California wildfires pull resources from PG&E water infrastructure project

(FOX40.COM) — Completion of a crucial Pacific Gas and Electric water infrastructure project in Nevada County has been delayed as aerial assets are needed to fight fires in California and nationwide.

On Friday, the Nevada Irrigation District shared that heavy-lift helicopters that were needed to continue repairs along the South Yuba Pipe were reassigned to assist firefighting efforts.

The South Yuba Pipe was damaged in a rockslide in February, causing flows to not reach Scotts Flats Reservoir.

While NID operates a majority of the canal and pipe system, PG&E operates about a one-mile stretch of the line that sits along a vertical rock wall in the Sierra Nevada.

Due to the weight of the pipe, which can be up to 17,000 pounds, and the precarious position of the pipe, heavy-lift helicopters are the only means of getting the pipe installed.

Current estimates have the helicopters rescheduled for availability during the week of August 5, which pushes the completion date from mid-August to September, according to NID.

“PG&E’s aviation services department is continuing to look for any available resources and the crew to perform the work is ready to pivot in the event one becomes available,” NID wrote in a news release.

This delay will not impact ongoing repairs at Spaulding Powerhouse #1 that have caused a complete halt of water delivery to Rollins Reservoir near Colfax.

That project is still expected to be completed by the end of July and the return of flows of around 400 cubic feet per second.

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