Yuba–Bear Hydroelectric Project
The Yuba–Bear Hydroelectric Project is a complex hydroelectric scheme in the northern Sierra Nevada in California, tapping the upper Yuba River and Bear River drainage basins. The project area encompasses approximately 400 square miles (1,000 km2) in Nevada, Placer, and Sierra Counties. Owned by the Nevada Irrigation District, it consists of 16 storage dams plus numerous diversion and regulating dams, and four generating stations producing 425 million kilowatt hours of electricity each year. The Yuba–Bear Hydroelectric Project consists of the Bowman development, Dutch Flat No. 2 development, Chicago Park development, and Rollins development.
Lake Spaulding, one of the main reservoirs used by the project
Faucherie Lake (3,980 ac-ft)
Canyon Creek, which feeds from French Lake and into Faucherie before making its way through Sawmill Lake and into Bowman
Sawmill Lake (3,030 ac-ft)
The Yuba River is a tributary of the Feather River in the Sierra Nevada and eastern Sacramento Valley, in the U.S. state of California. The main stem of the river is about 40 miles (64 km) long, and its headwaters are split into three major forks. The Yuba River proper is formed at the North Yuba and Middle Yuba rivers' confluence, with the South Yuba joining a short distance downstream. Measured to the head of the North Yuba River, the Yuba River is just over 100 miles (160 km) long.
At South Yuba River State Park
Satellite view of the lower Yuba River - Yuba City/Marysville and the Feather River lie near the bottom left; Yuba Goldfields are in the upper right center
Large gold nugget from the Yuba River placers, weight 182 g.
Yuba River at Parks Bar, 1991
