Gov. Newsom vetoed AB 2218 (the Indigenous Water Rights Bill) on 30 September 2026 (Kalra, 2026). This is particularly pertinent for Humboldt County, where the tribal communities are so reliant on the local rivers and watersheds for cultural, environmental, and economic reasons. The veto has certainly raised the alarm for tribes such as the Hoopa Valley Tribe and the Yurok Tribe as to their ability to protect their water rights and to be meaningfully part of state water policy. … The AB 2218 discussion is completely tied into the current regulatory issues relating to the decommissioning of the Potter Valley Hydroelectric Project on the Eel River (Potter Valley Hydroelectric Project 2026). The result of that process could have a huge impact on water access in Humboldt County, the state of the fisheries, and the health of the river.