Monday May 19, 2025
Mendofever —
At its May 8 meeting, the Mendocino County Inland Water and Power Commission (IWPC) focused once again on PG&E’s planned withdrawal from the Potter Valley Project and the region’s efforts to secure long-term water supplies. Central to the discussion was the New Eel Russian Facility (NERF), a proposed infrastructure project that would maintain Eel River water diversions into the Russian River after PG&E’s exit.
The IWPC, a joint powers authority composed of five local agencies—the County of Mendocino, the Redwood Valley County Water District, the City of Ukiah, the Potter Valley Irrigation District, and the Russian River Flood Control and Water Conservation Improvement District—continues to work in partnership with Sonoma County and Sonoma Water through the Eel Russian Project Authority (ERPA). ERPA is leading negotiations with PG&E and planning for the construction of NERF.
IWPC operates on a modest budget of $420,000 this year, primarily allocated toward legal and engineering support during the ongoing negotiations. Each member agency has been invoiced $84,000 to fund the commission’s work. IWPC Chair Janet Pauli and assistant Candace Horsley continue to manage the commission’s day-to-day operations.