The Klamath, Trinity, Eel, Russian
and Smith rivers are the major northern streams that drain this
sparsely populated, forested coastal area that stretches from San
Francisco to the Oregon border. These rivers and their
tributaries flow west to the Pacific Ocean and account for about
40 percent of the state’s total runoff.
When PG&E announced that it would remove Scott and Cape
Horn dams on the Eel River as part of the Potter Valley
hydroelectric project decommissioning, it put a continuing
water diversion to the Russian River in question. A Press
Democrat editorial praised Eel and Russian River stakeholders
coming together to endorse the possibility of a new fish
friendly diversion from the Eel River (“Progress toward water
security,” March 27), and we at Russian Riverkeeper concur.
However, a continued diversion from the Eel River is not a
solution in and of itself when it comes to ensuring long-term
water reliability in the upper Russian River watershed. A
continued diversion will not solve all the region’s water
issues. -Written by Don McEnhill and Ed Burdett, both with the
Russian Riverkeeper.
Aiming to boost the county’s water supply, the Marin Municipal
Water District is exploring the idea of connecting pipelines in
Petaluma and Cotati to its reservoirs. District staff presented
three main potential projects — narrowed from 13 — at Tuesday’s
board of directors meeting. … The pipelines would transport
water from the Russian River into Marin reservoirs. Treated
Russian River water is transported to Marin through a 9-mile
aqueduct along the Highway 101 corridor from Petaluma to North
Marin Water District in Novato. The district then sends the
water directly to the Marin Municipal Water District’s water
distribution system. Board members expressed concern over cost
estimates, which ranged between $140 million and $380 million.
The Eel Russian Project Authority convened its second Board
meeting on March 19, 2024, addressing the debate surrounding
the fate of Scott Dam and the future of water diversion along
the Russian River. Held at the Board of Supervisors Chambers in
Ukiah on March 19, the meeting saw arguments from residents and
stakeholders, highlighting deep divisions over whether to
preserve the dam or pursue alternative solutions. Amidst calls
for preserving water storage and concerns over the impact on
fisheries, the Board ultimately voted to advance alternative
E-2, the Pumping Station, signaling a pivotal moment in the
ongoing saga of water management in the region. … Still
to be discussed are: the amount and timing of diverted water
from the planned facility, sediment transport modeling, water
allocation and water rights.
…Gatorade, mayonnaise and Fireball bottles, soccer and golf
balls, Nerf bullets, ballpoint pens, hypodermic needles, nasal
sprays—you name it and Carol Shumate, the clean team director
at Russian Riverkeeper, has seen it. Not just here, [in Santa
Rosa Creek], but all over [Sonoma County]. … Despite
calls from environmentalists, legislators and scientists,
plastic has become more prevalent, not less.
… Over the next several years, Pacific Gas and Electric Co.,
the current owner of the Potter Valley Project, is planning to
retire the hydroelectric plant and remove two dams on the Eel
River that provide water for the facility. With power
production shut down, tunneling water into the Russian River
won’t be necessary. … The Potter Valley Project provides a
portion of the water supply for large swaths of Mendocino and
Sonoma counties. … Scores of vineyards here are tethered
to water rights that are subject to restriction when river
levels drop. During the recent drought, hundreds of
water-rights holders were forced to stop pumping — a
scenario many believe was a preview of a future where the Eel
River doesn’t continue to supplement the Russian.
Last year, Pacific Gas & Electric announced that it would
demolish the [Eel River's] Scott and Cape Horn dams and
decommission the entire Potter Valley power project.
… Removing the dams will help restore natural river
flows, which will improve fish habitat along the Eel River.
That’s been a longtime objective of the Round Valley Indian
Tribes. The tribes have strong historic and cultural ties to
the river and its bounty. When the dams come down, the Eel
River will become the longest free-flowing river in California
according to fish advocates. Salmon, steelhead and trout all
will benefit. Lake Pillsbury will disappear. Demolition is not
restoration, though, and there will be ripple effects on other
nearby natural areas.
California is chock full of rivers and creeks, yet the state’s network of stream gauges has significant gaps that limit real-time tracking of how much water is flowing downstream, information that is vital for flood protection, forecasting water supplies and knowing what the future might bring.
That network of stream gauges got a big boost Sept. 30 with the signing of SB 19. Authored by Sen. Bill Dodd (D-Napa), the law requires the state to develop a stream gauge deployment plan, focusing on reactivating existing gauges that have been offline for lack of funding and other reasons. Nearly half of California’s stream gauges are dormant.
The Eel River supports one of California’s largest wild salmon
and steelhead runs in a watershed that hosts the world’s largest
surviving stands of ancient redwoods.
The Eel flows generally northward from Northern California’s
Mendocino National Forest to the Pacific, a few miles south of
Eureka. The river and its tributaries drain
more than 3,500 square miles, the state’s
third-largest watershed.
For over a century, the Klamath River Basin along the Oregon and
California border has faced complex water management disputes. As
relayed in this 2012, 60-minute public television documentary
narrated by actress Frances Fisher, the water interests range
from the Tribes near the river, to energy producer PacifiCorp,
farmers, municipalities, commercial fishermen, environmentalists
– all bearing legitimate arguments for how to manage the water.
After years of fighting, a groundbreaking compromise may soon
settle the battles with two epic agreements that hold the promise
of peace and fish for the watershed. View an excerpt from the
documentary here.
This 25-minute documentary-style DVD, developed in partnership
with the California Department of Water Resources, provides an
excellent overview of climate change and how it is already
affecting California. The DVD also explains what scientists
anticipate in the future related to sea level rise and
precipitation/runoff changes and explores the efforts that are
underway to plan and adapt to climate.
A new look for our most popular product! And it’s the perfect
gift for the water wonk in your life.
Our 24×36 inch California Water Map is widely known for being the
definitive poster that shows the integral role water plays in the
state. On this updated version, it is easier to see California’s
natural waterways and man-made reservoirs and aqueducts
– including federally, state and locally funded
projects – the wild and scenic rivers system, and
natural lakes. The map features beautiful photos of
California’s natural environment, rivers, water projects,
wildlife, and urban and agricultural uses and the
text focuses on key issues: water supply, water use, water
projects, the Delta, wild and scenic rivers and the Colorado
River.