Editor’s note: The following is a letter to the editor. The opinions expressed in this letter are those of the writer, and do not necessarily reflect those of The Mendocino Voice. If you would like to submit a letter to the editor feel free to write to info@mendovoice.com.
Dear Editor,
There are two distinct problems with the current decommissioning of Scott Dam and the destruction of Lake Pillsbury. First, the Pomo Potter Valley tribe was left out of the talks and water assignment, even though they have rights of lands back in 2007 that PG&E gave them along the Eel River watershed. But PG&E held onto the dam and watershed below the dam.
Has anyone questioned the legality of this exclusion, and the detriment, to their federal land trust granted by PG&E in the past? Can their lands be allotted water rights also?
Second, there is something called the Doctrine of Prior Appropriation. The Pomo of Potter Valley are a recognized water rights tribe, according to my reading on internet websites. They hold rights to keep their way of life alive, for agricultural purposes, or other fishing, hunting, recreation and ecosystems.
I personally find the fact that the farmers of Potter Valley were also not included in discussions of water rights, since Doctrine of Prior Appropriation Rights has clearly been proven, showing the water from the Potter Valley Project has been utilized in very beneficial ways for over 100 years.
Lake Pillsbury is the giver of life for the Potter Valley tribe and Potter Valley farmers. It is a natural fire suppression resource and a lifeline for Russian River ecosystems existing today. Why are the rights of these people being ignored, neglected and not legally adhered to?
Catherine Lair
Ukiah
I believe as I stated in an email to this newspaper a week ago. The entity that is interested in the Potter Valley Dam has to do with providing a Data Center either with electricity or water. I would think it has more to do with the water rights. And the other person who expressed that the water rights are fathered in is right. Have someone check with State Water Department. When we had a problem with water rights, the State filed in the Courthouse that we had the Rights to water in question. Perhaps that is what needs to be done sooner rather than later.
We all use water to cool Google servers just by virtue of this article being online
Is the author a tribal member?
Doesn’t sound like it. Just my opinion. I believe Round Valley Tribes have been working to find an appropriate action on this problematic PG&E infrastructure for quite a while and most of the local reestablished tribes were not concerned with the dams or diversion during that time. Gaming was their focus.