Yuba Agency Requests Temporary Change to River Water Rules
Published Date: 8/22/2025
Notice
Summary
The Yuba County Water Agency asked for a temporary change to how much water they release from their hydroelectric project on the Yuba River in California for 2026. This affects local rivers and nearby communities, and the public has until September 18, 2025, to share their thoughts or get involved. No big money changes are mentioned, but this tweak could impact river flow and the environment.
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 2 mixed.
Winter pulse flow reduced Jan 1–15
The licensee asked to reduce the required winter pulse flow into the lower Yuba River from 1,000 cubic feet per second (cfs) to 700 cfs from January 1–15, 2026. This change would lower river flows in the Middle Yuba River, North Fork Yuba River, and Oregon Creek in Nevada, Yuba, and Sierra counties, California, and create about 8,926 acre-feet of "water savings."
Saved water reserved for spring pulse
The licensee proposes to use the approximately 8,926 acre-feet saved by the reduced January releases to augment a spring pulse flow or a similar scenario between issuance of the April B120 forecast and May 15, if storage criteria in New Bullards Bar Reservoir are met. Any such augmentation would be done in consultation with resource agencies under a 2026 Supplementary Operational Agreement.
Compliance based on 5-day running average
During the requested variance period, the licensee asks that compliance be judged by a 5-day running average of daily average flows, with the 15-minute flow not less than 90 percent of the adjusted flow requirement. That changes how short-term low-flow events would be measured for the January 1–15, 2026 period.
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