The Trump administration injected a surprising twist into the fight over Northern California’s Eel River on Tuesday, offering up a potential plan to stop the removal of two dams in the basin — though how serious the plan is remains to be seen. In a social media post, U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said she had been in touch with a Southern California water agency that was interested in buying the Scott Dam in Lake County and Cape Horn Dam in Mendocino County and continuing their operation. Such a move would run counter to longtime plans by Pacific Gas and Electric Co., the owner of the dams, to remove the facilities as part of the retirement of the century-old Potter Valley hydroelectric project.

Other North Coast dam news:

• Lost Coast Outpost (Eureka, Calif.): Potter Valley dam update: The U.S. Secretary of Agriculture says that a municipal water district in Riverside County is interested in taking over the project
• Active NorCal (Redding, Calif.): The Eel River dam removal was almost a done deal. Now Southern California wants to buy them.
• The Press Democrat (Santa Rosa, Calif.): Dry season outlook for Russian River spurs water managers to dial back releases at Lake Mendocino
• CBS San Francisco: Sonoma County declares dry water supply for Russian River area despite recent rains
• Active NorCal (Redding, Calif.): Russian River declared “dry” despite full reservoirs and rain in the forecast. Here’s why.