New Bullards Bar Reservoir Water Level
New Bullards Bar Reservoir is at 1,880.57 ft today (Oct 31), 75.43 ft below its 1,956 ft full pool, down 2.81 ft this week.
California · North Yuba River
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Water level history
About New Bullards Bar Reservoir
New Bullards Bar Reservoir is a reservoir on the North Yuba River in California, operated by Yuba Water Agency. Its full summer pool sits at 1956 ft above sea level. Live water levels come from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (CWMS) and update hourly.
Understanding New Bullards Bar Reservoir's water level
New Bullards Bar is the big storage reservoir on the Yuba system, held behind a 645 foot concrete arch on the North Yuba River near Dobbins, the fifth tallest dam in the country. Yuba Water Agency (originally the Yuba County Water Agency) built it after county voters approved $185 million in revenue bonds by an 11 to 1 margin in 1961. The last of 350,000 buckets of concrete went in during 1969, storage began that January, and the project was finished in 1970. Gross pool sits at about 1,956 feet, where the reservoir holds roughly 966,000 acre-feet; the spillway crest is at 1,902 and the top of the dam at 1,965. For decades PG&E bought the project's power under a contract that ended in 2016, after which the agency took on all costs and all power revenue. The lake drowned more than one dam: the 1900 diversion dam lies about a quarter mile upstream of the new one, and PG&E's old 200 foot Bullards Bar arch went under when the new reservoir filled.
The level follows a flood rule first and a water supply rule second. In exchange for a $12 million federal contribution to construction, the Army Corps of Engineers requires 170,000 acre-feet of empty space from October 31 through March 31. That space is phased in starting September 15 and released again by May 31, so fall drawdown and a spring refill are built into the calendar. The stakes downstream are real. On February 20, 1986, a Yuba River levee failed at Linda, flooding about 30 square miles, forcing more than 26,000 people out and causing over $464 million in damage. On January 2, 1997, a levee broke at Arboga, now Plumas Lake, killing three people. Yuba Water is now working with the Corps, Scripps and the Department of Water Resources on forecast informed operations, coordinating early releases with Oroville ahead of atmospheric rivers, and the Corps is updating the water control manuals for both dams.
The limiting factor in those early releases is the outlet. At the highest level allowed in storm season the dam can release only about 19,000 cubic feet per second before water reaches the existing gated spillway. The planned Atmospheric River Control Spillway would put new gates 31.5 feet lower and could release up to 35,000 cfs ahead of a big storm when downstream channels can carry it; Yuba Water says it could handle a repeat of the 1997 storm on its own and lower levee stages near Marysville by two to three feet. As of 2026 it is still in design and permitting, with a cost estimate of $210 million to $290 million and about four years of construction ahead. Separately, on February 13, 2026, the 14 foot penstock feeding the New Colgate Powerhouse ruptured about five miles below the dam, sending roughly 400 acre-feet down the hillside. The dam itself was not affected, but the powerhouse is expected to be offline for several years.
New Bullards Bar Reservoir — frequently asked
What is New Bullards Bar's full pool elevation?
Gross pool is about 1,956 feet above sea level, with roughly 966,000 acre-feet in storage. The gated spillway crest is at 1,902 feet and the top of the dam is at 1,965. In practice the lake only nears full in late spring and early summer, because the Corps flood rule keeps 170,000 acre-feet empty through the winter.
Why is New Bullards Bar drawn down every fall?
It is required. The Corps of Engineers paid $12 million toward the dam in return for flood storage, and the operating rule keeps 170,000 acre-feet of space open from October 31 to March 31. The space is created gradually starting September 15 and refilled between March 31 and May 31, so a falling lake in autumn is normal operation, not a sign of drought.
How low has New Bullards Bar been recently?
The gauge panel on this page covers only about 2020 onward. In that window the low was 1,792.55 feet in 2021, more than 160 feet below full. That August the Cottage Creek launch near Emerald Cove closed for low water and Dark Day was down to one lane. The South Yuba River Citizens League noted that spring that the reservoir was already lower than at any point in the 2012 to 2016 drought.
What is New Bullards Bar's record high level?
The recent gauge panel shows a high of 1,955.51 feet in 2024, within about half a foot of gross pool. Older records are not shown on this page. A UC Davis dam summary lists the highest recorded contents as 966,103 acre-feet at elevation 1,956 on June 12, 1982, a figure from that summary's period of record rather than from the gauge panel here.
What is the new spillway at New Bullards Bar?
The Atmospheric River Control Spillway is a second gated spillway planned at the dam's left abutment, with gates 31.5 feet lower than the existing ones. It would let operators release up to 35,000 cfs before a large storm arrives, making room for the inflow. As of 2026 it remains in design and state permitting, with an estimated cost of $210 million to $290 million and roughly four years of construction.
What happened at the New Colgate Powerhouse in 2026?
On February 13, 2026, the 14 foot penstock between the dam's power tunnel and New Colgate Powerhouse ruptured, releasing roughly 400 acre-feet down the hillside and sending sediment and oily debris into the Yuba toward Englebright Lake. One contract worker was hospitalized. Yuba Water said the dam was not affected, but the powerhouse is expected to be out of service for several years.
What are the kokanee limits at New Bullards Bar?
New Bullards Bar is one of the reservoirs where California allows a larger take of kokanee and other landlocked salmon than the statewide rule. The daily bag limit is ten and the possession limit is twenty, double the standard five and ten. The Forest Service also opens shoreline camping once the lake has drawn down 15 feet, which is common by late summer.
Other lakes near New Bullards Bar Reservoir
- New Hogan LakeCA
- Millerton LakeCA
- New Melones LakeCA
- Lake McClureCA
- Lake OrovilleCA
- Los Banos ReservoirCA
See current levels for all 29 California lakes and reservoirs →
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