News articles and op-eds shared here are for informational purposes only, and their inclusion does not indicate endorsement by the Water Forum.
Northern California town hall erupts over PG&E’s ‘dangerous’ reservoir plan
SFGATE, 4/2/2025: A packed veterans hall in the northern Sonoma County city of Cloverdale became the latest battleground in Northern California’s escalating water war.
Press Democrat, 3/24/2025: People from Humboldt to Marin counties gathered in Cloverdale to express skepticism about future water management strategies sparked by the plant’s impending shutdown
Press Democrat, 3/19/2025: Several leaders from Lake and Sonoma counties remain worried about the future of local water supplies as a key PG&E hydropower facility prepares to go offline.
Press Democrat, 2/14/25: The agreement on Eel River diversions and future river restoration will begin to redress past injustices against Eel River tribes and stakeholders.
Historic pact reached on future Eel River water flows into Russian River
Press Democrat, 2/14/25: Eel River interests, Russian River consumers reach accord for continued diversions of Eel River water into the Russian River but at reduced rate, in exchange for funding and support of Eel River restoration activities.
PG&E releases final plan for removal of Scott and Cape Horn dams and elimination of Lake Pillsbury
Press Democrat, 2/5/25: The PG&E plan calls for the expedited removal of Scott Dam and Cape Horn Dam as part of Potter Valley power plant license surrender, eliminating Lake Pillsbury and freeing the waters of the Eel River.
Rep. Jared Huffman secures $15 million for Eel River Dam removal and Russian River diversion plan
Press Democrat, 1/21/25: Rep. Jared Huffman recently announced that the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation has awarded Round Valley Indian Tribes and the Sonoma County Water Agency $15 million toward implementing the Two-Basin Solution for water diversions from the Eel River to the Russian River.
With $15M grant, Two-Basin Solution gets green light to transform Eel River
MendoFever Staff, 1/20/25: Today, U.S. Representative Jared Huffman (CA-02) announced that the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation has awarded Round Valley Indian Tribes and the Sonoma County Water Agency $15 million toward implementing the Two-Basin Solution.
Project that supports Marin water supply gets $2M grant
Sonoma Agency, 1/3/24: Sonoma Water has received a $2 million grant to advance a plan for “fish-friendly” water diversion to the Russian River, one of the sources of Marin’s supply.
PG&E formalizes plan to eliminate Lake Pillsbury in Mendocino National Forest in landmark move
Press Democrat, 11/17/23: The utility said work deconstructing two more-than-century-old dams on the Eel River could begin as early as 2028
Marin water suppliers support Mendocino plant proposal
Marin Independent Journal, 10/28/23: Marin water agencies are backing a proposal from a coalition of organizations in Sonoma and Mendocino counties to buy portions of a PG&E hydropower plant to enable water diversion.
Sonoma, Mendocino county water managers propose pathway for continued Eel River diversions
Press Democrat, 8/7/2023, Sonoma, Mendocino water managers seek to preserve water transfer infrastructure as part of PG&E license surrender for Potter Valley power plant.
Eel River dam debate echoes across the nation
Press Democrat, 7/16/23: Due to complex water grid, changing flow has far-reaching consequences
Russian-Eel River Stakeholders Launch New Effort to Find Path Forward Without Defunct Power Plant
Press Democrat, 5/18/23: The newly formed Russian River Water Forum will consider alternatives in a future without the PG&E hydroelectric plant that for decades has shunted Eel River water into the Russian River
Conservation group names Eel River among 10 most endangered rivers in America
Press Democrat, 4/18/23: A conservation group is calling for the removal of dams from the river to aid the restoration of fish habitats.
The Mendocino Voice, 3/26/23: Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E) is about eight months into a 30-month planning timeline for the license surrender of the Potter Valley Project
Spillway gates on Scott Dam to remain open, curtailing flow into East Branch
Mendocino County Public Broadcasting, KZYX, 3/18/23: PG&E has signaled strongly that it is considering the expedited removal of Scott Dam due to seismic concerns
Scott Dam gates to stay open, meaning Lake Pillsbury diversions to remain at drought levels
Press Democrat, 3/17/23: Seismically risky dam conditions contribute to uncertainty for future water supply, fishery conditions in late summer, fall
Ukiah to expand recycled water project, offset a whopping 50% of water use by treating wastewater
The Mendocino Voice, 2/7/23: The city of Ukiah has received a $53.7 million grant to expand its water recycling project across multiple schools and parks, enabling the city to offset 50% of its average water use with treated wastewater by fall of 2024.