low-voltage electrical wiring, as well as exterior metal siding on the buildings and a perimeter fence. We’re working on locking down a move-in date sometime in June! Learn more about the project and see the progress: bit.ly/yubawater-psproject

📊We’re about halfway through the traditional snow survey season, with the two sites that we monitor in the Yuba River watershed showing snowpack is about average for this time of year. 💧The Sierra snowpack is considered the state’s largest reservoir, filling rivers and lakes with water as it melts each spring. Understanding how much snow we have and how much water is in that snow is essential for water managers (like us!) to forecast the year’s water supply for people, agriculture and the environment. Having an idea about how much water is in the snowpack also helps us reduce flood risk. ❄️Learn more about snow surveys and why they matter: https://bit.ly/dwr-ss

Exciting news! The multi-partner Hallwood Side Channel and Floodplain Restoration Project has earned the American Society of Civil Engineers California “Outstanding Environmental Project Award!" The honor will be presented next month at the ASCE Region 9 awards ceremony recognizing the very best in civil engineering across the state. Completed in late 2023, the Hallwood Project restored 157 acres of habitat in the lower Yuba River, creating a healthier environment for salmon and other native fish. Recent monitoring shows that native fish are thriving at the site. Another project benefit? It reduces flood risk for Yuba County communities. More than three million cubic yards of old hydraulic mining sediment was removed throughout the project area as part of the restoration, which lowers water surface elevations during large storms. A huge thank you to all our partners who made this incredible project possible: cbec eco engineering, a Verdantas Company, Cramer Fish Sciences, South Yuba River Citizens League, Teichert, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), California Natural Resources Agency and Wildlife Conservation Board

A huge shout-out to Yuba Water Senior Environmental Specialist Jessica Nichols, who is among 21 water professionals across California chosen to participate in the Water Education Foundation's highly regarded Water Leaders program!

On this day in 1986, a devastating levee break on the lower Yuba River (just behind where Walmart is today) flooded nearly 4,000 homes and businesses in Linda, Olivehurst and Arboga and forced some 26,000 residents to evacuate. Two people died and the impacts on our community are still felt today. The '86 flood was a turning point, prompting major changes in how levees are designed, built and maintained. Thanks to significant levee improvements and continued collaboration with local, state and federal partners, Yuba County’s levees are far better off today – but the work isn’t over. Read more about our continued efforts to reduce flood risk in Yuba County: https://lnkd.in/gjTM97bK

🐟Earlier today, we approved an environmental analysis for a collaborative effort to improve conditions for salmon, steelhead and other native fish in the lower Yuba River while safeguarding water supplies for Yuba County farmers. The move is a major step to advance our planned Nature-Like Fishway, which will help salmon and other threatened fish reach more than 10 miles of healthy spawning habitat in the lower Yuba River by enabling fish to swim around the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Daguerre Point Dam. 💧We also approved two grants to Cordua Irrigation District and one grant to Browns Valley Irrigation District for canal and culvert improvements to keep the water flowing to farmers ahead of the busy spring irrigation season! ➡️Read the latest from today's board of directors meeting: https://lnkd.in/gkm4aJFv

💕This Valentine’s Day, we’re head over heels for the Yuba River! 💕 Whether it’s sustaining our communities, growing food, supporting fish and wildlife or simply offering a place to pause and take in its beauty, the Yuba River never fails to make our hearts skip a beat. Happy Valentine’s Day!