Katie and I took some time away from editing last week to paddle a stretch of the Yuba River north of Sacramento that has not seen water in over 7 years.  The Yuba River is one of California's most dammed rivers and in combination with the neighboring Bear River is called the "Yuba-Bear Project."  The complex Yuba-Bear Project consists of nearly 50 dams, and many pipes, diversions and reservoirs.  Most of the Yuba-Bear Project is up for a 50 year relicensing by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) in 2013. 

The relicensing process involves many studies in order to evaluate the effects of these projects.  The studies include effects on wildlife, environment, other water users and recreation.  Because whitewater boating and recreation on these rivers was not that big 50 years ago when the projects were given the license many stretches of river very rarely see water for recreational purposes.  But now through the relicensing process organizations of boaters such as American Whitewater (www.americanwhitewater.org) are fighting to assure recreational flow releases on some classic stretches of river. 


The huge Bullards Bar dam on the North Yuba.  Photo by Jared Noceti

The North Fork of the Yuba River below Bullards Bar Reservoir is diverted through a giant (you could drive a car through it) pipe for 8 miles or so down to Colgate Powerhouse where it is returned to the natural river bed.  One mile or so below the powerhouse the river is again backed up by another dam, Englebright.  Yuba County is the owner and operator of the Bullards Bar Dam and Colgate Power House.  Currently the penstock returning the water to the river at Colgate is going through maintenance so until December the river is once again flowing in it's natural river bed for the first time in years.

Lizzy, Grant, Scott and Katie -- Photo by Jared Noceti


Yahoo for late fall kayaking!  Jared Noceti, Grant Korgan, Lizzy English Katie Scott and Myself set out to re-explore what this canyon had in store.  The run took us more than 7 hours of scouting, paddling and portaging. 


Lizzy English making a tight move above a sieve.  Photo by Jared Noceti


The run contained many classic steep bouldery rapids.  Many sieves were also encountered keeping us on our toes and making us portage many times. 


North Yuba River.  Photo by Jared Noceti

As the light faded and the stars came out we considered spending the night out but pushed on to find the brightly lit powerhouse that marked our take out around a corner.


Katie Scott.  Photo by Jared Noceti

We were amazed that such a great run exists just over an hour away from our home in Sacramento.  This is one of many runs that we look forward to being able to paddle every fall once the relicensing happens.  Thank you to Dave Stiendorf and all of the other people at American Whitewater for helping put water back in our rivers.

---Scott Ligare