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Informed
January 2020 Update
Over the past months, the five Project planning partners (Mendocino County Inland Water and Power Commission, Sonoma Water, Cal Trout, Humboldt County and the Round Valley Indian Tribes) have continued to address all of the facets of licensing the Potter Valley Project including:
- Moving forward with the discussion of the formation of an official entity to ultimately be the Project licensee
- Researching all funding options for the different phases of the licensing process including the first phase which is preparation of the Feasibility Study due to be completed in April 2020.
- Stillwater Sciences, the consulting firm which is developing the Feasibility Study, continues to prepare multiple sections of the work required. Drafts of these reports will be reviewed and discussed by the Two-Basin Partnership.
- Invitations to join in the licensing discussion by signing a Common Interest Agreement are being extended to several local entities.
Other updates related to the Project include:
- PG&E is moving forward with the analysis on the sediments in Lake Pillsbury to provide current information on heavy metal content.
To hear an update on the Project licensing process, please listen to Mendocino County Inland Water and Power Commission Chair, Janet Pauli, present to the Ukiah City Council on November 6 th . The link to the video can be found here by clicking on agenda item 3D under the video display.
IWPC Presentation on the Potter Valley Project
Potter Valley Project Slideshow
Frequently Asked Questions
Where does the water for the Potter Valley Project come from?
The headwaters originate in Lake and Mendocino Counties
Waters from the tributaries above Scott Dam provide the water supply for Lake Pillsbury. Below Scott Dam, waters that are released combine with tributaries that originate in Mendocino County.
Once water is diverted from the Eel River, where does it go?
Water is diverted through a tunnel at the north end of the Russian River watershed in Potter Valley into the east branch of the Russian River. From there, the water flows downstream into Lake Mendocino and below Coyote Valley Dam in the Russian River to the ocean at Jenner.
Learn MoreWhy should I care?
It is important to maintain local control of the Project to continue providing a crucial water source for the communities and environment that have developed around the water supply over the last 100+ years.
We want to ensure that we continue to have reliable water storage with year round supply.
Learn MoreHow much will this cost?
It is important to maintain local control of the Project to continue providing a crucial water source for the communities and environment that have grown up around the water supply during the last 100+ years. We want to ensure that we continue to have a reliable year-round water supply.
What are elected representatives doing about this?
Our federal, state and local elected officials are engaged in safeguarding control of local water and environmental concerns surrounding the Potter Valley Project. They include:
- Congressman Jared Huffman
- Senator Mike McGuire
- Assembly Member Jim Wood
- Couty Board of Supervisors
- Other local Elected Officials