The following is a column submitted by Mendocino County 3rd District Supervisor John Haschak. The opinions expressed in this column do not necessarily reflect the views of the Mendocino Voice.
Forecast Informed Reservoir Operations (FIRO) had a ribbon cutting event on Oct. 22 at Lake Mendocino. FIRO enables water managers to use the latest technology and weather forecasts in the Lake Mendocino watershed to guide their decisions. This is the first time in the U.S. that this approach has been used. This will allow for 20% more storage, which is the equivalent amount of water for approximately 22,000 homes a year. Another step towards greater water security and it starts here.
The Board discussed the Potter Valley Project and heard from the public at the Oct. 21 BoS meeting. With PG&E’s application to decommission (remove) the Scott and Van Arsdale Dams, no one can compel PG&E to divert water to the Russian River. There is a coalition of stakeholders in both the Eel River and Russian River watersheds working to ensure sufficient water for both basins. The coalition is working to ensure continued diversions and greater water storage capacity in the Russian River basin. It is one of those cases where everybody is conceding something while working together for the best outcome. Without this collaboration, PG&E will pull out, and both sides will be in a worse position. The FIRO project is one piece of the puzzle in making a sustainable and reliable water future.
With the federal government shutdown, CEO Antle reported that the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) funding will be cut off for 16,000 Mendocino County residents. This is happening in the richest country in the world!
Senator McGuire was able to get $50 million from Prop. 4 funds for the Great Redwood Trail. $41 million will be for the completion of the project, $650,000 to complete the master plan, $3 million for environmental restoration in the Eel River Canyon, and $5 million for the preservation of tribal cultural resources along the GRT. This will be a huge boost to the GRT project.
Election time is here. I hope that everyone gets out and votes, either by mail or in person on Nov. 4.
There will be a Talk with the Supervisor on November 13 at 10:00 in Brickhouse Coffee. You can always contact me at haschakj@mendocinocounty.gov or call 707-972-4214.
Jeez! The storage capacity of Lake Mendocino IS NOT BEING INCREASED! You would think a former teacher would engage in critical thinking. What has changed are the regulations as to when they can release water from the lake. This is not a new concept. Stop with the gaslighting.