Russian River Weekly Update 8/17/26

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Ukiah Valley grapevines, July 2024 by E Salomone

Reservoir Storage & Operations:

PG&E submitted the July Reservoir Storage Report to FERC:

2026, 8-15 PG&E's PVP July Storage Report.pdf

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

The image shows lake storage data for Mendocino, Pillsbury, and Sonoma, including current storage, targets, and changes over 7 days.

Graph showing Lake Mendocino's water storage levels from 2019 to 2026, with specific data for August 17, 2026.

The graph shows Lake Pillsbury's storage levels and target scenarios from 2019 to 2026, with projections for various target levels.

The graph shows Lake Sonoma's storage levels (in acre-feet) over several years, projecting a target of 243,076 acre-feet for August 2026.

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

FERC has noticed two additional public scoping sessions to collect comments on the scope of the environmental issues that should be analyzed in the NEPA document. All interested individuals, resource agencies, Native American Tribes, and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) are invited to attend one or both of the sessions.

These additional sessions will follow the format of the June 23 and 24, 2026 sessions. There will be no formal presentations at either session. Numbered tickets will be handed out on a first-come, first-serve basis; individuals will be called in order by ticket number to provide oral comments to be transcribed by a stenographer for the formal record. Time limits on oral comments may be enforced to ensure those wishing to comment have the opportunity to do so. The times and locations of the additional scoping sessions are as follows:

Evening Scoping Session
DATE: Tuesday, September 15, 2026
TIME: 6:00 p.m.- 8:00 p.m. Pacific Time (PT)
PLACE: Wharfinger Building
ADDRESS: 1 Marina Way, Eureka, CA 95501

Daytime Scoping Session
DATE: Wednesday, September 16, 2026
TIME: 9:00 a.m.- 11:00 a.m. (PT)
PLACE: Wharfinger Building
ADDRESS: 1 Marina Way, Eureka, CA 95501

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

In July 2026, Infrastruck Group filed a Motion to Intervene Late in the FERC decommissioning process. FERC denied the late motion on August 12, 2026 and Infrastruck filed a Request for Reconsideration the next day. More information can be found on the RRFC webpage on the Future of the Eel River to Russian River Diversion under the “2026, Interests in Acquiring the Potter Valley Project” dropdown menu.

IWPC Press Release-FERC denial of Infrastruk late MoI, 8.13.26.pdf

Rendering of proposed Eel River pump station

Analysis reinforces the region’s path forward with new diversion infrastructure, secured water rights, and expanded storage to protect long term water reliability following PG&E decommissioning of Potter Valley Project

2026, 8-9 IWPC Press Release - Water Supply Modeling Presentation.pdf

More information on the Districts webpage, select dropdown "Learn About the New Eel Russian Facility"

Sustainable Conservation: El Niño Explained with Dr. Daniel Swain

Scientists are forecasting that this year's El Niño could be among the strongest on record. What exactly is El Niño, why is this year’s climate event drawing so much attention, and what could a particularly strong El Niño year mean for California weather, water, and agriculture? We’ll kick off Sustainable Conservation’s Fall 2026 Voices from the Field webinar series on August 26 with climate scientist Daniel Swain, PhD. He’ll explain the science and climate context behind this year’s El Niño, and we’ll explore broader climate variability, long-term warming patterns, and what this all could mean for California as communities prepare for future climate extremes. Registration

North Coast Resource Partnership Updates

There is a lot going on this Fall in the North Coast and beyond! Check out the North Coast Resource Partnership events blog for events and meetings.

California Natural Resources Agency Hosts Discussion on California’s Growing Invasive Species Threat Thursday, August 20 from noon to 1pm

From golden mussels clogging waterways to invasive weeds fueling wildfires and pests threatening agriculture, invasive species pose a growing threat across California. Their impacts reach far beyond the environment, affecting water supplies, infrastructure, recreation, agriculture, and native wildlife. Join us to learn why this threat is growing and how California is responding through early detection, prevention, and coordinated management to protect our state in coming years. Registration

New Groundwater Survey by CA Water Data Consortium

The California Water Data Consortium has launched a new survey to better understand how groundwater is accounted for across California. The survey targets groundwater managers, consultants, and technical staff who can speak to how groundwater is tracked within a specific groundwater sustainability agency (GSA), basin, or sub-basin. They want to hear from basins at every priority level – High, Medium, Low, and Very Low – as well as adjudicated basins. Survey respondents will remain anonymous, please complete by September 11, 2026. More information: YOUR INPUT WANTED: New Groundwater Survey Invites GSA and Basin Manager Perspectives on Water Accounting in California

In the press:

El Niño: