Huffman Delivers $2 Million Grant for Sonoma Water to Study Potential Fish-Friendly Diversion to Russian River From the Eel River
Cape Horn Dam in Potter Valley [Photo by Sarah Reith]
The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation [yesterday] announced a $2 million grant to Sonoma County Water Agency (Sonoma Water) meant to study a diversion from the Eel River to the Russian River that will have the least possible impact on salmon and steelhead.
The crucial funding for this study comes from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which Rep. Huffman helped author. Rep. Huffman personally advocated for this grant, which is a part of the Bureau of Reclamation’s WaterSMART program to support the study, design and construction of collaboratively developed ecosystem restoration projects that provide widespread regional benefits and improve the health of fisheries, wildlife and aquatic habitat through restoration and improved fish passage.
“Now that PG&E has decided to remove the dams, these federal funds will set us up to develop the Two-Basin Solution I have been encouraging for years,” said Rep. Jared Huffman. “In the face of compounding climate change impacts, dam removal and a modern diversion for water will help protect salmon and steelhead while ensuring a dependable water supply.”
“The Round Valley Indian Tribes are grateful that this funding is being provided to advance implementation of the Two Basin Solution, and we thank Rep. Huffman for his leadership on these issues,” said President Lewis Whipple of the Round Valley Indian Tribes.
“Funding for this design work represents a major milestone in the progress toward a true regional solution for the Potter Valley Project,” said Sonoma County Supervisor James Gore, who also serves on the Sonoma Water Board of Directors. “We’re grateful to Congressman Huffman for his efforts and advocacy in securing this grant. Through this planning process, we hope to create the best possible outcome for fish in the Eel River while also continuing critical diversions into the Russian River.”
PG&E has decided to remove the Potter Valley Project’s two dams on the Eel River that block fish passage. Sonoma Water, Mendocino Inland Water and Power Commission, Round Valley Indian Tribes, Trout Unlimited, Humboldt County, Cal Trout, California Department of Fish and Wildlife, and Round Valley Indian Tribes have proposed to continue a diversion to the Russian River in a way that is most protective of fish.
PG&E released an initial draft surrender application on Nov. 17 which includes several of the measures proposed by the coalition. PG&E’s final application is expected to be submitted by Jan. 29, 2025 and dam removal is expected to begin in 2028.
The Potter Valley Project has been diverting water from the Eel River into the Russian River watershed for more than a century, playing a critical role in supplying water for agriculture, homes, and instream flows to benefit aquatic ecosystems and threatened salmonids in Mendocino and Sonoma counties. Stakeholders of the new Eel-Russian Facility proposal sent to PG&E seek to build facilities to continue diversions from the Eel River into the Russian River as well as improving fisheries in the Eel River.
Earlier:
- An Expired License, a Mysterious Applicant, and a Threat to Sue: What Else Can We Expect as the Fight to Control the Waters of the Eel River Continues?
- ‘Everyone knew it was coming’: Eel River Waters Continue to Be Diverted as PG&E Granted Annual License for the Potter Valley Project
- Fish Fight: Two New Developments in the Ongoing Damming of the Eel Via the Potter Valley Hydropower Project
- Two New Decisions on the Potter Valley Diversion from the Eel River
- PG&E Signals That It Will Speed Up Removing Dam Which Helps Divert Water From the Eel River to the Russian River
- PG&E Plans to Remove Both Potter Valley Project Dams—Mendo, Humboldt, Lake and Sonoma Fight
- PG&E Proposes Reducing Russian River Flow and Transferring Potter Valley Project to Subsidiary
- New Proposal Over Eel River Water Diversion Plan Leaves Some Stakeholders Out
- Water Talks: Waiting on PG&E to Figure Out Life After the Potter Valley Project
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There is no diversion that wont do damage to the Eels fish populations. Huffman is using tax dollars to sell out the interests of the north coast for the benefit of marin, sonoma and mendocino counties. He is a snake. The study will be biased in favor of diversion, you can bet on that.
exactly. A slimy back room deal for the Mendo and Sonoma grape growers. Notice all the positive political speak and catch phrases?
$2 million grant
least possible impact
personally advocated for this grant
help protect salmon and steelhead
I have been encouraging
climate change impacts
are grateful
major milestone
Huffman will be borrowing that money against your future and from generations yet to come.
Hasn’t he voted to increase your debt and for every extra bit of tax dollars to go for Project “line the pockets of Zelensky Co. and the neocons” Ukraine and to the Zionist genocidal maniacs project in Gaza by Israel? I guess when the head of your party pledges allegiance to Zionism and needs your vote for billions and trillions, a couple of million in your district is chump change.
Thank you Representative Huffman for your largess that now is equal to the prorated national debt for about 21 northern Californians. That’s right, your portion of our tens of trillions of dollars of national debt is about $100,000 for every man, woman and child. And that doesn’t include the money pissed away in the billions in Sacramento. To your knees serf/slave.
“You will own nothing and you will be happy.” “We will give them drugs and (smartphone) video games”. – Some freaks at the World Economic (Enslavement) Forum.
Make sure to thank your Congressperson soon!
“The Russian River: All Rivers, The Value of an American Watershed,” a movie that explores the forces that have shaped the river, as well as rivers and watersheds throughout the world, and the consequences of that use.
I ENCOURAGE ALL TO SEE THIS FILM
‘ salmon- king of fish , a thousand year demise of a species’ is a good read also
Another documentary that will really depress is called The Rivers End.
FOLLOW THE MONEY !
I’m guessing his wine buddies who benefit from the diversion also sit on the Boards of the firms which will be conducting these “studies” … as Jeffersonian said above, no diversion is good for the fish. #fullstop
#grifters #allthewaydown
😡
Well , lets figure out how to divert 80% of the Russian river watershed to the eel river for 100 years to sort of make up for past transgressions before researching how to keep stealing water from the creatures of the eel river watershed including the 2 legged sort
will probably end up in the new sites reservoir
Huffman is a crook. He is wasting $2 million to purchase a study that he will then attempt to use to justify the continued theft of Eel River water.
The Russian River folks need to learn how to live in an environmentally sustainable way (Green New Deal). Maybe new technology can help.
https://lostcoastoutpost.com/2023/dec/19/california-approves-rules-that-turn-sewage-into-dr/
He isn’t a crook, just an American politician. They are all pretty much the same
Stop taking our water. No diversions. He doesn’t represent us in Humboldt.
No he doesn’t.
#fullstop
No need to wonder where his bread is buttered.
waterSMART is a catchy name for water stealing. Appears that most infrastructure to do the job will happen far away from the north. Huffman has to do something to protect the grapes, growth, and greed lobby who underwrites his bay area agenda and election endeavors. Start taking water from lake Sonoma or pay for other alternatives besides degrading the eel river any more. Goes to show the NorCal coast needs it’s own representation aside from the re- districting scheme they’ve concocted in favor of the bay area.
March 5, 2024 do NOT vote for Jared. Humboldt has a greater population than Mendocino. He does not represent us. No river should be diverted.
How about a study on getting rid of Huffman!
Well obviously we need to vote for anyone but Huffman.
Doubtful Huffman has any concern for our meegar district.
He really doesn’t do much that I can see. His local office is far from local. When contacting his office his staph rarely answer the phone and they’re snooty. Never replies to his constituents as he says on his website. He’s a blow hard. Never addresses critical issues like imagration, etc. seems to address easy issues just to get by.
Please go out and vote against this. WTH!
I have a 100% solid solution to the fish unfriendly diversion, and I will only charge 50% of the $2 million price tag…
Permanently plug the diversion solid, with solid concrete.
Problem solved, no “ifs”, “ands”, or, “buts”.
Now hand over my $1 million.
(I just saved you $1 million…)
You’re welcome.
💯
The grift of the equation is even more upsetting.
not that this matters but he also is pushing a bill to rename the headwaters Redwood forest trail would be renamed after Dianne Feinstein under https://huffman.house.gov/media-center/in-the-news/redwood-forest-trail-would-be-renamed-after-dianne-feinstein-under-new-bill-in-congress
His mentor … in so many ways.
🍌
Fienstien never came to the north coast. How about nameing the sidewalks in s.f. where people crap everywhere in her memory.
The self glorification of power is pretty revolting. Like when journalism “take a few minutes of your time to remember a colleague”.
It’s always the way when people with power want to commemorate without paying for it themselves.
No water should be diverted from the Eel to the Russian. None. Warm Springs dam should be holding enough water for Sonoma County. Raising Coyote dam is a better option for increasing water supplies.
Leave Ell river water in the Eel. ALL OF IT.
Leave the Eel river water in the Eel. Stop stealing the water period.
Make your voice heard visit Friends of the Eel River to get info on who to write during open comments to PG&E just maybe we can make a difference and stop this New Eel Russian river bullshit
How can he fund this. How about funding a study on how it will bring back the Eel River. Must be a lot of donors growing his wine, weed and turf grass. Go look up there its all hoop houses and turf farms. And then the wine Unbelievable POS
At 3944 gallons of water ,per acre per day for wine grapes, and 6 to 20 gallons of water to produce 1 gallon of wine, that is a lot of water. Let them drain lake Sonoma, and leave the Eel alone.