Nevada Irrigation District’s Combie Phase I Canal and Bear River Siphon Replacement Project involves the installation of a pipeline within the existing footprint of the Combie Phase 1 Canal (Nevada County) and the addition of an aerial siphon parallel to the Bear River Siphon that is 54-inches in diameter (footings in Nevada and Placer Counties). The Project area is primarily located in Nevada County at approximately 1,550-feet in elevation, where the Combie Phase I Canal extends approximately 9,100 linear feet in length. The Bear River Siphon spans the border of Nevada and Placer Counties and has one footing and approximately 200 feet of connection piping (to Combie Ophir) located in Placer County. The Combie Phase I Canal and Bear River Siphon are the primary water conveyance mechanism from Combie Reservoir to NID’s downstream conveyance infrastructure for agriculture in southern Nevada and western Placer Counties. It also supplies some treated water in Lake of the Pines and North Auburn communities.

Installation of the 54-inch aerial siphon was completed in July 2018 and is now in service.  Construction of the first phase of replacing the existing canal with a 96-inch reinforced concrete pipe was completed in April 2020.  Construction of the second phase began in Fall 2020 and the last piece of pipeline was installed, and water flowing by March 2021.  The Board awarded the construction contract with Steve P. Rados Inc. at the February 27, 2019 board meeting.

Press Release:  NID Completes vital Combie Phase I and Bear River Siphon