Damaged infrastructure impacts NID water supply
Severe damage to infrastructure owned by Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) at Lake Spaulding has effectively cut off water supplies to NID.
The situation will impact deliveries to all NID customers (raw water and treated water customers in Nevada and Placer counties) and have severe effects on lake levels and recreation opportunities this summer. Also, hydroelectric generation will be affected by the water restrictions.
The District is currently requesting voluntary 20 percent conservation by all customers. The lack of access to normal watershed runoff means the District will need to rely upon limited water storage in Rollins and Scotts Flat reservoirs.
Check back to this webpage for frequent updates to this situation.
Photos chronicle the drawdown of Rollins Reservoir
Each week NID will post photos of Rollins Reservoir with water capacity information in order to provide a visual of the drawdown. Click here for the photo gallery
June 27, 2024
In response to the current water shortage emergency, NID needs to enact mandatory water conservation measures for all treated- and raw water customers.
The measures include an assigned three-day watering schedule for lawns, ornamental landscape and turf. In addition, there is a list of commonsense measures to cut back on treated water usage.
“Our local water emergency continues, and conserving water is more important than ever. That is why NID has adopted emergency mandatory conservation measures to achieve a 20 percent reduction in water compared to 2023,” said Director of Water Operations Chip Close.
“The issue is not related to water supply or drought; it is a water delivery problem caused by ongoing emergency repairs to PG&E infrastructure at Lake Spaulding. Sierra snowmelt has been flowing; the problem is the damaged infrastructure has effectively cut off our delivery system. The water is flowing down the South Yuba River and away from our conveyance into Scotts Flat or Rollins reservoirs,” Close said.
June 24, 2024
Boat Launch closures
- Peninsula Boat Launch closed effective Friday, June 21st
- Greenhorn Boat Launch is open
- Orchard Springs Boat Launch is open
- Long Ravine Boat Launch is open
- Scotts Flat Boat Launch is open
- Cascade Shores Boat Launch is open
As the launches close, we will update our phone message as well as our website, https://www.nidwater.com/nid-campground-information
June 20,2024
NID finds way to cancel rotating canal outages
NID is canceling the canal outages that were scheduled to begin today, June 20. After analysis of the ever-changing water shortage situation and adjusting water management practices, the District is able to provide enough water in the DS Canal to ensure water deliveries.
“The NID operations team has been able to work their magic and we are able to postpone the canal outages on the Scott’s Flat side,” said General Manager Jennifer Hanson. “We are running more flow tests to see how hard we can push the system to determine if we can also make it through the peak in July.”
June 13, 2024
PG&E Repair Delays Worsen Water Delivery Challenges: PCWA and NID Respond
Auburn and Grass Valley, Calif. (June 13, 2024) — The Placer County Water Agency (PCWA) and Nevada Irrigation District (NID) have issued the following statement in response to the Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) company’s recent announcement regarding further delays in repairing essential water delivery infrastructure at their Spaulding #1 Powerhouse.
"We are disappointed and deeply concerned about the latest delay in repairs at the Spaulding #1 Powerhouse. These continuous delays jeopardize the water delivery systems for both NID and PCWA, which rely on water from Lake Spaulding. The failure to complete these repairs in a timely manner impacts not only this year’s irrigation season but also the carryover capacity of Rollins (PCWA and NID) and Scotts Flat (NID) reservoirs, complicating the management of water resources."
Read the entire statement here
June 12, 2024
Designated NID canals placed on temporary rotation schedule
Several NID canals will be put on a temporary rotating outage schedule to address emergency water shortage conditions. This means water deliveries will be interrupted for three days in a designated canal before water flows again and the outage moves to the next canal.
The District’s Board of Directors has determined that the temporary, rotating canal outages are necessary to save water during a time when, effectively, no water supplies are flowing into the NID system while repair work continues on failed infrastructure owned by Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) at Lake Spaulding. The issue is the capacity in the DS Canal, a major NID artery.
Normal irrigation season flows in Nevada County are supplied via two major arteries, the Cascade Canal, and the DS Canal. The Cascade Canal diverts flows from the South Yuba Canal (SYC) above Scotts Flat Lake.
Due to the SYC outage, NID has relied on runoff in the Deer Creek watershed as a source of supply. Unfortunately, runoff flows are diminishing, and the delay in the return to service of the SYC means NID will have to rely solely on the DS canal for water deliveries. The DS Canal was not designed to carry the entire load of the Nevada County water supply; thus, the canal is anticipated to run out of capacity towards the end of June.
NID has used and will continue to use emergency pumps to take water from the DS Canal to supply water to the Cascade Canal system, which provides drinking water service to more than 11,500 connections through NID’s E. George and Loma Rica water treatment plants, and in-home canal use to 120 customers.
During its June 12 meeting, NID directors agreed to the terms of the outages, which will affect service to the Spenceville Road and Indian Springs areas, McCourtney Road south of Retrac Road, and the Wolf Road/Garden Bar areas.
The current estimated rotation and affected canals are as follows:
- Rotation #1 Clear Creek Canal - outage: June 20 through June 23
- Rotation #2 Tarr Canal downstream of Retract Road - outage: June 23 through June 26
- Rotation #3 Cole Viet, Wolf, Pearl Barnes, and Carpenter Canals - outage: June 26 through June 29
- Rotation #4 Smith Gordon, Casy Loney, Stinson Pipe, Pet Hill, Pet Hill Extension - outage: June 29 through July 2
NID Lower Division Distribution System - maps and information about canals, click here
June 12, 2024
PG&E Update: Spaulding 1 Powerhouse and South Yuba Pipe Repairs (PG&E release)
Spaulding 1 Powerhouse
Due to the unforeseen delays in repairs at the Spaulding 1 powerhouse, PG&E has extended the earlier restoration date of late June to late July.
Water agencies have been notified and PG&E is examining ways to possibly reduce the restoration delay so that partial flows can resume through the powerhouse and into the Drum Canal. Crews are already working 24/7 to repair the powerhouse as quickly and safely as possible.
Unfortunately, the time to weld is taking longer than anticipated due to the complexity of the precise welding and space inside the powerhouse is tight. PG&E has nearly completed rebuilding structural columns in the powerhouse. Throughout this process PG&E has kept agencies apprised that schedules can always slip as there is no float time built into the schedule as crews work around the clock. The powerhouse was taken offline in early March after a leak was discovered and damage was identified.
South Yuba Pipe
In February, about 240 feet of PG&E’s South Yuba Pipe was damaged in a winter storm rockslide, and snow and the wet hillside prevented crews from safely accessing the site until April. PG&E was able to procure materials to repair the South Yuba Pipe sooner than initially expected. The South Yuba Pipe carries water from the Spaulding 2 powerhouse to the Nevada Irrigation District’s (NID) South Yuba Canal. Because the material is available sooner, PG&E consulted with NID about forgoing a temporary plastic pipe repair to instead focus on a permanent repair with steel pipe, which is expected to be completed by late August. This timeline remains unchanged. Once repaired, additional water can flow from the Spaulding 2 powerhouse into the South Yuba Canal.
PG&E has completed “rock scaling,” which is the removal of rocks that have the potential to slide. Debris and trees have also been removed and PG&E has installed work platforms on the hillside to support footing installation. Crews are constructing concrete footings and once cured will begin to install pipe.
May 31, 2024
PG&E releases this announcement: PG&E expects to complete repairs in the Spaulding 1 powerhouse and resume water flows into the Drum Canal in late June. Unfortunately, more time than was anticipated is needed for the steel discharge tube liner installation and the return to service (RTS) date is delayed but remains in late June. PG&E has informed water agencies that the earlier projected RTS date of June 19 for the Spaulding 1 powerhouse is now June 30. PG&E continues working 24/7 to restore the powerhouse. The expected RTS date for the South Yuba Pipe remains in late August.
May 21, 2024
Permanent fix to South Yuba Pipe underway to allow flows in August
PG&E has obtained the specialty pipe needed for repairs to the utility’s South Yuba Pipe, of which 240 feet was destroyed by a rockslide in February. The permanent repair is estimated to be made in late August.
Spaulding 1 Powerhouse partial flows could start in June
PG&E expects to partially restore flows through the Spaulding 1 Powerhouse into the Drum Canal with a portion of that water being diverted into the South Yuba Canal, bypassing the South Yuba Pipe. The return-to-service date is the second half of June, with reduced water capacity of about 400 cubic feet per second (cfs) versus full capacity of 760 cfs.
April 24, 2024: Board of Directors Q&A workshop with a PG&E representative
Read the questions of the Directors to PG&E with responses
The video of the workshop is also on YouTube, click here (starts at 41:32 minutes)
Photos to chronicle the drawdown of Rollins Reservoir
Each week NID will post photos of Rollins Reservoir with water capacity information in order to provide a visual of the drawdown. Click here for the photo gallery
Update for April 10, 2024 Board of Directors situation workshop
- General Manager Jennifer Hanson gives an update to PG&E timeline for repairs and implications to the NID water supply - Watch the worskhop video (start time 1:28:18)
- Voluntary raw water conservation tally - As of April 10, 136 raw water customers have voluntarily reduced their water use, saving 238 miner's inches, or 2,500 acre-feet: "We appreciate our customers' efforts so far. The response has been good; we encourage people to keep it up," Chip Close, Director of Operations, told the Board during the April 10 meeting.
NID has prepared material to keep the community informed:
FAQ
- What is the issue?
- Background - what has happened
- What flows are cut off?
- Impacts to NID?
- What will happen at Rollins Reservoir?
- What will happen at Scotts Flat Reservoir?
- What’s the timeframe for the PG&E repairs?
- NID is calling for conservation?
Distribution Canals and customers impacted (from a "Plan for Water" presentation)
These maps show the canals and neighborhoods that will be impacted by the situation
News Releases:
NID to implement conservation measures after PG&E infrastructure emergency
(Grass Valley, March 22, 2024) Due to unanticipated infrastructure repairs in the Sierra Nevada headwaters that have cut off water supply, the Nevada Irrigation District (NID) will be implementing emergency conservation measures. This is a call for a voluntary water reduction of 20 percent by all District water customers for the remainder of 2024.
NID’s Annual Mulch Magic Giveaway is April 27 - free mulch available for pick-up
(Grass Valley, March 27, 2024) - The Nevada Irrigation District (NID) will provide free mulch available to local residents for pick up on a first-come, first-served basis on April 27 at the Nevada County Fairgrounds. Mulch Magic is part of the District’s continuing efforts to promote conscientious water use and conservation.
NID cuts flows in the Bear River
(Grass Valley, March 8, 2024) The Nevada Irrigation District (NID) is immediately cutting flows in the Bear River due to unexpected maintenance work in the headwaters, which provide the District’s water supplies. As a result, there will be a noticeable decrease of water in the system, specifically within the Bear River. NID, however, will continue to meet its current regulatory ramping rates and obligations.
GM Newsletter
- Water shortage update
- Permanent fix to South Yuba Pipe underway to allow flows in late August
- Customers respond to conservation request
- Water-saving tips plus rebates
- Water shortage emergency declared; the District has created a webpage with updates and downloadable information
- Irrigation season begins, voluntary conservation requested
- New! Maintaining the South Yuba Canal video (2:52 minutes) with incredible views and a clear perspective of what it takes to work on the canal
- NID declares water shortage emergency; call for water conservation after PG&E suffers significant infrastructure damage
- Water efficiency tips: now’s the time to fix a leak
- Reservoir Levels 102% of average
NID Conservation Information
NID Water Use Efficiency webpage