Russian River Weekly Update 5/26/26

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East Fork Russian River in Potter Valley, April 2026, by E Salomone

Reservoir Storage & Operations:

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

Water storage data for three lakes: Mendocino, Pillsbury, and Sonoma, showing current levels, targets, and 7-day changes.

Graph showing Lake Mendocino's storage levels from 2019 to projected 2026, with various year curves and current levels marked.

The chart depicts Lake Pillsbury storage levels and target scenarios from 2019 to 2026, showing various targets over time.

Graph shows Lake Sonoma's water storage levels from 2019 to projected 2026, peaking at 261,138 acre-feet on May 25, 2026.

FERC Approves 2026 Potter Valley Project Flow Variance, Effective Friday, May 15th

Reminder, on May 14, 2026, FERC issued an order approving the 2026 temporary flow variance for the Potter Valley Project flows from the Eel to the Russian River. This means that starting May 15th, flows to the Russian River will remain at 25 cfs and will fluctuate between a range of 5-25 cfs based on Lake Pillsbury storage forecasts and water temperature data. Visit the RRFC Webpage for more information.

New Report Recently Released:

2026, 5-14 FERC approval of PG&E 2026 Flow variance.pdf

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

PG&E's Potter Valley Information Packet, May 2026.pdf

FERC Notice of Scoping Document, Meetings, and Comments

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission published a Notice of Scoping Meeting and Request for Comments on the Proposed Surrender, Decommissioning, and Non-Project use of Project Lands (NERF) dated May 22, 2026.

FERC will prepare a document discussing the environmental impacts of both the decommissioning and the building of the New Eel Russian Facility (NERF.) FERC will use this document in its decision-making process to identify potential adverse and beneficial impacts of the proposed project surrender and reasonable alternatives. The scoping process gathers input regarding the environmental impacts of the proposal. Specifically, FERC staff request comments on potential alternatives and impacts, as well as identification of any relevant information, studies, or analyses concerning effects on the quality of the human environment.

Comments are due Friday, July 24, 2026. Refer to the documents below for more information.

Two meetings will also be held in Ukiah. Refer to the documents below for more information.

2026, 5-22 FERC PVP NEPA Scoping Notice.pdf 2026, 5-22 FERC PVP NEPA Scoping Document.pdf 2026, 5-25 IWPC Press Release on FERC scoping doc.pdf

Recent comments and articles:

SWRCB Notice of Availability of the Scoping Report for the Potter Valley Hydroelectric Project Surrender and Decommissioning Project

On May 12, 2026, the State Water Resources Control Board (State Water Board or SWRCB) posted the Scoping Report for the Potter Valley Hydroelectric Project Surrender and Decommissioning Project (Scoping Report). The Scoping Report summarizes comments received during the State Water Board’s Notice of Preparation of an Environmental Impact Report for the Potter Valley Hydroelectric Project Surrender and Decommissioning Project public comment period, which closed on November 3, 2025.

Link to the Scoping Report on Maven's Notebook website

Additional information related to the Potter Valley Hydroelectric Project can be found on the State Water Board’s Potter Valley Hydroelectric Project webpage: SWRCB Potter Valley Hydroelectric Project webpage

Questions regarding the Scoping Report or Potter Valley Hydroelectric Project: please contact Wilhelmina Chon, Project Manager by email at: Wilhelmina.Chon@waterboards.ca.gov.

WEBINAR: Tribal Water Rights in California, June 4th, 11 AM - Noon

Water rights are essential to the well-being of California’s Tribes—yet these rights are often poorly understood. As Tribes begin to play an increasingly significant role in regional water management in California, we present key findings from a new report about the history and current status of Tribal water rights and convene a panel of experts to discuss what’s next. More information and registration.

Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month May 29th, noon - 1 PM

California Natural Resources Agency Celebrates Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month Connecting with AAPI Trailblazers Advancing Climate Action and Equity in California. As national rhetoric targets immigrants, weakens voting access, questions birthright citizenship, and cuts support for Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities, California stands for a different future by defending inclusion, opportunity, and respect for all. This AAPI Heritage Month, join Secretary Wade Crowfoot for a conversation honoring AAPI leaders advancing climate action, expanding access to nature, and helping build a stronger, more inclusive California for future generations. Registration

DWR Releases Spring 2026 Semi-Annual Groundwater Update

The Department of Water Resources (DWR) has released the Spring 2026 Semi-Annual Groundwater Update, which provides a look back at California’s groundwater conditions during Water Year 2025 and early Water Year 2026. The groundwater update includes Water Year 2025 Groundwater Sustainability Plans (GSP) and GSP Alternative annual report data reported across 101 groundwater basins, which make up over 90 percent of the groundwater use in the state. This information is helping provide an increasingly clearer picture of groundwater conditions, including the amount of change in groundwater storage, groundwater extractions, and managed recharge that occurs each year. More information

WEBINAR: Unveiling CA’s New Climate Change Projections to Guide Action May 26, 1-5 PM

Registration

This hybrid event will kick off the rollout of California's Fifth Climate Change Assessment, with a presentation of updated data and projections on climate, sea level rise, water systems, and wildfire risk across the state.

These projections provide the foundation for the Assessment’s research and will help guide policy and investment decisions to protect communities and strengthen climate resilience across the state.

Background: To advance action-based science around climate change, in 2006, California developed the state's Climate Change Assessment, a collection of research and data that provides the tools and information to help leaders and communities across California plan for and respond to climate impacts. The Assessment is updated at least every five years. Previous Assessments (2006, 2009, 2012, 2018) contributed to a growing understanding about the impacts of climate change in California and offer communities and decision-makers the tools to take action.

Over the past five years, the California Natural Resources Agency (CNRA), in partnership with the Governor’s Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation (LCI), the California Energy Commission (CEC), and the California Strategic Growth Council (SGC), has worked with academic, tribal, and community partners to develop the Fifth Climate Change Assessment. It will support on-the-ground implementation and decision-making at the local, regional, tribal, and state levels, focusing on the needs of communities most vulnerable to climate change impacts.

Fifth Assessment reports will begin to roll out this summer with many opportunities to participate in events and activities to learn from experts. Throughout the rollout, we will share upcoming Assessment events, featured stories and voices of the Assessment's research, and provide information in the lead up to the full release in late 2026. For any questions regarding the Fifth Assessment, please reach out to climateassessment@lci.ca.gov.

WEBINAR: Co-Creating the Water Future We Deserve, May 27 12:00 1:30 PM

California's water future isn't fixed. It's being written right now – through policy choices, infrastructure decisions, and allocation tradeoffs that will shape landscapes and communities for generations. The question is: who gets to help write it? COEQWAL, the Collaboratory for Equity in Water Allocations, was built on the premise that the answer should be all of us. A partnership among UC Berkeley researchers, state agencies, and community groups, COEQWAL uses CalSim3, California's primary water planning model, to envision and evaluate alternative water futures under a range of climate, policy, and infrastructure scenarios. Those futures aren't just handed down from a modeling team; they're co-created with the people who will live them. Results are shared through a public data platform where anyone can explore, filter, and interact with scenario outcomes through data visualizations and storytelling tools designed to reach and engage diverse audiences. Join us for a Data for Lunch with UC Berkeley's Ted Grantham, who leads COEQWAL, as he shares what it looks like to bring communities, researchers, and decision-makers together around a shared vision for California's water future. And what's possible when they do. Register Now

WEBINAR: “Voices from the Field” May 27 11AM

This month, Sustainable Conservation continues with its successful webinar series “Voices from the Field.” The next webinar, the third in this series, is scheduled for Wednesday, May 27, at 11 a.m. “From Field to Policy: Scaling Sustainable Agriculture,” will feature panelists from General Mills, East Turlock Subbasin Groundwater Sustainability Agency, and EcoThrive Farm Management. Together, they’ll explore how farmer engagement, science, and policy can work together to advance and expand sustainable agriculture across California. The conversation will examine how growers, researchers, water managers, and industry partners are finding common ground to support soil health and groundwater sustainability under the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act. Registration is required for this hour-long webinar.