Photo: Dustin and his son, Sawyer, take a ride in their side-by-side.
Yuba Water Agency's plant mechanic, Dustin Eggleston, is part of the team that is responsible for making sure our hydroelectric power generation facilities and associated equipment are performing at their peak, which includes consistently checking all of the essential components, making adjustments and replacing parts. Scroll to learn more about Dustin, his background and what he enjoys in his free time.
What is your background/formal education that led to where you are in your career today?
My hydroelectric experience started in 2013, working as a plant mechanic apprentice for the California Department of Water Resources at Oroville Dam. From there, I went to the Idaho Power Company where I was a generation specialist for about a year and a half. After Idaho Power, I worked for the Pacific Gas and Electric Company as an electrical machinist for their power generation division. I then came to Yuba Water, which is where I plan on growing my career.
How did you get involved in your current career path?
Before I got into power generation, I worked at a welding/machine shop in Chico and started to move up in the company, but I always wanted more. Big equipment always spiked my interest, so I started looking for a new position. This led me to apply to the DWR apprenticeship.
What does your average day look like? Or what are some of your essential duties?
My average workday depends on what is going on around the watershed. It could be as simple as doing a weekly powerhouse check, including checking oil levels and all of the components that make the generators operational, or other daily tasks like prepping for the next big job, so that it can be completed in an organized manner.
Do your duties differ throughout the year? And if so, how?
When we are in our annual maintenance outages, my duties become more complex because that is when we stop generating electricity to perform the really detailed maintenance. Some examples of the work that we conduct during these outages include bearing replacements in the generators, piping replacements and other major work.
Photo: Dustin conducts a routine inspection of the New Bullards Bar Dam spillway gates.
What do you enjoy most about working for Yuba Water?
I enjoy the work atmosphere and the staff. You can tell the agency really cares about their employees and wants their feedback. Yuba Water strives to make a safe work environment and works awesome together as a group.
What do you like to do in your free time?
In my free time, I like to do anything outdoors. I am a big-time hunter and fisherman and have traveled all over the country to go on hunts for different big game. I also like to travel around the country to see and explore new places I've never been before. My family is my number one free time hobby. I have a daughter who is three and a son who is six. Spending time with them and watching them grow is my absolute favorite thing to do.
What are three words you would use to describe Yuba Water?
Passionate, organized and teamwork.