Russian River Weekly UPdate 8/24/26

Wine grapes in Mendocino County, by E Salomone, September 2023

Reservoir Storage & Operations:

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

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

2026, 8-19 PG&E's PVP August Storage Report.pdf

Data on water storage levels for Lake Mendocino, Lake Pillsbury, and Lake Sonoma, with recent changes in acre-feet noted.

The image shows a graph of Lake Mendocino's water storage levels from 2019 to 2026, measured in acre-feet.

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

The chart shows Lake Sonoma's storage levels from 2019 to 2026, with various curves indicating projected capacity over time.

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

Press Release:

IWPC announces: Work Underway to Advance Plans for Continued Diversions through the Potter Valley Project

2026, 8-18 IWPC Press Release - PR 3-technical work & planning.pdf

New Modeling Confirms Water Will Be Available Through Future New Eel-Russian Diversion Facility

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.

New State Water Board Measurement and Reporting Rules: What Water Rights Holders Need to Know by October 2026

California water rights holders should be preparing now for substantial changes to the State Water Resources Control Board’s (State Board) water diversion measurement and reporting framework.

Learn more in this article from Allen Matkins Law Firm.

New “Voices From The Field” webinar series starts with El Niño

Sustainable Conservation kicks off its “Fall 2026 Voices from the Field” webinar series on Thursday, August 26. This hour-long webinar starts at 1 p.m. and features climate scientist Daniel Swain, PhD. He will explain what El Niño is and what a particularly strong El Niño year could mean for California weather, water, and agriculture. Learn about the science and climate context behind this year’s El Niño (forecasted to be among the strongest on record), and find out about the broader climate variability, long-term warming patterns, and what this all could mean for California communities. Registration for this webinar is open now.

California Natural Resources Agency Hosts Discussion on Protecting California from Extreme Heat Tuesday, August 25 from noon to 1pm

Dangerous heat waves are worsening across the world, and California is not immune. Seniors, children, outdoor workers, and communities with limited access to cooling face the greatest danger. Join Secretary Wade Crowfoot, state, and community leaders to explore California’s updated Extreme Heat Action Plan. From improving heat warnings to shading streets to incorporating new technologies, join us to unpack what’s underway and being planned to protect our communities. Link to Registration

In the press:

El Niño related:

Other: