About the Project

The Potter Valley Project is a 9.4-megawatt hydroelectric facility, more than 100 years old, that includes an interbasin transfer of approximately 62,500 acre-feet of water from the Eel River to the East Branch of the Russian River. This project is owned by Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) and includes two dams: Cape Horn Dam, a low diversion dam with a fish ladder that transfers water to the Russian River; and Scott Dam, located 12 miles above Cape Horn Dam. Scott Dam blocks migratory access for threatened populations of Chinook salmon, coho salmon, and winter steelhead to high-quality, cold-water habitat in the 288-square-mile watershed above it, within Mendocino National Forest.

Beginning in 2018, Congressman Jared Huffman convened stakeholders to advance a Two-Basin Solution for the future of the Potter Valley Project that would remove Scott Dam, remove and/or replace Cape Horn Dam, restore fish passage, and continue diversions to the Russian River during high winter flows through modified infrastructure. In 2019, prior to filing for bankruptcy, PG&E formally withdrew its application from the Potter Valley Project’s Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) relicensing process, leaving an uncertain future for the project. In response, California Trout, the Round Valley Indian Tribes, and local stakeholders developed a plan for the future of the Project that advances the Two-Basin Solution and meets the needs of all communities in the Russian and Eel River basins. The plan establishes the FERC license surrender process as the best path for advancing the Two Basin Solution. CalTrout, the Round Valley Indian Tribes, and local stakeholders stand ready to engage with PG&E and state and federal agencies in the FERC-driven process for decommissioning all the facilities on terms that improve upstream and downstream fish passage while also meeting the water and power needs of the local communities.