Russian River Weekly Update 8/10/26
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Reservoir Storage & Operations:
Water supply information provided by Sonoma Water (find more water storage info here).
Future of the Eel River to Russian River Trans Basin Diversion (Potter Valley Project)
FERC has extended the comment period on the Scoping Document 1 for the Proposed Surrender, Decommissioning, and Non-Project use of Project Lands (NERF) to September 18, 2026 at 2 PM Pacific Time.
Agency/Organization submitted comments to FERC on scoping document are linked on RRFC webpage on the Future of the Eel River to Russian River Diversion
Proposition 4 Sustainable Groundwater Management Grant Program – Draft Guidelines Released
The Department of Water Resources (DWR) is pleased to announce the release of the 2026 Draft Sustainable Groundwater Management Grant Program Guidelines. The guideline’s focus is to administer a 2025 legislative directive of $3.5 million for small Sustainable Groundwater Agencies and $6.5 million for Technical Assistance.
DWR will host two public workshops to provide an overview of the program, review key components of the 2026 Draft Guidelines, and to accept public comments. Register for workshops below.
- General Public Comment Workshop
- September 1, 2026, 11am-12pm
- Register here: https://stantec.zoom.us/meeting/register/9NsBBiixR8653uQGD_WpoQ
- General Public Comment Workshop
- September 22, 2026, 10am-11am
- Register here: https://stantec.zoom.us/meeting/register/sGYXxQn5S6C3NMyl64sSIw
The public comment period is open from July 31, 2026, to September 30, 2026. Please provide comments by emailing FinancialAssistance@water.ca.gov.
Check the Sustainable Groundwater Management Grant Program website for the latest updates and information. Guidelines and Proposal Solicitation Package for the full Proposition 4 solicitation are expected to be released for review in early fall 2026. Press Release
In the press:
- DWR Weekly Water Highlights — August 5, 2026
- Maven's Notebook Weekly Edition Aug 2-7, 2026
- Maven's Notebook Weekend Edition 8/9/26
- Russian River Confluence August newsletter
El Nino Related:
- River Partners: Flood and Fire: What California Can Do in the Face of Dual Climate Threats. Climate Scientist Dr. Daniel Swain Explores Options as Possible History-Making El Niño Approaches (Pt 2) 8/7/26
- SF Chronicle: Powerful El Niño puts California in the bull’s-eye for soaking winter, models show 8/5/26
- Press Democrat: What will a ‘Super El Niño’ mean for Northern California? Experts weigh in at McGuire town hall 8/5/26
- Redheaded Blackbelt: El Niño Town Hall Warns of ‘An Event We haven’t Seen Before In Living Memory’ 8/6/26
- ABC 7 News: Experts warn strong El Niño could bring record sea levels to California coast with flooding concerns 8/5/26
- Local News Matters: Climate experts predict high flood risk in Bay Area for super El Niño 8/6/26
- Lake County Record-Bee: El Nino cycle signals cresting current along coast 8/6/26
- Ukiah Daily Journal: “Super El Niño” — A glimpse of the new normal? 8/6/26
- Lost Coast Outpost: Super El Niño Could Bring Heavy Rainfall and Record High Tides This Winter, Plus Summer Lightning in Fire-Prone Regions Across the North Coast, Climate Scientists Warn 8/6/26
- Eureka Times-Standard: Here comes El Niño 8/8/26
- SF Chronicle: Court rules Sonoma County must study impact of water wells on fish, Russian River 8/6/26
- Pacific Institute: 5 Trends Shaping Agricultural Water Use in California, Aug 2026
- PPIC: Testimony: Water Availability and Impacts on California’s Agriculture 8/4/26
- ABC 7: Rep. Jared Huffman tours major Eel River estuary restoration project near Ferndale 8/6/26
- DWR: California Begins a New Era of Water Planning 8/6/26
- Lost Coast Outpost: PADDLER’S PARADISE: Construction Underway on Massive Eel River Estuary Restoration Project That Will Open Up Miles of Public Access at the River’s Mouth 8/7/26
- Action News Now: Precedent set for groundwater testing in Sonoma County could have state-wide implication 8/7/26
- Fresno Bee: Alternative crops on California farms offer options beyond fallowing land | Opinion 8/8/26
- Maven's Notebook, NOW AVAILABLE: 2025 Groundwater Recharge Roundup
- State Water Board (via Maven's Notebook): NOW AVAILABLE: Additional Watershed Demand Visualizations from the State Water Board 8/8/26