New Colgate Powerhouse

The New Colgate Powerhouse is located along the Yuba River several miles downstream of New Bullards Bar Dam in Northern California. New Colgate Powerhouse is not located at the base of the dam, like most hydroelectric plants. Instead, the 14-foot diameter New Colgate Tunnel carries the water AbOUT 5 miles (8 km) southwest of the dam to the powerhouse. This increases the head, which allows the plant to produce more electricity. The dam's Pelton wheels are the largest ever built and have a combined capacity of 315 MW. Some water is released at the base of the dam so that the streambed is not completely dewatered upstream of the New Colgate Powerhouse tailrace. This water powers the 150 kW Fish Release Powerhouse. In the event of a power outage, this plant can operate the dam's massive spillway gates.

Narrows 2 Powerhouse and Narrows 1 Powerhouse are located downstream of the New Colgate Powerhouse. Both New Colgate Powerhouse and Narrows 2 Powerhouse are operated by the Yuba County Water Agency, while Narrows 1 Powerhouse is operated by Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E).