Northern California water agencies ask customers to conserve as PG&E continues repairs

(FOX40.COM) — Customers of the Placer County Water Agency and the Nevada Irrigation District will need to practice their water conservation into 2025 as new issues have arisen along their water supply network.

The two water agencies said that while work continues to progress along two PG&E pipelines that were damaged from winter storms, a new problem occurred at Lake Spaulding.

As operators of the Spaulding 2 Powerhouse turned on the generator for testing, unforeseen mechanical failures occurred that created a major delay in the return of regular water flows along the system, according to NID.

PG&E now estimates that with the additional repairs needed at Spaulding 2, along with the continued work required on the Drum Canal, the earliest they expect water services to return to normal is summer 2025.

Where Does the Water Flow?

Lake Spaulding is a PG&E-operated lake that produces hydroelectric power from its two powerhouses, and all discharged water flows into a series of canals and waterways.

The discharged water runs into the South Yuba Pipe and the Drum Canal, which send water into Rollins Reservoir and Scotts Flats Reservoir, which are owned and operated by the Nevada Irrigation District.

NID also owns and operates a majority of the South Yuba Pipe and Drum Canal, and PG&E owns the first few miles of the waterways near Lake Spaulding.

The water from the Spaulding 1 powerhouse discharges into the Drum Canal, where it then flows into Rollins Reservoir.

Water from the Spaulding 2 powerhouse is discharged into the South Yuba Pipe where it then flows into the South Yuba Canal before flowing into Scotts Flat Reservoir.

Due to the damage caused to the Spaulding 2 powerhouse and continued work to the South Yuba Pipe, a portion of water from the Drum Canal is being diverted into the South Yuba Canal.

Forecasted Reservoir Levels

The NID said that returned flows to the Drum Canal have halted the steep crash in water levels at Rollins Reservoir that it has experienced throughout the summer.

Rollins water levels appear to be leveling out at around 37.5% of the water capacity available for use, according to NID.

Placer County Water Agency said in a news release that Rollins is likely to see significant refill from winter runoff.

At Scotts Flat, conditions are not as favorable despite the water being diverted from the Drum Canal, according to NID.

The water demand from the reservoir continues to be far higher than the amount of water flowing in.

The two water districts are asking customers to continue the water conservation they have been practicing all summer into the winter and possibly spring of 2025.

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