The South Yuba Pipe, an approximate one-mile stretch of the South Yuba Canal directly below Spaulding owned by PG&E, was damaged in a rockslide in February. Repairs were slated to be completed by the end of August. Now, it’s mid-September.
Heavy-lift helicopters were to bring in pipe segments and set them on the concrete footings this week. No heavies were seen in the vicinity of Spaulding and so we asked PG&E for an update.
Spokesperson Paul Moreno replied to our email, stating:
PG&E’s contracted heavy-lift helicopters are being diverted to support critical state and federal agencies’ firefighting needs as a result of the increased national fire activity and critical need for heavy-lift helicopters. Due to this diversion, PG&E is unable to use a helicopter this week to lift and set into place large sections of steel pipe scheduled for the South Yuba Pipe repair. The helicopters are now scheduled for PG&E the week of August 5. 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. PG&E needs specialty helicopters able to lift very heavy loads, of up to 17,000 pounds, which requires specific rigging and training to safely complete precision long-line operations in a canyon.
This unfortunately delays restoration and water flows through the South Yuba Pipe from late August to mid-September, but it does not impact the schedule for the Spaulding 1 powerhouse to return to service, which remains by the end of July, and will provide about 400 cubic feet per second of water to agencies. Once the Spaulding 1 powerhouse is repaired, this will restore flows to the Drum Canal, with some of that water to be diverted to the South Yuba Canal beyond the South Yuba Pipe. Once the South Yuba Pipe is repaired, which was damaged in a winter rockslide, Spaulding #2 Powerhouse will be brought online to deliver additional flows of 80 to 100 cfs out of Lake Spaulding to support downstream needs.
PG&E Spokesperson Paul Moreno via email
The pipe connects Spaulding Powerhouse #2, which has been repaired, with the South Yuba canal. The #1 Powerhouse is reportedly undergoing testing of the repairs to one of the two discharge horns. The return to service for Powerhouse #1 is July 30.
Meanwhile, water levels at Scotts Flat and Rollins Reservoir continue to drop rapidly. Rollins Reservoir is at 40% available for consumptive use and Scotts Flat has diminished by 11,600 acre feet from its maximum level of 48,500 acre feet.
NID, Grass Valley and Nevada City have initiated a 20% mandatory reduction, both for irrigation water and treated water. NID’s Board of Directors will hear an update on the PG&E situation at their next meeting on Wednesday, July 24th.
For full coverage of the Spaulding infrastructure failures/emergencies is available in the Spaulding section.