Employees were rushed out of the New Colgate Powerhouse in Yuba County shortly after 3 p.m. Friday after a large water pipe failed, sending a surge of water roaring through one of the facility’s buildings. The remote Dobbins-area powerhouse, tucked between Collins Lake and New Bullards Bar Reservoir, quickly drew a heavy emergency response as crews converged on the site and staff were led to safety. No injuries were reported, and on-site personnel worked into the afternoon to assess the damage and secure the scene, as reported by CBS Sacramento.
According to CBS Sacramento, the Yuba County Sheriff’s Office said the failure happened shortly after 3 p.m. when a large water pipe broke, causing immediate flooding inside one building and triggering a multi-agency emergency response. CBS reports that all employees were evacuated and that the Yuba Water Agency confirmed crews were on scene working to manage the situation.
Agency response and local context
The Yuba Water Agency operates the hydroelectric facility that feeds the New Colgate Powerhouse, and the agency's Colgate Tunnel and Penstock Improvement Project page explains how a one-mile penstock carries water from New Bullards Bar Reservoir to the powerhouse. The project page also provides background on ongoing upgrades and the recent staging of large penstock sections as part of the agency’s effort to improve reliability in the foothills, context that helps explain the level of activity at the site.
Why this site matters
The Colgate tunnel and penstock system has been the focus of a major capital improvement effort valued at roughly $76.8 million, as reported by the Water Education Foundation. Heavy equipment and oversized penstock sections have been staged at Colgate during that work, and the area was the scene of a fatal construction accident in August 2025, local coverage noted, a reminder of how active and potentially hazardous the work there has been (KCRA).
Officials have not yet released additional details about whether the break will affect power generation or local water deliveries, and crews remained on site into the evening assessing the damage. This story will be updated when the Yuba Water Agency, the Yuba County Sheriff’s Office or other agencies publish formal statements or safety advisories.
