Photo: Brenden enjoys a helicopter ride on his way to help with a snow survey.
Yuba Water Agency's utility worker, Brenden O'Hagan, is part of the crew that is responsible for maintenance around the agency's hydroelectric power generation and flood risk reduction facilities, which includes operating heavy equipment, vegetation control, cleaning and clearing roads and more. Scroll to learn more about Brenden, his background and some of his favorite hobbies.
What is your background/formal education that led to where you are in your career today? Out of high school, I started working for a local rice farmer, running part of the irrigation system. While I was there, I learned to operate heavy equipment and started to learn how to think out of the box to get jobs done with what we had. After that, I went to work for a local agriculture water district as a ditch tender in the irrigation season and switched to the maintenance crew during the fall and winter.
How did you get involved in your current career path? Since I was a little kid, I knew I wanted to work outdoors. In high school, I was involved in the local agriculture program and did a lot of welding and some carpentry. I was slow on side work when I found out a local rice farmer was looking for some extra help for the season. I took the job and was able to learn the irrigation practices before his main irrigator retired. That was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.
Photo: Brenden supports Yuba Water's water resources team with a winter snow survey.
What does your average day look like? Or what are some of your essential duties? Since the recent penstock pipe incident, I would say my average day has definitely changed from what it looked like three months ago. Now, I am currently helping clean up dirt and sediment at New Colgate Powerhouse. But before, and sometimes now, every day is different. One day we could be doing vegetation work in preparation for biannual measurements on the diversion dams or at New Bullards Bar, the next day we could be working on the lake cleaning floating comfort stations (bathrooms) and the following day we could be running heavy equipment cleaning roads.
Do your duties differ throughout the year? And if so, how?
Our duties differ slightly throughout the year. In the springtime, we do work around New Bullards Bar Reservoir to prepare for recreation season. During summer through fall, we focus on any work that can't be done during the winter, such as road work. In the wintertime, we try and do mechanized vegetation management since we have wet weather to mitigate some of the fire risks. This is all in addition to our regular duties around Yuba Water's facilities.
What do you enjoy most about working for Yuba Water?
The biggest thing that I enjoy about working for the agency is the fact that I get to help in providing power and electricity to keep the world moving.
Tell us something about yourself that most of us don't know. Most people don’t know that I do leatherwork. More specifically, that I have started building saddles. Recently, I’ve been working on some tack for my girlfriend's cousins, who are working cowboys, for them to take down to Arizona where they work during the winter. I do a little bit of everything, from belts and portfolios to tack and saddle repair work. But the thing that I enjoy most is seeing the gear that I make get put to use. Whether it is a pair of chaps that I made or a knife sheath, new and shiny is cool, but I think broken in and a little dirty look better.
What do you like to do in your free time?
In my free time, I like to hunt when I can. Lately, I have gotten back into dirtbikes after being off a bike for a few years due to the business of my previous work schedule. I like to spend time with my girlfriend and our dogs, whether we are at a branding, in the saddle shop at home or on a trip somewhere. I really enjoy seeing nature. Even though I spend most of my workdays outside, I take the sights that I get to see for granted. Some people will go their entire life and never get to see the mountains or valley where it has been mostly untouched by civilization.