The Center borders the Yuba River and Englebright Reservoir.
Riparian ecosystems exist along several permanent and intermittent waterways.
Several small watersheds, which drain into the Yuba, are located within Center boundaries. The terrain is mostly low, rolling hills. The vegetation is modified and unmodified foothill oak woodland-annual grass. Climate Mediterranean climate characterized by hot, dry summers and mild, rainy winters. Annual precipation ranged from 9 to 52 inches with a mean of 28 inches, occurring almost exclusively as rainfall, and mostly from October through May.