FAQ: Damaged PG&E infrastructure impacts NID water supply
- What is the issue?
- Background - what has happened?
- What flows are cut off?
- Impacts to NID?
- What’s the timeframe for the PG&E repairs?
- NID is calling for conservation?
What is the issue?
Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) has suffered severe damage to infrastructure at Spaulding Lake that 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.
Background – what has happened?
The most upper segments of the South Yuba Pipe and Drum Canal are owned and operated by PG&E, but are operated in coordination with NID’s water storage and distribution facilities and are integral components of the District’s water system. This includes being the primary conduits for conveying water to NID water users located in Nevada and Placer counties.
On, or about, February 9, 2024, a portion of the South Yuba Canal (the South Yuba Pipe owned by PG&E) suffered a complete collapse due to a rockslide rendering the South Yuba Canal inoperable. This canal brings water into Deer Creek/Scotts Flat Reservoir.
On March 6, 2024, PG&E’s Spaulding 1 Powerhouse suffered an unscheduled outage/failure rendering the Drum Canal inoperable. This is the primary source of water for Rollins Lake, and it is also a secondary source of water for Deer Creek/Scotts Flat.
The Drum and South Yuba canals serve as the water conveyance facilities that provide water to 25,000 connections of the District (Nevada and Placer counties), serving a total population of approximately 80,000.
Demand for water from District facilities occurs year-round; however, those demands will begin to increase significantly with warming temperatures in spring and summer and during the District’s irrigation season, which began on April 15, 2024.
What flows are cut off?
The Drum and South Yuba Canals serve as the water conveyance facilities that provide water to 25,000 con-nections of the District (Nevada and Placer counties), serving a total population of approximately 80,000.
To Scotts Flat Reservoir: The complete collapse of PG&E’s South Yuba Pipe rendered the South Yuba Canal inoperable. This canal brings water into Deer Creek/Scotts Flat Reservoir.
To Rollins Reservoir: The failure at PG&E’s Spaulding 1 Powerhouse has rendered the Drum Canal inoperable. This is the primary source of water for Rollins Lake, and it is also a secondary source of water for Deer Creek/Scotts Flat.
What’s the timeframe for the PG&E repairs?
PG&E is currently working to repair the Spaulding 1 powerhouse. However, the target for completion of the repair has experienced multiple delays to the complexity of the repairs. Currently, PG&E is looking to establish partial flows by June 18 and full flows in the late fall/winter.
Impacts to NID
It is imperative that the partial flows are established by June 18, otherwise the District is at significant risk of running out of water for both treated water and agricultural uses.
Facing a significant water shortage will cause hundreds of millions of dollars' worth of damage to the communities we serve.
Recreation impacts: impacts to boating at Rollins Reservoir are expected to start mid-May and Scott Flat Reservoir water surface level will also begin to drop in mid-May.
NID has requested that PG&E expedite the schedule for the repairs at the Spaulding 1 powerhouse and that they consider a temporary repair to the damaged piped portion of the South Yuba Canal.
NID is calling for conservation?
NID is currently requesting voluntary 20 percent conservation.
