Monday April 14, 2025
MendoFever —
With golden eagles soaring above the glassy surface of a full Lake Mendocino, local leaders and federal officials gathered at the edge of Coyote Dam on April 11 for a momentous signing ceremony that could reshape the region’s water future. Against a backdrop of tribal songs and tight security, Congressman Jared Huffman and a coalition of partners formally launched a long-awaited feasibility study to raise and modernize the dam—an ambitious step toward water security, drought resilience, and tribal inclusion in water management for generations to come.
The ceremony opened with a prayer sung by Sonny Elliott, Chair of the Hopland Band of Pomo Indians, as golden eagles soared overhead. A small, invitation-only crowd gathered at the foot of Coyote Dam, with CHP officers and Lake Mendocino rangers posted nearby.
The feasibility study, officially launched at the event, is a collaboration between the Army Corps of Engineers and two non-government partners: the Mendocino County Inland Power and Water Commission (MCIWPC) and the Lytton Band of Pomo Indians from the Lytton Rancheria in Windsor. The study will evaluate the potential to raise and modernize the dam, increasing the lake’s capacity and strengthening regional drought resilience.