Lake County Unhappy With the Two-Basin Solution Which Will Decommission Scott Dam and Restore Water Flow to the Eel River

Scott Dam which is part of the Potter Valley Project.

Scott Dam which is part of the Potter Valley Project. [Photo cropped by one from PG&E]

Press release from the County of Lake:

 Construction of Scott Dam, which created Lake County’s Lake Pillsbury, was completed nearly a century ago, in 1922.  Over that time, communities and an entire ecosystem have developed.  450 homeowners and ranchers and an estimated 3,000 non-permanent seasonal residents contribute to both the economy and culture of this unique Northern California community.

The area surrounding Lake Pillsbury has become a home, a beloved home away from home, and a favorite vacation destination for many in our region.

Scott Dam is also home to the long-PG&E-owned hydroelectric Potter Valley Project.  Since PG&E formally announced their intention to put the project up for auction May 10, 2018, an Ad Hoc Committee led by Congressman Jared Huffman has worked to promote a “Two-Basin Solution” that envisions decommissioning Scott Dam. Proponents expect this will restore salmonid populations and water flow in the Eel River, while maintaining water supplies in nearby Mendocino County and the Russian and Eel Rivers.

As an outgrowth of the work of the Committee, Mendocino County Inland Water and Power Commission, Sonoma County Water Agency, California Trout, Inc., the County of Humboldt, and Round Valley Indian Tribes (collectively, the “NOI Parties”) initiated Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Proceedings (FERC, Project No. 77-285) toward a Licensing Proposal for the Potter Valley Project.

The County of Lake initially sought to be a part of this group, to assure Lake County’s priorities were well considered.  Despite Lake Pillsbury sitting within our boundaries, we were denied the opportunity to have a meaningful seat at the table.

The “Proposed Goals and Principles for a Two-Basin Solution” that initially guided Huffman’s Committee included, “Minimize and mitigate adverse impacts to Lake County, including Lake Pillsbury businesses and residents.”

The NOI Parties have not committed to this objective.  On or about May 13, 2020, they filed a Feasibility Report that unsurprisingly supported removal of Scott Dam and the destruction of Lake Pillsbury and the way of life of the vibrant community that surrounds it.

“The Feasibility Study blatantly ignored potentially catastrophic effects this would have on the thousands of people meaningfully connected to Lake Pillsbury, and the economic and environmental resiliency of all of Lake County,” notes District 3 Supervisor, Eddie Crandell.  “Remember, Lake Pillsbury was an important water source in fighting the Mendocino Complex wildfires.  What devastation might have occurred, had Scott Dam been decommissioned prior to 2018?”

“The utter lack of regard shown for the people that would be affected by the NOI Entities’ proposal is deeply disturbing,” continues Crandell.  “And there is no clear indication the parties even intend to gather sufficient public input to mitigate potential issues; the Lake Pillsbury Alliance has tried again and again to be heard, yet there has been no meaningful response.”

This week, Crandell’s concern was translated into meaningful action to challenge the findings of the Feasibility Report, and demand consideration of Lake County’s interests.

On Thursday, the County filed a scathing analysis on behalf of the Board of Supervisors, concluding, “No matter how laudable a two-basin solution is to the NOI Parties, no such solution should be seriously considered until… proper analysis [is] completed to ensure this solution does not come at the sole and considerable enduring expense of the County of Lake,” noting “Much more information relevant to those negative impacts must still be obtained.”

The response likewise called for resolution in five additional areas of concern:
• Public Interest considerations, such as the impact to local wells due to the destruction of the dam, are ignored and/or minimized.
• Existing information on the feasibility study proposal insufficiently demonstrates how more water and safer passage will be provided to support salmonid populations
• Licensing requirements have to address ability to respond to wildfires and preserve forest values
• General insufficiency renders the proposed Study methodology inconsistent with generally accepted scientific principles
• The County of Lake is generally ignored in considerations of effort and cost, and proposed alternative studies will not meet stated information needs.

“If this project moves forward as proposed, who will suffer the most?” asks Crandell.  “Lake County will endure the destruction of Scott Dam.  Lake County will lose Lake Pillsbury, and see the rich ecosystem that surrounds it torn apart.  Will the NOI parties suffer?  No!  There are many other ways to ensure fish passage, and provide environmental benefits to communities along the Russian and Eel Rivers and those that live near Lake Pillsbury, most at a fraction of the cost.  Were those seriously considered?  No!”

“With all we’ve endured since 2015, and now COVID-19 threatening the financial stability of every level of government, it is unreasonable, on its face, to put forward a tremendously expensive project that would unsettle the wildfire resiliency and further threaten the economy of one of the poorest Counties in the United States,” emphasizes Crandell.  “The NOI Parties have to slow down, listen to the people whose lives and livelihoods they are proposing to upset, and take a more considered approach.  Lake County will not stand by and allow our residents to suffer.  We will fight for a just outcome.”

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ridicilousness
Guest
ridicilousness
3 years ago

That’s our water, make it flow North again!
Talk about a water diversion wtf.

I like stars
Guest
I like stars
3 years ago

I support removal of Scott Dam and would also support removal of the entire Potter Valley water diversion.

Willie Bray
Guest
3 years ago

🕯🌳How many fires were in that area before the dam was created and the lake? Then how many fires were the after and what where the causes? 👁👁

Industrial Disease
Guest
Industrial Disease
3 years ago
Reply to  Willie Bray

How many salmon were in that area before the dam was created? How many salmon after?

clearlakefool
Guest
clearlakefool
3 years ago

give the EEL most of the water as it always was before dams
give mendocino county enough for ukiah and local areas
skrew sonoma county and their money which paid for almost every water diversion to feed their grapes .
the EEL at the turn of the century (1900 ) had salmon and steelhead enough you could walk on fish and never touch the water ant that was 10 to 15 feet deep at fernbridge .
while at same time , russian river at guernville and healdsburg were dry as a bone .
restore the EEL but give a little to Ukiah

Thirdeye
Guest
Thirdeye
3 years ago
Reply to  clearlakefool

The Eel River still had a large salmon run and deep channel more than 40 years after Scott Dam was built. The dam isn’t the problem.

b.
Guest
b.
3 years ago
Reply to  Thirdeye

There is no THE PROBLEM. Effects add up, they are cumulative. Scott Dam shuts off miles of spawning habitat and Lake Pilsbury is a PikeMinnow nursury.
Should effects to the local community of humans be mitigated along with the environmental harm? I think so. Why take the bait and think in terms of Fish vs. Humans? Consider HOW, not WHAT OR WHO?

Jeffersonian
Guest
Jeffersonian
3 years ago

Eventually the lake will entirely fill with sediment so might as well take out the dam sooner than later

Humkid
Guest
Humkid
3 years ago

Cry Cry Cry.What about our suffering and the salmon and steel head, sturgeon and all other aquatic life that have suffered for 100 years as they suck the life out of our Eel river .As of right now we cant swim because of low flow .But lake county residents are swimming happily in Eel river water Diverted in the Russian river.
Funny cannabis growers Farmers are held to extreme conditions for water use. But Grape farmer can use as much as they want they are still expanding for goodness sake.

Maybe
Guest
Maybe
3 years ago

Fish ladder

Fish Nerd
Guest
Fish Nerd
3 years ago
Reply to  Maybe

Pikeminnow Predators!

b.
Guest
b.
3 years ago
Reply to  Maybe

Unfortunately the expense is very high and the probability of successis very low, working against that possible solution. But thanks for thinking towards “the good of multiple communities.”

Kay Y
Guest
Kay Y
3 years ago

the dam will be removed, the eel will breathe again…

cant stop wont stop.

Mike
Guest
Mike
3 years ago

Scott’s dam is like the boogeyman for humboldt hippies. “It’s stealing all our water, it caused the drought, the sediment, the fires!” It’s not, it’s winter water storage to maintain high flows in the summer to ensure the flow rate is enough to continue to divert. Yes it has an impact on some spawning ground but is it easier to make a proper fish ladder and start the hatchery back up at vanarsdale dam or tear out a water system that something like 500,000 people have depended on for longer than most of us have been alive? If anything they should build more dams to make out water flow high enough in the summer to not have the algae problem and make conditions better for our native species, but that also requires sediment removal, from the river and the mouth the allow it o purge. And no Scott’s dam isn’t preventing it from doing that.

Ed Voice
Guest
Ed Voice
3 years ago
Reply to  Mike

As a resident of Lake County, I can see both sides of the argument, to a degree. However, all this gaslighting on both sides has got to stop! If Lake County has a plan to keep the dam lake in place and also allow fish to come and go as they please and be free flowing, then show us the plan. If not STFU!

Same goes for everyone else, after all the headwaters for the Eel River are in Lake County, not Humboldt, Mendocino or Sonoma. And Lake County should have a seat at the table, as long as its not for “economic” reasons, because then your just as bad as PG&E!

And what everyone seems to forget, the Eel River is also a state and federally listed Wild & Scenic River, which use to mean, “FREE FLOWING”! And it sure ain’t free flowing now!

Let me ask you Mike, how many of those home and property owners at Lake Pillsbury bought their slice of heaven before 1922?

And who are these “500,000 people have depended on for longer than most of us have been alive?”. Lake & Mendocino County combined only have a population of approx 152,000 people (circa 2019). And BTW, the Eel River flows north, not south…

bLakely
Guest
bLakely
3 years ago
Reply to  Ed Voice

Good input. The only people that can do anything live in Lakeport, and frankly, don’t care.

Maybe he was talking about all the natives that were in Clearlake before the jerk Vallejo came and stole their land and cattle, then sold it to the Kelseys . And on that note, rename kelseyville to Pomoville

Clearlake water rights belong to yolo, as well as IVR. All I came up with is Lake Co is the red headed step child of the area. Napa and mendo didn’t want the space included into their counties, as it is too hard to manage. Yolo took all the water, and would take more if allowed. And don’t forget that lake is home to the national monument aka lake berryessa/snow mountain, but all that is just a bunch of over bulldozed fire fought areas, and trespass grows in natl forest. I guess what I’m saying is…with all the mismanaged scenic land in lake county, why would anything get done at all? That’s why lake is shoved out of rights again.
Kudos to Crandell for caring though. Funny how he mentions how poor lake is…what if they counted all the cannabis income? Casino income? What about the illegal immigrant income? Notice the public health officer did not release race demographics on the covid like every other county.

I also agree with a former comment, Sonoma county shouldn’t be involved at all with the decision. Let the rr be full of ecoli until they stop dumping raw sewage into it.

Ed Voice
Guest
Ed Voice
3 years ago
Reply to  bLakely

Of course Supervisor Crandell had to say something, its his District, I am sure he is getting an ear full from most those people who own properties and home there, which most are non-residents, just like most around Clear Lake. They like to register their vehicles in Lake County, so they don’t have to smog them where they live. And the other big move, are the Napa wineries and vineyards that want to grow cannabis and cannot in Napa County, because most the Napa Wine Growers and tourism industry doesn’t want it in their backyard, so they are coming into Lake County to grow their weed, then take it back to their Napa winery and sell it. Check it out https://www.fumebrands.com/

bLakely
Guest
bLakely
3 years ago
Reply to  Ed Voice

Yep, you’re right about a lot. Eric Sklar is his name. Had a take out burrito franchise back east, grapes in Napa, now he’s in Middletown, but really lives in st Helena cuz he can’t hack it. Look out lake Co!

Happy July, Ed!

Suzette
Guest
Suzette
3 years ago
Reply to  bLakely

Hi, I have a petition thru Move On. org to Rename Kelseyville. I’m on FB, Suzette Slaughter, you could sign the petition & share w/ friends.
It has over 1700 signatures.
As a long time Lake County resident, I’ve been upset w/ a few things! One being that the Clear Lake water is basically “stolen” every year by Yolo County!! Lake County should be the richest Co. in all of California if we were paid appropriately for the water Yolo Steals!

Mark Sterbenk
Guest
Mark Sterbenk
2 years ago
Reply to  Suzette

You are clueless to reality Suzette. You have not changed a bit. Your comments are so absurd they dont even deserve a response.

Thirdeye
Guest
Thirdeye
3 years ago
Reply to  Ed Voice

Mike made a very important point, that removing Scott Dam will not improve summer flows on the Eel. It buffers winter peak flows. As far as salmon habitat goes, the Eel has much greater problems than Scott Dam. The Eel had a large salmon run for nearly a half century after Scott Dam was built. The move to remove the dam is knee-jerk environmentalism at its silliest.

PVRes
Guest
PVRes
3 years ago
Reply to  Thirdeye

You are spot on. As a resident of Potter Valley, people commenting and for the dam removal don’t understand that this would not improve flows north along the river. The dam was designed to regulate flows so downstream, the Eel could have flows THROUGH the summer. Otherwise, it would be a trickle. Has anyone actually seen the headwaters above Lake Pillsbury? I have. It dries up. I don’t have the exact amount off hand but believe that the diversion of water is only a minimal 1-2% of the river flow, hardly an impact downstream. The dam is not the barrier to the salmon and steelhead thriving, climate change is. Come visit our section of the Eel right now, you’ll understand.

I like stars
Guest
I like stars
3 years ago
Reply to  PVRes

If you live in Potter Valley, we can’t come visit your section of the Eel. Potter Valley is in the Russian River watershed.

Fish Nerd
Guest
Fish Nerd
3 years ago
Reply to  Thirdeye

The move to remove the dam was prompted by PG&E deciding to abandon the project.

GD
Guest
GD
3 years ago
Reply to  Ed Voice

I noticed the article claimed thousands and in the beginning cited 3450 people. It’s harsh but 3450 doesn’t equate to thousands for me.

Math whiz
Guest
Math whiz
3 years ago
Reply to  GD

Three thousand is thousands

Alden
Guest
Alden
3 years ago

Cry me a river

Brian (not the real)
Guest
Brian (not the real)
3 years ago

Actually nobody is saying that’s our water. All that is being said is there needs to be studies to see if it will help the spawning grounds and river flow vs the population affected. The eel river is a warm river and spawning populations of native fish need cooler water. Quite a bit of the warm water increase came from the 500 year storm following some poor practice logging leaving large amounts of sediment to begin with. Not even going into all the big growing going on there over the years (ie northwest round valley ). Holding water actually may help that. The dam is 20% full of sediment and has passed all of its seismologist tests so it will not need as much maintenance as one may think. Whatever your perspective may be which I will not say is wrong, it is just appropriate for Lake County to have a voice and we need studies on impact from both sides. This is a political move from Mike Huffman to appease to Mendocino and Humboldt counties at any cost because he represents them(ie getting votes). Ask former Lake County board of supervisor Jim Steele about when Mr Huffman asked him to not speak unless spoken to when this was being first discussed.4 legged wildlife population that may or may not be drastically affected is another study that needs to be addressed which I haven’t heard even being discussed Nobody here is crying ‘it’s my water’ we just want a voice at the table. Ironic isn’t it given all that’s going on.

PVRes
Guest
PVRes
3 years ago

I’ve watched our herd of Pillsbury Elk drink from the lake for decades, and grow to an amazing size. They’re beautiful, and the Elk, among many other wildlife are a concern if the dam is removed. They rely on this resource.

For sure
Guest
For sure
3 years ago

Go to the Eel right now….and I don’t just mean Redway Beach. It’s lower than ever for July 1. Sit by the river and listen to what it’s telling you.

Ed Voice
Guest
Ed Voice
3 years ago
Reply to  For sure

Hold on there ‘For sure’, not “sure” if you know or not (i’m guess’n not) “Redway Beach” is not on the Eel River, its on the South Fork Eel River. The Eel River is east of Redway, over at Ft. Seward. Please see map below…

Ed Voice
Guest
Ed Voice
3 years ago
Reply to  For sure

And another thing there “For sure”, the SFER is right now, today, July 1st 2020, at 110 CFS (cubic feet per second). However, the record low CFS or flow on the South Fork Eel was 30 CFS on this day in 1977 and the high was 688 CFS on July 1, 2005.

You can verify it here is you want, just thought you should know:

https://waterdata.usgs.gov/ca/nwis/uv?site_no=11476500

And what its telling you, I’m not the Eel River…

dgale
Guest
dgale
3 years ago

Quit referring to it as Lake Pillsbury – it’s not a lake, it a reservoir and should be called such accordingly. It’s not a natural feature on the landscape. Sorry a bunch of people bought property there or like to play there but there’s a larger common good to both people and the environment by removing this reservoir and restoring a natural river system.

Ed Voice
Guest
Ed Voice
3 years ago
Reply to  dgale

I see your point, well said. However, I have a question, what do you call a naturally formed lake like Tahoe or Clear Lake, that both, in the early 1900’s had dams built to restrict and control outgoing river flows for water storage and flood control?

Brent Peeck
Guest
Brent Peeck
3 years ago
Reply to  dgale

But you won’t be restoring a natural ecosystem and may actually hurt the already damaged ecosystem that is in place.

Native and Not Proud
Guest
Native and Not Proud
3 years ago

Wow. Nothing like fake, screeching “environmentalists.” How many of you drive? Grow dozers and SUVS? Especially all those N.A. in shiny tribal trucks. Yeah, thought so. How many of you use Internet powered by hydro(and natural gas and oil and coal). Yeah, thought so. How many of you want society and tradition destroyed and remade in your fantasy Marxist image (while you keep on trucking and sucking power, whining all the way)? Most of you. F-ing hippycrites.
Meanwhile, Sanctuary Mike leads the local march of the revisionists and annihilators of history.

Dave
Guest
Dave
3 years ago

The arrogance and ignorance of the supporters of this proposal astound me. The thought of spending over $500M (of California’s money) to try and gain 10% of a river back with the hope that one day a fish actually comes up there is insane. In addition, there are going to be millions spent defending the lawsuits of thousands of people that will have legitimate loss claims if this actually happened. If they spent their time and effort to improve the existing river system it would be a fraction of the cost and it might actually help the fish they claim to care about. The larger common good would be to consider all alternatives! But alas that is not the plan at all. Look at the websites they spell it out loud and clear. “DAM BAD, MUST TAKE DOWN DAM”. I for one sure hope that the deciding bodies realize that the costs and resulting devastation caused by decommissioning the Dam far outweighs the hopes and dreams that if they let it happen maybe one fish might get to swim 30 miles further to spawn (unless it is a draught year, in which the spawn will be unsuccessful without the reservoir there to provide the water). California is in no position to waste their money on this ridiculous proposal.

sparky
Guest
sparky
3 years ago

WHITE RACISTS STEALING NATIVE WATERS AFTER NATIVE AMERICAN GENOCIDE

Milos Leubner
Guest
3 years ago
Reply to  sparky

can we just get suntan and finally be done with it ? There is much for all the children to live for , so take them to summer camps where the color of skin will depand on the power of Sun . The human soul can not live on endless negativity for purpose of puffing up one’s chest . When will the knowledge and skills of previous generations of all fathers and mothers be used for good of inner being of all creatures of Creation ? Probably not before you see the beauty of life lived – not suffered by your own decision . We all are just farm animals to feed the needs and wants of those unseen vampires who were stealing energie from all people of this planet and still are – and all you have left is anger and pride seeing nothing , loving nobody or yourself , come to me to empty your pain and confusion so the life can move back in to your soul .Life is very short but it does have a purpose for me and you alike. Ask your children by watching them live.

Jesus, Chris
Guest
Jesus, Chris
3 years ago

All I got to say is, how many grapes and how much pot is needed?

If Humboldites would stop sucking the river dry to water pot being farmed in areas that are not really farmland, and if Lakies would stop planting grapevines everywhere, there would be more water for people…

The trouble with California, is, there’s too many people here! The stuff that was built 100 years ago, isn’t always exactly what is needed now!

Californians have been fighting over water for 150 years, and it’s not going to change.

Folks moved to CA, stole the land, killed the Natives, and cut down the Redwoods! It’s been going downhill ever since!

I sure hope you all were born to Newport Beach Real Estate Barons, nice and rich… I wasn’t. I had to work for a living! Growing weed and grapes will choke California to death, from Paso Robles to Oregon, so enjoy the next 50 years, cause it isn’t going to improve, climate, or water-wise… And soon, the language of choice in CA will be Spanish…

Ed Voice
Guest
Ed Voice
3 years ago
Reply to  Jesus, Chris

Unfortunately, this whole deal will be decided by a hand full of public officials, representing and benefiting a hand full of private interest. And like you stated, water is the name of the game, nothing has changed since SF & LA got their water on the backs of native people and wildlife habitat. And most relevantly, search and educated yourself about the Monterey Water Agreement, Kern Water Bank project or Kern Water Bank Authority.

https://www.biologicaldiversity.org/campaigns/monterey_plus_amendments/index.html

If Lake County had their act together, they would just release as much water as possible, drop the lake level to minimal levels for a couple years as a study, and this would tell you how effective this increased flow would have on all the down stream uses, including cold water habitat for aquatic species.

Fish Nerd
Guest
Fish Nerd
3 years ago
Reply to  Ed Voice

Lake County has absolutely no authority to decide how to release water from Scott Dam. It is owned and operated by PG&E and flow releases are governed by the National Marine Fisheries Service.

Y’all should be pointing the finger at PG&E on this one. It’s their license and their project.

Ed Voice
Guest
Ed Voice
3 years ago
Reply to  Fish Nerd

OK, I understand, but PG&E is giving it up and there is a new dam sheriff in town, namely all the same players and private interest less PG&E and Lake County. I’m sure PG&E is champing at the bit to cut and run ASAP, leaving the public with this mess. In the scheme of things, there is no right answer, all sides are thinking of themselves, using logical fallacies, propaganda and fear mongering, instead of looking at all the facts, both pro and con…

Dr. No
Guest
Dr. No
3 years ago

the human body is roughly 3/4 water and needs more every day to be beautiful and not smell to keep up with social norms, unless yer one of those eco-groovy hip-nuts . just got to many people, thats where the water went and where it goes. the ecosystem is being robbed of its precious bodily fluids that in turn sustain humanity, if you want to call it that. mother nature bats last.

Milos Leubner
Guest
3 years ago

the water has an inteligence believe it or not . It creates molecular structures which are responding to vibrational field around it . It responds to anger , something we aproximately call love ,good cheers or hidden questions in peoples minds . Surely it responds and records feelings from all biological life around it. All previous peoples all over the globe recognized dead and living water and its deep effect on their well being. Only 3 % of all water on the planet is fresh water ,rest is salty . Since we do have the existing lake already we should ponder upon its own wishes and use it for healing and deeper understanding of mystery of life . Turn of your restless thinking machine and put your feet ,your whole body in it and your children’s bodies to listen to the whisper of the water and re learn its language.