Newsroom

Bangor Canal Outage

On September 27th, during routine maintenance inspections, the agency observed that the flow control valve located at the beginning of the Bangor Canal had seized. After many hours of trouble-shooting and attempted repairs, agency staff created a temporary solution to continue water conveyance until parts and personnel were available to complete the permanent repair.

The agency anticipates this repair to take two days, impacting water flow starting on Wednesday, 11/29/2023 and ending on Thursday, 11/30/2023. This timeframe is subjective to no additional issues arising during our team’s effort to repair.

South Feather appreciates the patience of our customers during this time to repair the valve and is committed to providing outstanding service to its customers.

Thank you,

South Feather Water and Power Agency

Little Grass Valley Operations

South Feather is transferring water from Little Grass Valley Reservoir (LGVR) into Sly Creek Reservoir to facilitate some concrete repairs in the LGVR Spillway chute. We be moving approximately 11,000 AF of water. LGVR release will be increased beginning Wednesday, 7/26, after our hydrographer performs his USGS survey of the downstream release. The increase will be completed end of day Friday, 7/28, at which time the release will be approximately 375 – 400 cfs. Tentatively, the release will be reduced beginning Thursday, 8/10. The repairs will be performed the week of 8/14. Just in time for our yearly FERC inspections the week of 8/21.

Delayed Start of 2023 Irrigation Season

The 2023 irrigation season has been delayed to support mutual aid efforts with the North Yuba Water District (NYWD) on the Upper Forbestown Ditch. This section of conveyance is critical to both SFWPA & NYWD to efficiently convey raw water to their irrigation customers and both districts’ treatment plant reservoirs, respectively.

In addition, both districts have greatly benefitted from a heavy precipitation year, including a couple very productive late season storms.

With heavy consideration and a focus of future sustainability, the modified start dates of the 2023 irrigation season are as follows:

SFWPA Upper and Lower Forbestown Ditch: 05/08/2023
Bangor Canal and surrounding conveyance: Estimated 04/20/2023
Palermo Canal and surrounding conveyance: Estimated 04/20/2023

SFWPA appreciates your understanding.

Shut Off’s Resumed January 2023

ATTENTION: SFWPA will be resuming its shut-off process per SB 998 requirements in January 2023.

For information on our delinquency process please visit our page on SB998.

Save Water. Save California

As you know, California is facing serious water challenges. In the spirit of neighbor helping neighbor, we are highlighting these tips:

  • Even tiny leaks can be huge water wasters
  • Water plant, NOT pavement
  • Use less water by using drought tolerant plants

North Yuba Water District sues SFWPA

A press release regarding the complaint filed by North Yuba Water District against South Feather Water and Power Agency along with a timeline of the conflict can be found here on the NYWD link above or https://southfeather.com/nywd

 

 

Service Disconnections

For the Agency’s policy on service discontinuation, see the SB 998 tab at the top of the page or go to this link https://southfeather.com/sb998.

Appropriations Limit for 2019

The Agency’s 2019 Appropriations Limit has been calculated at $1,026,619. Proceeds from property taxes for the Agency in 2019 are budgeted to be $543,800.

Please see the complete report for more information: 2019 Appropriations Limit

Communication Page

In an effort to reach more customers, South Feather Water and Power Agency has created this communication page. If you would like more information on the topics below, please fill out the contact information and select the categories of most interest to you. As information becomes available we will send the articles to your email address.

  • Agency News: Events, elections, history and financial updates
  • Outage – Irrigation: Irrigation seasons, emergency and planned irrigation outages
  • Outage – Potable: Issues regarding water quality, planned and emergency domestic water outages.
  • Water Conservation: Methods of conservation, tips and legislation

 

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DWR Offering Rebates

The “turf and toilet” rebate program is financed by the Proposition 1 water bond approved by voters in 2014. The program will help carry out Governor Brown’s April 1 Executive Order on drought to further reduce water use in homes by replacing more than 10 million square-feet of lawn and upgrading more than 60,000 water-wasting toilets.
DWR will oversee the two rebate programs, which provide a $100 consumer rebate to replace one old toilet per household and up to $2 per square foot for lawn replacement. Californians can visit www.SaveOurWaterRebates.com to apply for the rebates.

Letter to Customers regarding Water Conservation

June 3, 2015

Re: Implementing State-Mandated Drought Contingencies

Dear Water User:

On April 1, 2015, Governor Brown issued Executive Order B-29-15, directing the State Water Board to issue emergency water conservation regulations to achieve a mandatory statewide 25% reduction in potable water usage through February 28, 2016. Subsequently, the State Water Board adopted Emergency Regulations which, among other things, impose additional water use prohibitions and mandate the Agency to achieve 36% savings in its customers’ potable water use in 2015 as compared to their use in 2013.

The Agency’s current available water supply, in conjunction with its customers’ conservation record and the Agency’s conservation efforts, would not independently justify imposing a mandatory 36% reduction in the Agency’s potable water production in order to protect against continuing drought conditions, as the Emergency Regulations do. Were it not for these mandatory regulations, South Feather Water and Power would not have to impose restrictions on its customers other than to request reasonable and voluntary conservation efforts. The Agency’s water storage currently stands at 70% of average for this time of year, which amount exceeds well over four times its customers’ annual potable demand.

Although the Agency believes that the State is imposing conservation measures on Agency customers that are inappropriate and unnecessary, South Feather intends to utilize its best efforts to comply with the Emergency Regulations’ mandates, which include the following wasteful water practices:

  1. Applying potable water to outdoor landscapes in a manner that causes runoff such that water flows onto adjacent property, non-irrigated areas, private and public walkways, roadways, parking lots, or structures;
  2. Use of a hose that dispenses potable water to wash a motor vehicle, except where the hose is fitted with a shut-off nozzle or device attached to it that causes it to cease dispensing water immediately when not in use;
  3. The application of potable water to driveways and sidewalks;
  4. The use of potable water in a fountain or other decorative water feature, except where the water is part of a recirculating system;
  5. The application of potable water to outdoor landscapes during and within 48 hours after measurable rainfall;
  6. The serving of drinking water other than upon request in eating or drinking establishments, including but not limited to restaurants, hotels, cafes, cafeterias, bars, or other public places where food or drink are served and/or purchased; and,
  7. The irrigation with potable water of ornamental turf on public street medians;
  8. The irrigation with potable water of landscapes outside of newly constructed homes and buildings in a manner inconsistent with regulations or other requirements established by the California Building Standards Commission and the Department of Housing and Community Development; and,
  9. Failure of the operator of hotels and motels to provide guests with the option of not having towels and linens laundered daily.

Also, outdoor irrigation of ornamental landscapes or turf utilizing potable water shall only be conducted between the hours of 6:00 p.m. and 10:00 a.m. This restriction does not apply to the limited use of a hand-held bucket or similar container, a hand-held hose equipped with a positive self-closing water shut-off nozzle or device, an irrigation system that uses stream rotor sprinklers that meet a 70% efficiency standard, very low-flow drip-type irrigation systems where no emitter produces more than two gallons of water per hour, or to commercial nurseries and growers utilizing non-potable, raw water.

We know that our customers are conscious of the drought because they already achieved a 10% decrease in 2014 as compared to 2013, and they are on track to conserve even more in 2015. So, in addition to implementing the mandatory conservation measures listed above, we’re asking Agency customers to implement measures within their households and businesses to reduce per-capita water use by 25% so that we can achieve the Agency’s assigned water conservation goal (water saving tips are available at www.southfeather.com). The Agency has no plans to impose water budgets or penalties on its customers, and there are also no plans to increase water rates to affect conservation.

Please let me know if you have questions or need additional information.

Sincerely,

South Feather Water and Power Agency

Michael C. Glaze, General Manager

2015 Drought Information

In response to the Governor’s April 1 drought emergency proclamation, South Feather Water and Power Agency is asking its customers to implement measures within their households and businesses to reduce per-capita water use by 25%. Customers are also being asked to limit their outdoor irrigation of ornamental landscapes and turf to every other day.

On April 1, 2015, the Agency had approximately 115,000 acre-feet of water in storage. End-of-year storage will be 60,000 acre-feet. Water consumed by customers for all purposes in 2015 will be less than 20,000 acre-feet. Conserved water remains in storage for the exclusive use of Agency customers.