Logo courtesy of Yuba City

YUBA CITY, CA (MPG) – Yuba City is moving forward with an underground collection system designed to catch trash carried through storm drains before it reaches local waterways.

The City Council approved project plans, bidding and an advance equipment purchase as part of its Nov. 3 consent calendar. The device will be installed in a storm drain on Walton Avenue to reduce pollution flowing toward Gilsizer Slough and the Feather River.

The estimated $616,502 cost includes equipment, installation and contingencies. A construction contract is scheduled to return to the council in December, with work anticipated to begin in January and finish in March 2027.

The project originally called for a trash-capture device near Lincoln Road at Gilsizer Slough. However, hydraulic modeling identified potential localized flooding, prompting a move upstream to Walton Avenue and a change in equipment, officials said.

The selected system separates and collects debris from stormwater. Public Works already maintains three similar devices elsewhere in the city, giving the department experience with their operation and upkeep.

Officials evaluated state-certified equipment based on maintenance needs and its ability to handle runoff from large drainage areas before selecting a unit manufactured by Contech Engineered Solutions.

Buying the equipment before awarding the installation contract is intended to keep construction on schedule and avoid contractor markups on the purchase, officials said. Delivery is expected to take six to 10 weeks.

The work is part of a broader effort supported by Proposition 1 funding through the California Department of Water Resources. In 2019, the city received a combined $970,000 grant award for this project and improvements to the Gilsizer North Detention Basin.

Design and permitting have required several revisions since the city hired West Yost in 2021 to prepare the projects.

The final funding breakdown will come back to the council when construction bids are available. At that point, officials will identify how much grant money remains available and whether a local contribution or budget adjustment is needed.