A message from General Manager Willie Whittlesey
Greetings,
Happy Earth Week from Yuba Water Agency! This year’s theme, “Invest in Our Planet,” calls for bold action and partnerships to ensure a prosperous and sustainable future. At Yuba Water, here are just a few of the ways we’re taking action locally:
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- Our Watershed Resilience and Forest Health program, which includes the North Yuba Forest Partnership, has been locally and nationally recognized as a leading model for effective forest management to reduce catastrophic wildfire risk, most recently by the U.S. Forest Service (read more on that below).
- In partnership with our local irrigation districts, our agency continues to provide reliable water for agriculture, fish and wildlife, and ensure Yuba County’s groundwater aquifers remain in good shape.
- We are investing in lower Yuba River fisheries research, monitoring and habitat enhancements, including large-scale, partnership-driven, multibenefit projects like the Hallwood Side Channel and Floodplain Restoration project.
- Our hydropower operations continue to generate clean, carbon-free electricity to support the state’s climate resilience goals and electric grid.
These are just a few of the ways we’re investing in the long-term health of the Yuba River watershed. I'm also proud to share that our environmental efforts will be recognized at the Sacramento Business Journal's Corporate Citizenship Awards next week, where we'll be named their 2022 "Champion for the Environment."
I hope you’ll continue to stay engaged with our work through our newsletter, social media, public meetings and in the community.
Willie Whittlesey
General Manager, Yuba Water Agency
Powering a Brighter Future for Yuba County
Yuba Water's primary missions are flood risk reduction, water supply reliability, fish habitat protection and enhancement, hydropower generation and recreation at New Bullards Bar Reservoir. Whether you’re new to our newsletter or a regular reader, check out our agency overview video to learn more about who we are and how our operations are helping power a brighter future for Yuba County. [Watch the video]
State, federal agencies announce agreement with local water suppliers to improve Bay-Delta health
Last month, the state announced its commitment to collaborate on voluntary agreements to help improve conditions for fish in the Bay-Delta while protecting the beneficial uses of water in watersheds that feed into the system, including the Yuba River watershed. Yuba Water was among 16 signatories on a memorandum of understanding that provides a framework to further develop and implement the agreements in the coming years. [Read on]
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North Yuba Forest Partnership awarded $34.8 million for forest restoration work in the North Yuba River watershed
The U.S. Department of Agriculture and U.S. Forest Service recently announced that the North Yuba Forest Partnership will receive millions in federal funding to support the implementation of forest restoration treatments in the North Yuba River watershed, which will reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfire for communities and improve the overall health and resilience of the forest. [Read on]
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Yuba Water approves $240,000 for Fire Safe Council to help reduce wildfire risk in foothills
In February, Yuba Water's Board of Directors approved a local cost-share grant worth up to $240,000 for the Yuba Watershed Protection and Fire Safe Council to reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfire and improve public safety for communities in the Yuba County foothills. The funding served as the local cost share to help the Fire Safe Council be more competitive in its application for a Cal Fire grant worth up to $3.2 million. [Read on]
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Yuba Water removes hazardous trees impacted by bark beetles around Lake Francis
Yuba Water removed 284 dead and dying hazardous trees around Lake Francis that were impacted by a bark beetle infestation and ongoing drought. The work will reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfire and help slow the spread of a bark beetle infestation, as well as benefit habitat restoration efforts in the lower Yuba River. [Read on]
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YES Charter Academy students learn about atmospheric river storms with hands-on lesson
Yuba Water staff and partners from the Scripps Institution of Oceanography's Center for Western Weather and Water Extremes at UC San Diego visited the Yuba Environmental Science Charter Academy in Oregon House last month to share a lesson on atmospheric river storms and the instruments researchers use to study them. The lesson concluded with a weather balloon launch right there on school grounds. [Watch the video]
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Yuba Water Board Director Brent Hastey honored for service to ACWA
Yuba Water Board Director Brent Hastey was honored last month by the Association of California Water Agencies for his distinguished and dedicated service to ACWA from 2016 to 2021. ACWA is the country’s largest statewide coalition of public water agencies. [Read on]
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Apply for a summer internship at Yuba Water
Yuba Water is hiring summer interns! The agency's internship program provides opportunities for current college-level students looking for experience in engineering, information technology, communications, human resources and community impact, power systems and hydrology. Visit our website to learn more and apply. [Read on]
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Save water. Save California.
California is experiencing a historic drought, which means we must all do our part to save water. In addition to sustainably managing our region’s water resources and investing in infrastructure improvements, Yuba Water encourages you to learn more about how you can make a difference and save water at home. [Read on]
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Did you know?
Did you know, Yuba Water has participated in the California Department of Water Resources' California Cooperative Snow Surveys program since 1972? Here's a photo taken during a 1980s snow survey at Robinson Cow Camp in the Yuba River watershed, one of the sites that has been continuously monitored since then. Combined with newer technologies like Airborne Snow Observatory flights, snow surveys help water managers anticipate the amount of runoff from snowmelt.
Spring has sprung! Check out this recent photo taken by Yuba Water Hydro Utility Worker Elliott Peters of spring wildflowers and the lower Yuba River near the agency's Narrows powerhouses.
Want to be featured in our next newsletter or on our social media? Share your favorite Yuba River, New Bullards Bar or related photos on social media with the hashtag #YubaWater and tag @YubaWater!
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