“Thank you to the oil spill preventionists and game wardens at CDFW for working to protect our waterways, land, and fish and wildlife. This help to keep our environment protected and our State beautiful with its abundance of natural resources.”
CSLEA President Alan Barcelona
YUBA COUNTY – On February 15, 2026 the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) announced that a CDFW Office of Spill Prevention and Response (OSPR) crew responded to an area downstream of the February 13th water pipe rupture at the New Colgate Powerhouse near Dobbins.
Crews assessed the Yuba River along the Nevada and Yuba County line, where an oil sheen was observed in the river where it meets with Englebright Lake. An investigation was ongoing as to the type and quantity of oil product discharged due to the water pipe rupture. A cleanup contractor was hired and containment boom was deployed across the river. Assessments will continue but initially there were no signs of any visibly oiled wildlife.
February 17th update from CDEFW-OSPR:
CDFW-OSPR and Yuba Water Agency have formed a Unified Command to continue overseeing cleanup operations in the Yuba River, which was impacted by a water pipe rupture Friday afternoon at the Colgate Powerhouse near Dobbins in Yuba County. The rupture caused excessive water flow, which washed sediment and debris down the river north of Englebright Lake. The water also resulted in the discharge of oil from the facility, which caused a sheen on the river amongst the debris. CDFW-OSPR has taken samples of the oil product and analysis is pending. A cleanup contractor deployed containment and absorbent boom across the river, which has held up well in recent days as storms move in. Cleanup is ongoing and two contractors hired by Yuba Water Agency are now engaged in the response. An investigation into the cause of the incident is ongoing. No visibly oiled wildlife has been observed.
