Reservoir Storage & Operations:

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

• GIFT ARTICLE-Press Democrat: Reservoirs are in good shape, but officials declare dry conditions in upper Russian River for first time in years. Here’s why 4/21/26
• Hoodline: Lake Mendocino Slams The Brakes On Releases As Skimpy Rains Test Russian River 4/21/26

 

Future of the Eel River to Russian River Trans Basin Diversion (Potter Valley Project)

• RRFC webpage on the Future of the Eel River to Russian River Diversion
• SWRCB Potter Valley Hydroelectric Project webpage

On April 21, 2026, US Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins announced on social media that she had heard from a potential buyer for the Potter Valley Project. The Elsinore Valley Municipal Water District, which serves around 160,000 residential and commercial users in western Riverside County, stated in an interview with the Eureka Times-Standard (linked below) that it “wished to emphasize that the district had absolutely no concrete plans at this stage of the game, that it hadn’t yet looked at the opportunities or constraints of taking ownership of the project, or even if doing so was legally feasible at this point in the proceedings.” It is noted in the same article that though PG&E said it cannot transfer the license to the dams, the agency said that it can still transfer the dams themselves.

Since the announcement by Secretary Rollins, responses have been covered in the press from Congressmember Huffman, and representatives from PG&E, the Eel Russian Project Authority, Inland Water & Power Commission, Friends of the Eel River, and others. Articles are linked below.

The Two Basin Solution partners continue to move forward toward a continued diversion and a transfer of the water right in cooperation with PG&E.

Recent comments and articles:

• Lost Coast Outpost: POTTER VALLEY DAM UPDATE: The U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Says That a Municipal Water District in Riverside County is Interested in Taking Over the Project 4/21/26
• Lost Coast Outpost: Statements From PG&E and Friends of the Eel on SoCal Agency’s Potter Valley Dam Bid 4/21/26
• GIFT ARTICLE: San Fran Chronicle: Trump administration offers plan to stop dam removal on California river 4/21/26
• Active Nor Cal: The Eel River Dam Removal Was Almost a Done Deal. Now Southern California Wants to Buy Them. 4/22/26
• Ukiah Daily Journal: PG&E reports receiving no new proposal to buy the Potter Valley Project 4/22/26
• Lost Coast Outpost: That SoCal Water Agency Says It’s Just in the Very Initial, Exploratory Phase of its Potential Bid to Take Over the Eel River Dams 4/22/26
• Eureka Times Standard: Huffman: Federal Potter Valley intervention could be catastrophic for Northern California water 4/22/26
• GIFT ARTICLE- Press Democrat: Federal Agriculture secretary touts Southern California water district as potential buyer for Potter Valley Project 4/23/26
• Redheaded Blackbelt: Feds Float Late-Stage Idea to Keep Eel River Dams as Removal Plan Moves Forward 4/23/26
• Congressmember Jared Huffman on breaking news regarding Potter Valley Project,  4/23/26
• Lost Coast Outpost: ‘This is Not OK’: Huffman Says He’ll Launch an Investigation Into the Trump Administration’s Eel River ‘Water Grab’ Scheme 4/23/26
• SF Gate: New twist emerges in battle over century-old Northern California dams 4/24/26
• Redheaded Blackbelt: Local News Outlet Seeks Support for Probe into Proposed Takeover of the Potter Valley Project and Eel River Waters 4/26/26

 

How the Russian River Is Shaping California's Water Data Future

Happy Earth Day from the California Water Data Consortium! This Earth Day, we're celebrating the data systems, governance structures, and community partnerships that help protect California's watersheds — and the people working to make them function. Learn more at this Link to the full article and videos

 

2024-2025 National Ecological Drought & Tribal Webinar Series

This webinar series seeks to raise awareness of ecological drought, share actions that strengthen ecosystem resilience and mitigate the impacts of droughts, and highlight advancements in integrating interdisciplinary research and management needs for future drought planning and preparedness. The series is co-hosted by NIDIS and the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) National Climate Adaptation Science Center (NCASC), with expert speakers from the research community, Tribal Nations, and government agencies. Information shared will build on the NIDIS/NCASC 2021 National Ecological Drought Webinar Series. A webinar recap and recording will be posted on drought.gov following the event.

Ecological Drought: Integrating Ecological Drought Considerations into Restoration Efforts and Natural Resource Management (Part 2) Thursday, April 30, 11 a.m. PT

This webinar will focus on ecological drought research and collaborative efforts to inform terrestrial and coastal restoration efforts and natural resource management. Presenters will share research findings from the Fiscal Year 2022 Coping with Drought competitions on Ecological Drought and Building Tribal Drought Resilience

 

Connecting Solutions for Groundwater Resilience Wed, May 6 at 10 AM

California’s water system is complex, and so are the challenges it faces. From groundwater overdraft to flooding and ecosystem decline, these issues are deeply interconnected and can’t be solved in isolation. Join Sustainable Conservation on Wednesday, May 6 at 10:00 AM for the second webinar in the Spring 2026 Voices from the Field webinar series as we explore how groundwater recharge and multibenefit land repurposing work in tandem to support long-term groundwater sustainability and climate resilience across California. By storing water underground in wet years and strategically reducing demand on groundwater supplies, these approaches can improve water reliability, reduce flood risk, and restore habitat, building a more resilient future for our communities, agriculture, and environment. The conversation will feature leaders from the California Department of Conservation and Earth Genome to discuss the work currently being done and what it takes to implement these solutions at scale. Link to Registration

 

SAVE THE DATE: State Water Board California Water Plan Tribal Advisory Committee Meeting

The Department of Water Resources is convening the first Tribal Advisory Committee meeting for the 2028 California Water Plan

The meeting will be held remotely via Zoom on Monday, May 4, 2026 from 1:00 pm - 2:30 pm. This meeting is intended for Tribal leadership and delegated representatives.

The Tribal Advisory Committee (Tribal AC) convenes California Native American Tribes and organizations to guide and develop content for the Water Plan and reflect Tribal perspectives on land, water, and culture. The Tribal Advisory Committee will help advance Tribal knowledge and perspectives in the Water Plan and policy recommendations, receive updates and engage in Water Plan work groups and regional forums, provide comments on Water Plan supporting materials, and support the Tribal seat on the Water Plan 2028 Advisory Committee. The Tribal Advisory Committee is open to:

• Tribal Leadership and Tribally-delegated representatives to represent Tribal government
• Tribal non-governmental organizations (NGOs)
• Tribal supported NGOs and their members

If you have questions, please contact: Emily. Alejandrino@water.ca.gov or Francisco.Guzman@water.ca.gov

Register for the May 4th Tribal Advisory Committee Meeting here Learn more, visit CaliforniaWaterPlan.com

 

 

In the press:

• CA Water Plan eNews 4/22/26
• SWRCB Ebb and Flow
• Maven's Notebook Weekly 4/19-4/24/26
• Maven's Notebook Weekend Edition 4/26/26

 

• SWRCB Ebb & Flow: Earth Day Update: Restoring rivers faster with streamlined permits 4/22/26
• PPIC: What California’s Next Governor Needs to Know about Water 4/27/26
• Local News Matters: California’s 40,000-acre question: What happens when vineyards disappear? In Mendocino County, vineyard losses are beginning to alter the look and future of its wine country. 4/26/26