the Potter Valley Project
The Potter Valley Project is a hydroelectric project that transfers water from the Eel River Watershed to the Russian River Watershed; it includes Scott Dam, which forms Lake Pillsbury, Cape Horn Dam, a powerhouse and water diversion facilities.
Potter Valley Project benefits:
Transfers 62,500 acre-feet of water each year from the Eel River to the Russian River – less than 2% of the total Eel River Watershed.
Provides water to help sustain the lives and livelihoods of more than a half-million people downstream in Mendocino, Sonoma and North Marin Counties.
Supports groundwater and aquifer replenishment
Creates wildlife ecosystems and habitats.
Produces enough clean energy to power about 2000 homes.
When the current license holder, Pacific Gas & Electric Co., declared bankruptcy in 2019 and withdrew from the federal re-licensing effort, the future of the Potter Valley Project grew uncertain.
In Spring, 2019 a coalition called The Two-Basin Solution Partnership formed to explore to the feasibility of creating a regional entity to run the Project. The partnership includes the County of Humboldt, Mendocino County Inland Water and Power Commission, Sonoma County Water Agency, Cal Trout, and Round Valley Indian Tribes. Lake County, home to the headwaters of the Eel River and Lake Pillsbury, is not included.
On May 13, 2020 the Two Basin Partnership released a Feasibility Study recommending removal of Scott Dam.
On January 31, 2022 the Two Basin Solution Partnership notified the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission that it would not be able to submit a completed license application by the April 14, 2022 deadline.
On April 14, 2022 PG&E’s license for the Potter Valley Project expired.
On April 15, 2022 FERC authorized PG&E to continue Potter Valley Project operations until the Commission issues someone else a license or otherwise orders disposition of the project.
On May 11, 2022 FERC requested PG&E to provide a plan and schedule for the surrender application.
On July 8, 2022 PG&E filed a response to FERC’s request for a plan and schedule for the surrender application indicating that it would take 30 months to complete. On July 29, 2022 FERC acknowledged receipt of PG&E’s plan and schedule with the expectation that the surrender application will be filed by January 2025.
On June 6, 2024 PG&E submitted to the Federal Energy Regulatory Committee (FERC) a request for an extension of time to submit the surrender application. PG&E intends to provide a final draft surrender application and decommissioning plan to agencies and stakeholders in January, 2025 for a 30-day review and public comment period. PG&E plans to file the final surrender application and decommissioning plan with FERC by July 29, 2025.
Unless an agency or entity steps up to take over the Potter Valley Project, it is very likely that both dams will be removed and a water supply resource that has served our region for over 100 years will be gone.
If Scott Dam is removed, Lake Pillsbury will vanish forever.
