The New Eel-Russian Facility (NERF) is a proposed replacement for the existing water diversion infrastructure of the Potter Valley Project, designed to maintain seasonal water diversions from the Eel River to the Russian River watershed while simultaneously removing the Cape Horn Dam to restore fish passage.
Key Details:
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Governance: The facility is being developed and will be owned and operated by the Eel-Russian Project Authority (ERPA), a joint powers authority formed by Sonoma Water, Sonoma County, the Mendocino County Inland Water and Power Commission, and the Round Valley Indian Tribes.
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Purpose: This project is the core component of the "Two-Basin Solution," aiming to balance water supply reliability for over 600,000 residents in Mendocino, Sonoma, and Marin counties with the ecological restoration of the Eel River.
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Infrastructure: The NERF includes new fish screens, a mechanical pump station, and a retaining wall to convey water to the existing Van Arsdale tunnel, ensuring diversions occur during wet seasons for dry-season use without harming the river's ecosystem.
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Status: PG&E filed its final license surrender application with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) in July 2025 to decommission the Potter Valley Project. ERPA is currently finalizing engineering designs, with construction planned to occur concurrently with the dam removal to minimize disruption.
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Cost: The preliminary construction cost is estimated at $50 million, supported by grants from the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.
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