Monday December 2, 2024
MendoFever —
The future of water security in Potter Valley took center stage at a November 14 town hall, where experts and community leaders outlined plans to adapt to life without year-round Eel River diversions. With PG&E’s decommissioning of the Potter Valley Project looming, discussions focused on potential groundwater storage, new infrastructure, and conservation measures—all aimed at ensuring local agriculture survives a drier summer reality.
The meeting was hosted by the Potter Valley Irrigation District (PVID) and Jacobs, a consulting firm hired to study groundwater and potential water storage solutions in Potter Valley. Janet Pauli, a member of PVID’s Board of Directors, opened the meeting. Pauli also serves on the Board of the Inland Water and Power Commission of Mendocino County and the Board of the Eel Russian Project Authority. She has been advocating for water security in Potter Valley for years. Many board members and staff from these entities attended the meeting, along with representatives from Sonoma Water. Outgoing District 1 Supervisor Glenn McGourty and Supervisor-Elect Madeline Cline were also present.
Historically, Potter Valley and downstream users along the Russian River have depended on water from the Eel River, stored in Lake Pillsbury behind Scott Dam and in Van Arsdale Reservoir behind Cape Horn Dam. The water has been diverted through a tunnel into Potter Valley, where it flows into the East Branch of the Russian River, continues into Lake Mendocino, and ultimately serves users in Sonoma County. Locally, the diverted water has been critical for agricultural irrigation in Potter Valley.