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Russian River Weekly Update 11/17/25

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Gibson Creek, November 17, 2025 by E Salomone
Gibson Creek, November 17, 2025 by E Salomone

Reservoir Storage & Operations:

Water supply information provided by Sonoma Water (find more water storage info here).

Lake storage data: Mendocino 70.2%, Pillsbury 27,950 acre-feet, Sonoma 87.8%. Changes: Mendocino -1,160, Pillsbury +784, Sonoma +2,322.
Graph of Lake Mendocino storage in acre-feet from 2018 to 2025, showing various trends and storage curves.
Graph of Lake Pillsbury storage scenarios (2018-2025) vs. targets. Includes various years' data and different storage targets (A, B, C).
Graph of Lake Sonoma storage levels (2018-2025) in acre-feet. Notable point: 223,447 acre-feet on Nov 17, 2025. Storage trends by year.

 PG&E’s Final Surrender Application for Potter Valley Project

FERC has issued the public comment period for PG&E’s application for Surrender of License and Non-Project Use of Project Lands. Deadline for filing comments, motions to intervene, and protests is December 1, 2025 5:00 PM EASTERN TIME (2:00 PM Pacific Time.) Visit RRFC webpage for more information.

Recent Comments Submitted to FERC on Decommissioning:

Note: Only comments submitted by agencies, organizations, Tribes, and similar will be posted here and on the RRFC website.

  • Pacific Coast Federation of Fisherman’s Associations and the Institute for Fisheries Resources
  • The US Department of the Interior has filed a Motion for Extension of Time due to the recent government shutdown.
  • Many individuals have submitted comments in the past week; as of 8 am this morning, approximate 131 are in favor of granting PG&E’s application and approximately 80 are opposed.
2025, 11-13 CA Sportfishing MOI P-77-332.pdf2025, 11-13 Interior Motion for Extension of Time.pdf

 

Public workshop in Ukiah to update community on Potter Valley Project, November 24, 1-4 PM at Ukiah Valley Conference Center in Ukiah

Cape Horn Dam on the Eel River
Cape Horn Dam on the Eel River
2025, 11-14 Press release- IWPC workshop on PVP Nov 24, 2025.pdf

The Mendocino County Inland Water and Power Commission will be holding a workshop on November 24 to provide factual updates, answer questions and support a collaborative informed dialogue about the Potter Valley Project.  Attendees will receive updates on planning efforts, future infrastructure needs, timelines related to PG&E’s decommissioning and ongoing storage investigations. More information in the press release linked below:

Ukiah Daily Journal: Workshop planned in Ukiah to update community on Potter Valley Project 11/16/25

PVP related articles:

 

PG&E License Amendment Application to FERC

FERC has issued the public comment period for PG&E’s application for Non-Capacity Amendment of License. Deadline for filing comments, motions to intervene, and protests is December 1, 2025 5:00 PM EASTERN TIME (2:00 PM Pacific Time.) Visit RRFC webpage for more information.

Recent comments on the license amendment:

2025, 11-12 PCFFA & IFR MOI on Lic Amend.pdf2025, 11-14 CA Sportfishing MOI on License Amendment.pdf2025, 11-3 SWRCB MOI to PGE license amendment.txt

 

California Water Data Consortium White paper highlights DWR’s successes in implementing SGMA

The California Water Data Consortium and its partners have released a new white paper. “Groundwater Accounting Platform — Real-World Impact from DWR Investment in Open, Scalable SGMA Tools" highlights how DWR’s investment in open-source groundwater tools is accelerating implementation of the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) across diverse basins in the state. The white paper addresses common challenges faced by groundwater sustainability agencies (GSAs), namely (1) making complex water data accessible to growers, (2) building trust while introducing new policies, and (3) avoiding the reinvention of tools already developed by other agencies. The white paper documents the successful pilot deployments in six diverse GSAs, showcasing how the public investment in a shared, open-source Groundwater Accounting Platform provides a scalable solution by allowing agencies to configure a single platform to fit their unique needs rather than starting from scratch. To read more about the white paper, see the article on Maven’s Notebook.

 

📢 Ukiah Workshop on CalWATRS on November 19th

The State Water Board staff are coming to the region to help water right holders transition to CalWATRS. On Wednesday, November 19th, 8:30 to noon at 890 N. Bush Street in Ukiah. See flyer for more information

CalWATRS Ukiah Office Hours Nov 19th.pdf

CalWATRS, short for California Water Accounting, Tracking, and Reporting System, is the State's new-and-improved water rights data system, replacing the legacy eWRIMS platform. With CalWATRS, water right holders will have a streamlined way to view all their water right records, file annual reports, and request water rights services. CalWATRS successfully launched on Oct. 7, as planned.

Learn more:

 

University of California Cooperative Extension offers water measurement training Dec. 1 in Davis

Senate Bill 88 requires that all water right holders measure and report the water they divert. (More details: Reporting and Measurement Regulation webpage.) The legislation requires that installation and certification of measurement methods for diversion (or storage) greater than or equal to 100-acre feet annually be approved by an engineer/contractor/professional. The UC Cooperative Extension course on measurement devices and methods certifies qualified individuals to install and maintain devices or methods of measurement. Pre-registration is required and the fee is $35. To register, visit AB 589 Water Measurement Training Class Information. If you have questions, email Forero at lcforero@ucanr.edu or Sara Jaimes at sbjaimes@ucanr.edu or call (530) 224-4900.

 

California Natural Resources Agency Hosts Discussion on Climate Change Impacts on California Native American Traditional Seasons and Practices, 12-1 PM on Monday, November 17th 

Since time immemorial, California Native Americans have lived in harmony with the natural cycles of the seasons, guided by the sun, moon, tides, and weather. However, colonial settlement and accelerating climate impacts have displaced communities from ancestral lands, waters, and ecosystems, disrupting these traditional connections. Join us to learn from panelists about how environmental changes such as extreme heat, drought, sea-level rise, and species loss are altering cultural practices and shaping tribal resilience and adaptation today. Register to join here.

 

 In the press:

 

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