MARYSVILLE, Calif. March 7, 2018 – The Yuba County Mounted Sheriff’s Posse will be able to enhance its search and rescue capability in Yuba County’s mountainous regions and waterways with the help of a grant from Yuba County Water Agency.

A $5,000 grant, approved yesterday by YCWA as a part of the Bill Shaw Rescue Equipment and Training Grant Program, will help the Sheriff’s Posse buy a new, contemporary, multi-unit waterproof medical first aid pack for use when searching near waterways and during wet conditions. It will also pay for upgrades to volunteers’ first aid packs, to include new state-of-the-art tourniquets, among other improvements.

“The Mounted Sheriff’s Posse provides valuable first aid services to some of the most remote areas in Yuba County, including YCWA’s New Bullards Bar Reservoir and New Colgate Powerhouse,” said YCWA Chairman Brent Hastey. “We are so grateful for their quick, emergency response capability, and are happy to help them do it even better with this new equipment.”

Established in 1946, the YCMSP supports the Yuba County Sheriff’s Office and California Office of Emergency Services in all types of search and rescue missions throughout Yuba County.

“This generous grant will help us work toward providing the best equipment and training for a rapid response to our emergency calls in the foothills and throughout Yuba County,” said Henry Souza, Yuba County Sheriff’s Posse captain.

This is the first agency to benefit from YCWA’s Bill Shaw Rescue Equipment and Training Grant Program, which was created in January, 2018.  These grants are designed for first responder agencies in Yuba County and will cover the one-time costs of up to $5,000 per applicant annually, associated with the purchase of rescue equipment or specialized personnel training. Grant funding requests must be connected to YCWA’s missions of flood risk reduction, water supply reliability, hydropower generation, groundwater management, fisheries enhancement and recreation in and around New Bullards Bar.