The Water Supply

During an average year, the annual snow and water runoff that passes down the Yuba River is about 2.4 million acre feet. The maximum annual runoff experienced on the river was nearly five million acre feet. Here’s how that water is used:

• 4 percent is diverted by the Agency for irrigation supplies to seven water districts and companies, which will increase to 6 percent in the future.
• 7 percent is diverted by other districts and individuals with their own water rights on the Yuba River.
• 17 percent is diverted to other watersheds for water supply and production of electricity by PG&E and Nevada and Oroville Wyandotte Irrigation Districts.
• 72 percent stays in the stream for fish and wildlife and either flows to the ocean or is diverted from the Delta by the state and federal projects and Delta water users.

During high runoff years the Agency has sold excess water to help alleviate drought conditions being experienced elsewhere in California. It has sold water to various northern California cities, the California Department of Water Resources, other water or irrigation districts and the State Water Bank.