MARYSVILLE, Calif. (Jan. 6, 2026) – During its first meeting of the new year, the Yuba Water Agency Board of Directors selected new leadership and approved more than $1.9 million in grants to support continued work on the Marysville Ring Levee and several water supply reliability projects throughout Yuba County.
The board named Wayne Bishop as chair and Renick House as vice-chairman for the 2026 calendar year. This is Bishop’s first year as chair; he previously served as vice chair in 2025 and has represented South Yuba County on the board since 2022.
“It’s an honor to serve as chairman of this board, especially during such an exciting time for the water agency and our county,” Bishop said. “The last few years have involved a ton of planning and design for big projects – and this year, we’re really transitioning to building. What a great time to lead a great agency.”
House has served on the board since 2025 through his role as a Yuba County supervisor representing District 2, which includes the City of Marysville, part of West Linda and the unincorporated part of the county known as District 10.
Yuba Water’s board includes all five members of Yuba County’s Board of Supervisors and two elected officials representing North and South Yuba County. The board works with the agency’s general manager to set policy and make decisions that support Yuba Water’s core missions.
Flood risk reduction grants
Also at today’s meeting, Yuba Water approved a nearly $924,000 grant to the City of Marysville to fund a comprehensive engineering analysis and documentation needed for state and federal accreditation of the 7.5-mile Marysville Ring Levee, which surrounds the city and reduces the risk of flooding from the Yuba and Feather rivers. Accreditation is necessary to ensure that property owners, renters and businesses in Marysville can continue to participate in the National Flood Insurance Program.
“Most homeowners insurance doesn’t cover flood damage,” said Yuba Water Flood Risk Manager Sami Nall. “Major improvements to our levee system in recent years have significantly reduced flood risk in our area, but anytime you live near a river or below a dam, there will always be some risk. That’s why it’s important that we ensure residents continue to have access to flood insurance.”
Once complete, the Marysville Ring Levee is designed to provide at least a 200-year level of flood protection. That means there is a 1-in-200 chance in any given year that a flood could exceed the system’s capacity. The levee reduces flood risk for more than 12,000 people, the region’s largest and only level 3 trauma services hospital, as well as Highways 70 and 20 and two major Union Pacific Railroad lines.
Water supply grants
Yuba Water approved five grants to support water supply projects across the county:
North Yuba Water District: A $355,782 grant will fund upgrades to the 22-mile Dobbins Oregon House Canal in the upper Yuba County foothills. The work includes lining more than 4,500 feet of canal to improve water conveyance, reduce water loss and provide long-term resilience. Yuba Water will cover 50 percent of the project cost, with North Yuba Water covering the remaining half.
Hallwood Irrigation Company: Yuba Water approved two amendments to previously awarded grants for the Hallwood Irrigation Company:
- A grant for approximately $244,000 will cover additional costs for a ditch lining project along Highway 20, which will reduce excessive seepage and water loss and improve water conveyance. In 2023, Yuba Water approved a grant worth $613,700 for the project.
- A $188,290 grant will help upgrade the hydraulic gates that regulate the flow of water at five locations in Hallwood’s water delivery system, enabling remote operation for better management and efficiency. Yuba Water previously approved a $442,300 grant for this in 2024.
Browns Valley Irrigation District: A grant for just over $270,000 will fund development of a capital improvement plan to assess the condition of the district’s assets and document deficiencies and priority repairs needed to continue providing reliable services to its customers.
Linda County Water District: Approximately $166,000 granted to Linda County Water District will help relocate several fire hydrants, water mains and other critical water and sewage infrastructure, to coincide with Yuba County’s North Beale Road Complete Streets Safety Project, which includes road and drainage improvements along North Beale Road in Linda. Yuba Water previously approved a $372,672 grant for this work. Linda County Water is matching both of Yuba Water’s contributions to complete the work.
Learn more about how Yuba Water’s investments are powering a brighter future for Yuba County at yubawater.org.