Put in access remains a problem on this reach. It's doable if you float the lake (0.34mi) but there are no trespassing signs on the north side of the reservoir. See trip report.
'We put in at the marina, paddled across the res, portaged on the right side to the bottom of the dam and got in. Expect to see salmon spawning if you do the run this \[time of year\].'
The old decription said: hike around the dam, or hike in from side roads (but Yuba County Water Agency considers that trespassing).
Fortunately a number of power projects owned by this agency are presently up for FERC relicensing. License #2246 on the NF Yuba expired in 2013. This may provide an opportunity to gain better boating access to this and other important reaches on the Yuba River.
CACreeks says: Guidebooks say this part of the main Yuba is 1.5 miles of class III, one class IV, then 4.5 miles of class I. Yawn. None of my friends wanted to go, until they heard the salmon and steelhead were running. The main reason nobody wants to run this section is that you start by crossing a reservoir, then carry over 1/2 mile up a hill and down switchbacks to a powerhouse below the face of the dam. Nobody wants to do that for only 1.5 miles of class III-IV.
But it's worse than that! There aren't even any class III rapids!! We had about 750 cfs, but even at higher flows I can't imagine any of the 4 class II+ rapids at the beginning would become class III. However note that in the old Charles Martin guidebook, it says that a Sierra Club trip at 2000 cfs had many swimmers.
The class IV rapid is fun, and followed by a beautiful narrow gorge. Possibly the lead-in to this rapid counts as a class III, but I would lump it together as the same rapid, even at 750 cfs.
The remaining 4.5 miles are mildly scenic, and contain many class II- rapids with mostly moving water in between. So the top third isn't as good as the guidebooks indicate, and the bottom 2/3 isn't as bad. I would do this run again during salmon spawning season, but I don't mind portaging as much as some boaters do.
Other Information Sources:
SIERRA WHITEWATER, MARTIN
A GUIDE TO THE BEST WHITEWATER IN THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA, HOLBEK & STANLEY, 1988