“A coalition of fishery groups has formally notified PG&E that it plans to file suit under the Endangered Species Act, alleging the continued injury to once abundant federally protected salmon and steelhead trout as a result of operations at the utility’s aging Potter Valley powerhouse.
PG&E said in a statement that the coalition’s claims are “without merit,” however.”
“Yes, the water supply is absolutely at risk, both from an infrastructure and a water rights perspective, and the Russian River interests are going to have to focus on that,” Huffman said. “On the Eel River side, I think there’s a very good chance that PG&E is required to remove at least Scott Dam, but how that happens, you know, and what other mitigation requirements are imposed ― what it means in terms of a healthy Eel River ― I just think there’s huge question marks…”
“The future of a little-known dam on the Eel River in Lake County may be shaped this year as the license expires on a broken- down PG&E hydropower project that plays a critical role in providing water to 600,000 Sonoma and Marin county residents.“
Sonoma Water depends on the diversion to provide mandated flows for federally protected fish in the upper Russian River.
Maintaining the diversion is “very critical,” Jeane said.
“Without it, Lake Mendocino would be “consistently lower and would likely drain in four out of 10 years” based on the agency’s studies, she said.”
“Without storage infrastructure like what is currently available from Lake Pillsbury, it is guaranteed that there would not be year-round diversion. If diversions are only available during high-flow winter months, there are questions on how regulatory limitations and infrastructure limitations will allow for continued diversion and the ability to store this water in Lake Mendocino.”
“The rather-remote Lake Pillsbury, the largest lake in the Mendocino National Forest with its 31 miles of shoreline, is located in the northeast part of Lake County. Filled in 1922, impounded by the Scott Dam, it is part of the Potter Valley Project that assures water security for hundreds of thousands of people in the three counties of Sonoma, Mendocino and Marin for drinking, farming, aquifer replenishment and recreation.”
by AgAlert, California Farm Bureau
“That's why it's really frustrating when we're up against folks who want to remove Lake Pillsbury and water that's diverted from the Eel River. “
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By Frank Lynch & Carol Cinquini, Directors, Lake Pillsbury Alliance
Little is said about the role of Lake Pillsbury in our regional water system or the critical water it provides to fill Lake Mendocino. If anything, its importance is understated or not referenced at all in most media articles. Without Lake Pillsbury at the Eel River headwaters to control downstream flows, both the Eel and Russian Rivers and surrounding aquifers will intermittently dry up. Lake Pillsbury is a critical component of our water system and currently provides year-round water storage that benefits fish and hundreds of thousands of downstream domestic and agricultural users in both the Eel River and Russian River basins.
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PRESS RELEASE
Demands Lake County have equal seat at the table for determining the future of Potter Valley Project and Lake Pillsbury Reservoir
Lake County, CA—Today, Congressman John Garamendi (D-CA) submitted a formal comment letter to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) opposing the proposed removal of Scott Dam at Lake Pillsbury. This proposal has been issued over the objections of Lake County residents as part of the Pacific Gas and Electric Company’s (PG&E) divestment of the Potter Valley Hydropower Project.
The Lake Pillsbury Reservoir is a fixture of Lake County that has been enjoyed by visitors and residents alike since 1922. Future planning for the Potter Valley Project excludes Lake County and the residents and property owners in the Lake Pillsbury Area. On May 13, 2020, a consortium led by Mendocino and Sonoma Counties formally submitted their plan to gain control of the Potter Valley Project from PG&E. If approved, Lake County would have no operational control over the Potter Valley Project, including the Scott Dam and Lake Pillsbury reservoir. This is just not right or acceptable.
“Lake County residents who have owned homes and property around Lake Pillsbury reservoir for decades have been shut out of planning for the future of the Potter Valley Project,” Garamendi said. “Let me be clear: any decision-making for the Scott Dam and Lake Pillsbury Reservoir must include representatives from Lake County. Anything short of that is simply unacceptable.
“The Lake Pillsbury reservoir has been a feature of Lake County since 1922 and provides essential firefighting capacity for one of the most fire-prone regions in California,” Garamendi continued. “CalFire made extensive use of Lake Pillsbury reservoir for firefighting during the devastating Mendocino Complex Fire in 2018, and again during this year’s fire season.
“I strongly oppose draining Lake Pillsbury reservoir by removing Scott Dam. The planning process will not be adequate until every community impacted by this project has a voice in the process,” Garamendi continued. “I expect FERC to give Lake County and Lake Pillsbury residents a full and equal seat at the table during this process. I stand ready with Lake County to create a version of the Potter Valley Project that works for every community involved, including cost-effective fish passage at Scott Dam,” Garamendi concluded.
You can read Rep. Garamendi’s letter to FERC here.
Members of the public can submit comments regarding the removal of Scott Dam and draining of Lake Pillsbury reservoir by:
1) Registering with FERC’s online public comment portal.
2) Once registered, check your email inbox. In the email from FERC, there will be a link to submit a public comment.
3) Enter docket number P-77-298 and click “search”
4) Click the blue + on the right side of the table to select the docket
5) Submit your comments in the comment box below.
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COURTESY OF:
https://garamendi.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-garamendi-stands-lake-county-and-lake-pillsbury-residents-ferc-relicensing?fbclid=IwAR0WMfkL622LznqbhtnksbffPTJs3mBdVVi63JAJWPt-BBdiP4mtAXFnPTA
