Russian River Weekly Update 8/3/26
<Click to view content on website>
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
Recent Notices:
State Water Board Issuance of Notice of Applicability for Potter Valley Project – Lake Pillsbury Reservoir Sediment Sampling
On July 30, 2026, the Executive Director of the State Water Resources Control Board (State Water Board) issued a Notice of Applicability (NOA) for enrollment under Order No. WQ-2025-0066-DWQ for State Water Board Certification and Denial of the Corps’ Nationwide Permits for Pacific Gas & Electric Company’s (PG&E) Potter Valley Project – Lake Pillsbury Reservoir Sediment Sampling (Project). The Project NOA is available on the State Water Board’s webpage at:
If you have questions regarding the NOA, please contact Wilhelmina Chon by email to: Wilhelmina.Chon@waterboards.ca.gov or by phone call to: (916) 319-0745.
State Water Board Issuance of Notice of Applicability for Potter Valley Hydroelectric Project, FERC No. 77-CA PG&E Companion Geotechnical Borings – New Eel-Russian Facility 60% Design Project
On July 30, 2026, the Executive Director of the State Water Resources Control Board (State Water Board) issued a Notice of Applicability (NOA) for enrollment under Order No. WQ-2025-0066-DWQ for State Water Board Certification and Denial of the Corps’ Nationwide Permits for Pacific Gas & Electric Company’s (PG&E) Potter Valley Hydroelectric Project, FERC No. 77-CA PG&E Companion Geotechnical Borings – New Eel-Russian Facility 60% Design Project (Project). The Project NOA is available on the State Water Board’s webpage at:
If you have questions regarding the NOA, please contact Truc Le by email to: Truc.Le@waterboards.ca.gov or by phone call to: (916) 323-0062.
Recent articles:
- Lost Coast Outpost: (CORRECTION) FERC OFF: Federal Agency Tosses Southern California Water Agency’s Bid to Take Over Eel River Water Rights 7/27/26
- Active Nor Cal: A Southern California Water Agency Tried to Take Over Two Eel River Dams. Federal Regulators Just Said No. 7/28/26
- Press Democrat: Federal agency rejects Southern California water district’s bid to intervene in PG&E’s plans to remove 2 Eel River dams 7/28/26
- Press Democrat Editorial: FERC makes right decision denying Southern California water agency bid
- E&E News by Politico: President allies hit setback in fight to save California’s Potter Valley dams
- Politico: The dams that launched a MAGA crusade 7/29/26
Urban Streams Restoration Projects: Meaningful and Direct Benefits, August 4, 2026 11:00am - 12:00pm
Join Urban Streams Restoration Program Lead Esther Tracy for a discussion on planning for meaningful and direct benefits in your restoration project. Engage with other like-minded practitioners and celebrate the benefits you bring to your communities. Visit website online for more information and email usrpinfo@water.ca.gov to join the mailing list.
Microsoft Teams: Meeting Link Meeting ID: 297 911 706 402 7 Passcode: ui66xs7b
Dial in by phone: +1 916-573-2034,,357516712# United States, Sacramento
Find a local number Phone conference ID: 357 516 712#
WEBINAR: California Water Boards Equity Data Handbook & Tribal Data Mapping Tool Demonstrations August 5, 2026 9-10 AM
Hosted by the State Water Board Equity Workgroup, this webinar will provide background information, recent updates, and live demonstrations of two important resources being developed and implemented at the Water Boards.
- The first featured resource is the Equity Data Handbook. Currently being rolled out across the Water Boards, this comprehensive guide offers practical advice, resources, and best practices for incorporating equity into all aspects of data-related work.
- The second resource is the Tribal Data Mapping Tool. Developed in close collaboration with Tribal partners since 2021, this tool is intended to raise awareness and accessibility of data sets that are especially important to Tribes for advancing their environmental efforts.
August 5 Equity Workgroup Meeting Registration
Information for all scheduled Equity Workgroup meetings, will also be posted on the Meetings page.
In the press:
- DWR Weekly Water Highlights — July 29, 2026
- Maven's Notebook Weekly edition July 27-31, 2026
- Maven's Notebook Weekend Edition 8/2/26
- DWR: Sustainable Groundwater Management News: July 2026
- DWR: Update on Proposition 4 SGM & Watershed Resilience
- Weather West: Building Western ridge will bring double-peaked Southwest U.S. heatwave into August, with elevated humidity persisting in SoCal due to very warm ocean 7/28/26
- August Abacela Weather-Climate Summary and Forecast is now available here.
- Fishbio: 7/27/26
- Nor Cal Public Radio: El Niño in Northern California: What Sonoma County could expect this year 7/27/26
- Maven's Notebook: RESEARCH ARTICLE: Porous pavement shows promise for reducing roadway runoff pollution 7/30/26
- Maven's Notebook: Cleaning water with co-benefits: Case studies with beavers and porous pavement 7/30/26