Yuba Water Agency assesses damage, works with outside company after ‘catastrophic’ pipe failure

The Yuba Water Agency said it is assessing the damage and working to secure the site of its New Colgate Powerhouse on Saturday, a day after a massive penstock failure flooded the hydroelectric facility.“Right now, we’re focusing on doing everything we can to prevent any additional debris from entering the Yuba River and continuing to secure the site ahead of forecasted rain tomorrow,” Yuba Water Agency General Manager Willie Whittlesey said in a statement. The agency’s one-mile-long penstock pipe ruptured in multiple places on Friday just before 3 p.m., and the “catastrophic” failure sent water and mud down the hillside into New Colgate Powerhouse. Yuba Water Agency said it was investigating the cause of the failure. Five people – employees of the powerhouse, contractors and Pacific Gas Electric Co. workers – were rescued from the area. LiveCopter 3 captured at least one of those being hoisted to safety by a helicopter. The Yuba Water Agency said one person remained hospitalized on Saturday. The debris flow not only inundated the hydroelectric powerhouse at 12700 Lake Francis Road, but also PG&E’s switching station south of Dobbins. More than 15,000 people lost power for a period in parts of Yuba, Sierra and Butte counties, the utility said. Yuba Water Agency’s penstock pipe connects to a five-mile-long rock tunnel at New Bullards Bar Dam and Reservoir and moves water from the dam down a hillside to the New Colgate Powerhouse. The facility generates power for about 350,0000 homes. The agency has been making upgrades to its Colgate tunnel and the penstock since September 2025 and work was slated to finish in March, according to its website. A project timeline listed Feb. 9-13 as dates when a new protective valve on the penstock would be tested. Yuba Water Agency said the New Bullards Bar Dam and Reservoir was not impacted by Friday’s incident and there was not a risk of downstream flooding. But Yuba Water Agency said geotechnical crews are working to assess damage from hillside erosion ahead of rainfall headed to the region starting Sunday. People are urged to avoid Lake Francis Road and the surrounding areas. Yuba Water Agency said it was surveying via helicopter the North and Middle Yuba rivers between New Colgate Powerhouse and Lake Englebright to map debris in the water and identify where to place booms to capture large debris.The agency is also working with the environmental company Clean Harbors in coordination with the U.S. Army Corps of engineers to contain debris and monitor water quality. See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel