Spring-run Chinook salmon are shown in the Lower Yuba River, where long-term instream flow requirements are designed to protect fish habitat under the Lower Yuba River Accord. Photo courtesy of Yuba Water Agency

MARYSVILLE, CA (MPG) - The Yuba Water Agency secured a 25-year extension of the Lower Yuba River Accord after the State Water Resources Control Board approved the agreement this week.

The board’s Jan. 21 action extends approval of the accord’s points of diversion and places of use through 2050, allowing Yuba Water to continue managing water supplies under the long-standing framework.

Adopted in the mid-2000s, the Lower Yuba River Accord established minimum instream flow requirements designed to protect spring-run Chinook salmon and steelhead trout. The agreement relies on a science-based approach that adjusts flow requirements based on annual hydrology, allowing flexibility during wet and dry years.

Beyond environmental protection, the accord has served as a source of water for statewide supplies, particularly during drought conditions. In Yuba County, it links surface water and groundwater management to support local agriculture while maintaining hydropower generation tied to Yuba Water’s flood risk reduction mission.

The State Water Board’s decision followed a comprehensive environmental review and an evidentiary hearing conducted by its Administrative Hearing Office. Multiple water agencies submitted letters in support of extending the accord’s water transfer program, citing its environmental and water supply benefits.

Yuba Water General Manager Willie Whittlesey described the agreement as a model for collaboration that has improved fish conditions while strengthening water security across California, while ensuring long-term stability for the program.

“We appreciate the State Water Board’s action today, which ensures that the benefits of the Yuba Accord will continue to be realized for decades to come,” Whittlesey said.

The accord has drawn statewide and national recognition for its cooperative approach to water management. In a 2018 article, the Public Policy Institute of California highlighted the agreement as an example of negotiated solutions that exceeded state requirements for river flows by combining local management tools, including increased groundwater use during droughts.