CDFW Spill Prevention & Response

Media inquiries for the ongoing response can be directed to communications@yubawater.org

Yuba Water Agency will continue their operations to repair their facility and stabilize the surrounding terrain. Any updates regarding the ongoing response will be distributed by the Yuba Water Agency.

FINAL UPDATE: A Unified Command consisting of CDFW-OSPR and Yuba Water Agency has concluded response efforts for the Yuba River north of Englebright Lake, where oil and debris were discharged after a Feb. 13 water line rupture at the Colgate Powerhouse.

Clean up was conducted with no observed impacts to wildlife. If you observe illegal dumping crimes, you are urged to call CDFW’s CalTip Hotline at 1-888-334-CALTIP (1-888-334-2258)

OSPR crew responded to a report of illegal dumping of petroleum in Madera County. Four barrels of used motor oil were dumped on school property resulting in the discharge of 45 gallons of oil. The surrounding soil was impacted, but the discharge did not reach any waterways.

Containment measures held successfully through the changing conditions. Crews have removed 840 cubic yards of oily debris so far, with on water removal operations scheduled to continue through the weekend.

UPDATE: CDFW–OSPR remains part of the Unified Command overseeing clean-up operations for oily debris in the Yuba River north of Englebright Lake. Operations continued this week, with some pauses due to inclement weather and higher water flows.

Operations will continue this week, with plans in place to deal with inclement weather. One deceased Non-waterfowl bird was collected this weekend, and samples were taken to determine if it is related to the incident.

UPDATE: CDFW-OSPR remains part of a Unified Command overseeing clean-up operations of oily debris in the Yuba River north of Englebright Lake. Clean-up crews made progress over the weekend with nearly 420 cubic yards of oily debris removed.

Those impacts were not caused by the pollution discharged.

An investigation is ongoing regarding the type and quantity of oil discharged from the powerhouse due to the water pipe rupture. CDFW Law Enforcement is also investigating how the incident impacted juvenile salmon below the Englebright Dam.

UPDATE: CDFW-OSPR remains part of a Unified Command overseeing clean-up operations in the Yuba River north of Englebright Lake, where oil and debris was discharged after a Feb. 13 water line rupture at the Colgate Powerhouse.

Cleanup is ongoing and two contractors hired by Yuba Water Agency are now engaged in the response. An investigation into the cause of the incident is ongoing. No visibly oiled wildlife has been observed

CDFW-OSPR has taken samples of the oil product and analysis is pending. A cleanup contractor deployed containment and absorbent boom across the river, which has held up well in recent days as storms move in.

UPDATE: CDFW-OSPR and Yuba Water Agency have formed a Unified Command to continue overseeing cleanup operations in the Yuba River, which was impacted by a water pipe rupture Friday afternoon at the Colgate Powerhouse near Dobbins in Yuba County.