UKIAH, CA., 11/26/25 – On Monday, the Mendocino County Inland Water and Power Commission held a three-hour workshop at the Ukiah Valley Conference Center to discuss the decommissioning of the Potter Valley Project and answer questions from community members about how it will impact the local economy, residents, and natural resources.
For more than 100 years, the Potter Valley Project has diverted water from the Eel River to the Russian River watershed through two dams — the Scott Dam at Lake Pillsbury and Cape Horn Dam at Lake Van Arsdale. The two lakes have supplied water to communities throughout Mendocino and Sonoma counties.
This water source has been crucial for agricultural, municipal, and environmental uses. As soon as 2028, PG&E plans on decommissioning the Potter Valley Project, which could help fish restoration on the Eel River but could also decrease water availability and negatively impact local communities.
More than 100 people attended the workshop in downtown Ukiah to learn more about the decommissioning process and what it will look like once PG&E begins dismantling the Potter Valley Project.
The atmosphere was generally calm, but several community members also showed signs of frustration while listening to the presentation.
Presenters at the meeting included key engineers and consultants who have assisted the Inland Water and Power Commission in communicating with PG&E and informing the community about how to provide feedback on the project.
The consultants and engineers spoke about the need for continuous planning on building reservoirs to collect water from the watersheds before the decommissioning. They also discussed how the removal of the dams would impact groundwater availability, particularly during the summer months.
Additionally, the speakers spoke about the economic and political implications of decommissioning the Potter Valley Project. They said the decommissioning could negatively affect surrounding communities, including agricultural workers and other residents.
Ed Nickerman, an apple farmer from Potter Valley who has operated his farm for about 60 years, said how detrimental it would be if water costs were raised for residents and farmers throughout the region, which could happen after PG&E dismantles Potter Valley Project.
“We’ve been paying $18 to $20 per acre-foot for a while; we are the envy of the whole state,” he said. He predicted that the cost could increase greatly once the dams are dismantled. “That’s absolutely disastrous. It will wipe out every piece of farming from here to the Bay Area, and you know that as well as I do.”
In addition to farming impacts, the presenters noted that the project was built in the middle of significant fish spawning grounds, which has harmed Native groups, their treaty-protected fishing rights, and traditional practices.
Presenters and community members also discussed the need for an economic impact report from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, or FERC, a federal agency that oversees the transmission of electricity, natural gas, and oil across the U.S.
In the past, community members and local politicians have proposed that Mendocino County residents, particularly those in Potter Valley, receive some form of compensation for PG&E’s disruption of their water supply.
Nicole Whipple, a member of the Round Valley Indian Tribe and a policy advocate for Save California Salmon, said in an interview that tribal communities have had water access taken away for more than a century and that she does not believe PG&E owes any compensation to Potter Valley residents after the dams are dismantled.
“As a Round Valley tribal member, our water has been outsourced for hundreds of years at no cost,” she said. “Not to be heartless, but I don’t understand them asking to be paid for free access to water that has not been paid to our tribe that has held the water rights for the last 100 years.”
Whipple said it would be helpful for PG&E to offer community benefits to locals and Native groups, but she does not believe residents should be paid for the water.
Janet Pauli, commissioner for the Potter Valley Irrigation District and the organizer of the workshop, said that although community members are fearful about what will happen after the dams are dismantled, she advises locals to become informed, attend meetings, and get involved in the process.
“I think we are moving in the right direction,” Pauli said. “We have a lot of work to do, and it doesn’t happen all at one time.”
Inland Water and Power Commission’s presentation for the workshop can be viewed here.
Eel river water stealers have had plenty of time to solve THEIR water problems. Too bad, get over it and stop trying to litigate your problems away. The damage to the river all the way up to Humboldt county has been done with the potter valley dam project being at fault! Buying Huffman won’t help. After this issue, he won’t be a career politician anymore.
Huffman is already bought
Huffman is bought and Potter does not deserve payments for losing access to publicly subsidized water.
“We have had cheap water, envy of the state.” Ummm wait what? Households pay hundreds for a month, more than a farmer for a year? Many people hauling water in $600 a load. Time to get in those deep hidden coffers to build some more collection ponds, or ag wells. Lake Mendocino will still exist. Pillsbury and Scott never did provide to much more than to Potter Valley. The ditch system archaic in itself, with about half if the original ditch system collapsed now. Many steal from the ditch system with pumps. Its time to develop new tools n tactics. In today’s world the diversion tunnel never would have been allowed. Mixing of eco systems always has a terrible toll.
Have you seen what Lake Mendocino looks like today? I am guessing it’s half full. With no water coming from Pilsbury, it will surely dry up. Especially in a drought year. Also have you seen the pictures of the river behind Pilsbury? It’s all but dried up. That part of the eel won’t support fish when dry.
That is what fills lake Mendocino
With the tribes united with the environmental cult it would appear that the ranchers are doomed.
Gary,
Lake Mendocino last week was pretty full. About 2 months ago the parking lots were covered. Army Core staff at the dam several times a day. Lots of life existed in the region before the dam projects. Sonoma County was well established 100 years ago. The opportunity for new ideas, skills and management are important for all parties involved. Would be interesting to see actual hard data on how much farming water is used vs lost to evaporation, theft from the basin.
The lake gets emptied every year at this time to make room for the up coming inflow from the years storms and snow melt. This is not a new activity.
During the drought years, the county had an opportunity to dig all of the silt that has accumulated out of Lake Mendocino. As a result, the silt has caused the release and waste of much needed water for our local resources. My question is why did the county drop the ball?
Because the BOS is a response agency not a pro-active one. During the drought the BOS was swamped with Cannabis concerns while the dark lurking Dam decommissioning started to foment post Mendo-Complex fire, and PG&E lawsuits. (2019 – 2021) Your BOS is only as bright as its populace.
Stop the steal!
Gift the Eel!!