MARYSVILLE, Calif. (Feb. 20, 2026) – Yuba Water Agency continues to make progress on site security and cleanup of oily debris on the Yuba River, one week after the rupture of a penstock pipe at its Yuba County foothill facilities. The rupture caused water to cascade down the hillside below the 14-foot-diameter pipe, resulting in erosion and significant damage to downhill facilities and sending mud, sediment and man-made debris, including oil, into the Yuba River.
The incident also required the rescue of several workers. One person remains hospitalized and in stable condition.
Initial water quality tests encouraging
The results of independent laboratory tests of water quality samples collected from the Yuba River downstream of New Colgate Powerhouse and at Englebright Lake following the penstock incident show no concerning results. Specifically, results from polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), petroleum hydrocarbon and volatile organic compound panels did not show any detections of these chemicals, which are associated with petroleum-based products and other commercial and industrial materials.
“We’re encouraged by these initial results, which suggest that any oil that washed into the river is likely limited to oily debris on the surface,” said Yuba Water General Manager Willie Whittlesey. “However, monitoring is ongoing as part of our continued response.”
Yuba Water has been collecting daily samples from the Yuba River since the morning after the incident and is developing a long-term water quality monitoring plan in coordination with state and federal agencies. Sampling locations include control sites above the incident area and two sites within the incident area.
Progress on environmental response, oily debris cleanup and removal at Englebright
Yuba Water is also making progress on oily debris removal in coordination with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife’s Office of Spill Prevention and Response. Crews continue to remove debris from the stretch of the Yuba River between New Colgate Powerhouse and Englebright Lake and successfully installed several large oil and debris booms to contain material to the upper stretch of the lake.
Several large barges are now in place on the lake as crews work to remove remaining oily debris in a contained area and additional upstream debris on the shoreline. Teams have so far removed more than 100 cubic yards of oily debris and expect to remove several hundred cubic yards of material each day as work continues.
Englebright Lake remains closed to recreation and people are strongly urged to avoid the area of the Yuba River between Englebright and New Colgate Powerhouse while work continues.
Site security and hillside stabilization
Yuba Water continues to restrict access to the incident area around New Colgate Powerhouse for safety, including closing Lake Francis Road beyond the last residence, while geotechnical experts assess hillside stability and develop stabilization measures. Damage assessments to the penstock, powerhouse and related infrastructure are ongoing.
Emergency declaration, updated video message from agency leadership and new incident webpage
The Yuba County Office of Emergency Services also issued a disaster declaration on Feb. 19, which will allow the agency to request state and federal disaster assistance funds in the future, if needed. The declaration will now go to the Yuba County Board of Supervisors for ratification on Feb. 24.
“The reality is, it’s going to take weeks to months to fully understand the extent of the damage to the hillside and to our facilities and then months to years for recovery,” Whittlesey said. “We appreciate having the added county support available to us.”
Yuba Water also shared a new video message from General Manager Willie Whittlesey and published a new incident webpage with ongoing updates and response efforts. The site is accessible from the agency’s main website, yubawater.org. The information builds on a public update provided by Whittlesey earlier this week during the agency’s Feb. 17 board of directors meeting.
“On a personal note, the fact that everyone is accounted for and recovering, and the support we’ve received from our partners, local businesses and the community over the past week have really kept our spirits high during this incredibly challenging time,” Whittlesey said. “I know I speak for the entire Yuba Water team when I say thank you. It’s deeply appreciated.”