Eel River Dams Removal Project
Eel River Dams Removal Project
An Informational Forum
Alicia Bales, Director of the Redwood Chapter of the Sierra Club will lead a discussion on this critical issue.
{Become informed - follow the links}
Since the early 20th century, two dams and a diversion tunnel known as the Potter Valley Hydroelectric Project have caused significant harm to Eel River fisheries. Removal of both dams, Scott and Cape Horn, and access for native fish to the high-quality cold water habitat in the upper basin is a top priority. The current diversion extracts a seasonally significant amount of water from the Eel, but an ecologically appropriate, wet-season only diversion is possible. Dam owners, PG&E are in the midst of the decommissioning process, with dam removal proposed to begin as early as 2028.
The Problem for Potter Valley Specifically
This is where things get complicated and contentious. The New Eel-Russian Facility (NERF) will only divert water during the rainy season — typically December through April — with possible extensions depending on yearly rainfall. In drought years, diversions may halt entirely, underscoring the need for expanded storage capacity.
This is a critical distinction: the current system (with Lake Pillsbury behind Scott Dam) provides summer water storage that irrigates Potter Valley farms through the dry season. The NERF, by contrast, is a wet-season-only pump station with no storage. The USDA raised concerns that water deliveries under NERF would be subject to curtailment based on minimum in-stream flow requirements, and that the example diversion calculations may be overly optimistic regarding summer and fall water availability.
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has jurisdiction over the surrender proceeding and eventual decommissioning. The tribes hold the water rights. The State of California regulates water transfers and water-quality certifications. USDA's December 2025 letter gives the administration standing to file briefs, but legal levers are limited.