The Mendocino County Inland Water and Power Commission will meet Thursday to discuss water storage options as the county prepares for PG&E’s plan to shutter the Potter Valley Project.
The meeting will be at 5 p.m. Thursday at the Mendocino County Administration Center in Ukiah. Community members can attend in person or by using a Zoom link, which will be available in the commission’s agenda packet.
The Inland Water and Power Commission is a joint powers authority that works to protect the Russian and Eel river watersheds and ensure Mendocino County’s water sources are safeguarded. The board is working to find solutions, such as creating water storage, once the Potter Valley Project is decommissioned.
For more than 100 years, the Potter Valley Project, which is owned by PG&E, has diverted water from the Eel River to the Russian River Watershed, supplying water to communities throughout Mendocino and Sonoma counties. This water source has been crucial for agricultural, municipal, and environmental uses.
Countdown to shutdown
In 2019, PG&E opted not to relicense the project, saying it was not profitable. As soon as 2028, PG&E plans to decommission the Potter Valley Project, which could help fish restoration on the Eel River but could also decrease water availability and negatively impact local communities.
The project’s decommissioning has caused concern among residents, with farmers and ranchers anxious about losing the crucial water source. However, Native groups such as the Round Valley Indian Tribes are eager to see fish populations restored. The Round Valley Indian Tribes will also have water rights transferred to them under a formal agreement with PG&E.
According to District 1 county Supervisor Madeline Cline, whose district encompasses Potter Valley, the Inland Water and Power Commission will be discussing water storage options. One of the ideas is to raise Coyote Dam at Lake Mendocino, which by doing so, would increase the height of the reservoir and make it so it can hold more water.
Inland Water and Power Commission meetings are open to the public and are held on the second Thursday of each month. Thursday’s meeting will be at the Mendocino County Administration Center, 501 Low Gap Road, in Ukiah.