Yuba Water and UC partner on advanced levee monitoring

A pilot research project between the Yuba Water Agency and the University of California is testing advanced methods to monitor levee health in Yuba County. Funded by a $360,000 grant awarded in 2024, researchers from the Center for Information Technology Research in the Interest of Society (CITRIS) and the Banatao Institute have spent two years deploying sensors across 18 monitoring sites.

The project focuses on areas along the Feather and Bear rivers and Dry Creek within reclamation districts 784 and 2103. These sites are critical for protecting the communities of Linda, Olivehurst, Plumas Lake, and Wheatland, as well as local agricultural and commercial zones, from flooding.

Researchers utilized drones equipped with LiDAR and other sensors to generate detailed 3D models of the levees. These aerial surveys are supplemented by ground-based sensors and surveys to verify data. The initiative aims to enable proactive maintenance and ensure the long-term integrity of the county's levee system, which has seen significant investment following major floods in 1986 and 1997.