New Bullards Bar – Flood Control and Water Supply Management
Following the 1997 flood that severely impacted Yuba County, Yuba Water Agency (Yuba Water) initiated a Supplemental Flood Control Study to improve flood protection and public safety. A key result was the development of Forecast-Coordinated Operations (F-CO) Program, a strategy that enhances reservoir management to reduce flood risks while supporting environmental needs, hydropower, water supply, and recreation.
Initiated in 2006 with a $10 million California Department of Water Resources (DWR) Proposition 13 grant, the Yuba-Feather F-CO Program has been developed and implemented by Yuba Water and DWR, with support from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and California-Nevada River Forecast Center (CNRFC).
The F-CO Program enhances data collection, flood forecasting, and communication during flood emergencies. Coordinating reservoir releases from DWR’s Lake Oroville and Yuba Water’s New Bullards Bar Reservoir helps prevent exceeding downstream channel capacity on the Yuba and Feather rivers, especially near Marysville and Yuba City. Reservoir operators maintain dedicated flood storage during winter periods to manage storm inflows using real-time weather forecasts and USACE Water Control Manual guidelines.
F-CO and FIRO: Evolving Approaches to Reducing Flood Risk and Improving Operational Flexibility
Yuba Water, in partnership with DWR, USACE, and the CNRFC, is further enhancing flood management through the F-CO Program with Forecast-Informed Reservoir Operations (FIRO). The incorporation of FIRO into the F-CO Program for New Bullards Bar and Lake Oroville will offer technological advances in weather forecasting to further enhance flood and overall water management in the Yuba-Feather River system. In addition, Yuba Water is currently developing a new Atmospheric River Control (ARC) Spillway at New Bullards Bar that aims to further reduce flood risks by enabling additional releases during severe storms, integrating FIRO principles for greater operational flexibility.
GEI’s Role in Supporting F-CO and FIRO
GEI has been working with Yuba Water and DWR for over a decade, providing crucial program support for both the F-CO and FIRO initiatives at New Bullards Bar and Lake Oroville. GEI played a key role in the development of the F-CO program and continues to support Yuba Water and DWR in its ongoing implementation.
GEI’s contributions to the program efforts include:
- Program Support: Assisting in communication and coordination among partner agencies, including Yuba Water, DWR, USACE, and CNRFC, ensuring that operations are seamless, and data is shared effectively.
- Reservoir Operations Protocols: Supporting the development of strategies for coordinated reservoir operations, including real-time operational protocols and decision support systems to guide water releases ahead of major storms.
- Engineering Studies and Feasibility Assessments: Conducting technical studies to evaluate flood and water supply benefits and supporting the design of a new ARC Spillway at NBB.
- Collaboration and Communication: Facilitating stakeholder engagement, leading team meetings, briefings, and workshops, and supporting data collection and operations studies using HEC-ResSim.
Innovative Approaches to Water Management
A core element of this project is the ongoing development of FIRO and structural improvements to New Bullards Bar to aid in the implementation of FIRO to strengthen the region’s flood resilience and improve operational flexibility. GEI’s engineering team has evaluated potential structural modifications at New Bullards Bar, including analysis and design of the new ARC Spillway.
Implementing FIRO will further reduce flood risk for Yuba and Feather River communities, improve operational flexibility, and help address climate change impacts, such as increased frequency of extreme weather.
GEI recently completed the ARC Spillway design, and Yuba Water is moving forward with construction planning. The new spillway will complement F-CO and FIRO by enabling more flexibility for responding to large storm events. GEI remains a key partner in evolving these programs and ensuring the success of New Bullards Bar’s flood risk reduction infrastructure.