March 1, 2017 at 1:02PM Update: NID Engineer Chip Close is providing background on the incident. NID has several pumping stations, will will result in zero impacts to drinking water customers. The irrigation water will be sufficient for the April 15 start of irrigation season. However, summer season could be impacted by the damage to the canal.

Approximately 40 ft of the flume were damaged, and 150 feet of the flume foundation have been impacted. The portion of the canal is on Forest Service land, the Tahoe National Forest and FERC were informed immediately, according to a PG&E representative.

March 1, 2017 at 1:00PM Update: PG&E spokesperson Brandi Merlo confirmed that PG&E discovered the landslide on Friday, February 10 and communicated with NID the same day. The canal was out of service when the slide happened. It has a capacity of 107 cfs. “We are working to complete the restoration as soon as it is safe and reasonably possible. Design options are being reviewed and assessed accordingly. We don’t have a timeframe or cost estimate at this time,” Merlo stated. The site is approximately 3.5 miles from Lowell Hill, in very inaccessible terrain. Snow is impeding access to the site at this time.

GRASS VALLEY, Calif. March 1, 2017 – NID expects no impacts to their customers after a major canal collapsed on February 10. The South Yuba Canal delivers water for 12,900 customers in the Grass Valley and Nevada City area, according to supporting documents for today’s emergency declaration.

In a phone call to YubaNet, NID spokesperson Susan Holt confirmed the district is not expecting any impacts on the water delivery to their customers. NID will work in conjunction with PG&E, the owner of the canal, to assess and repair the damage.

The proposed emergency declaration will allow NID to rapidly begin repairs and give the district the ability to take appropriate measures like conservation, if needs be.

NID has been receiving calls from customers worried about possible shortages. Holt said “no one is not going to get water,” reassuring locals eager to plant their vegetable gardens or landscaping.

This story will be updated after the 1pm District Board meeting with additional details.