A bold wake‑up call: a major penstock failure near the New Colgate Powerhouse has triggered an urgent environmental and safety response, and the focus now is on understanding the cause, safeguarding the site, and protecting the Yuba River ecosystem.
OREGON HOUSE, Calif. (Feb. 14, 2026) — In the wake of yesterday’s rupture of a penstock above the New Colgate Powerhouse in Dobbins, Yuba Water Agency is actively investigating the incident, securing the area, and assessing potential environmental impacts along the Yuba River.
“Right now our priority is to prevent any further debris from reaching the river and to secure the site ahead of the forecasted rain,” said Willie Whittlesey, Yuba Water Agency General Manager.
To map and manage debris, Yuba Water is conducting helicopter surveys of the North and Middle Yuba rivers from the New Colgate Powerhouse to Lake Englebright. The goal is to locate debris clusters and identify spots for installing debris booms to contain large pieces. The agency is coordinating with Clean Harbors, an environmental mitigation specialist, and with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which owns and operates Englebright, to limit debris movement and monitor water quality.
Geotechnical teams are also mobilizing to evaluate the damage, with particular attention to hillside erosion and overall site safety, so they can determine the best next steps.
Residents and visitors are asked to avoid Lake Francis Road and nearby areas while efforts to secure the penstock site continue.
Incident details confirm that the one-mile-long penstock pipe failed catastrophically on Friday, Feb. 13, just before 3 p.m., causing an unplanned water release from the penstock down the hillside into the New Colgate Powerhouse. All on-site personnel are safe, though one person remains hospitalized.
The penstock connects to a five-mile-long rock tunnel at New Bullards Bar Dam and Reservoir, transporting water between the dam and the New Colgate Powerhouse for hydroelectric generation. These facilities are part of Yuba Water’s Yuba River Development Project, a multi‑purpose initiative aimed at flood risk reduction, water supply, and power production for Yuba County.
New Bullards Bar Dam remains stable and unaffected by the incident, and there is no downstream flood risk linked to yesterday’s event.
Yuba Water will continue sharing updates in the coming days and remains committed to transparency. For the latest information, visit yubawater.org. Updates will also be posted on the Colgate Powerhouse incident page at yubanet.com/regional/colgate-powerhouse-penstock-failure/.
