Updates
Weekly Updates linked in the side bar >
MOST RECENT UPDATES:
PG&E Announces Changes to Future Potter Valley Project Operations
- PG&E issued a press release on 3/16/23: Water Levels at Lake Pillsbury to be Lower this Year. In summary, after a regular seismic analyses, the level of risk around seismic performance at Scott Dam has led to PG&E’s decision to not only abandon the closure of the spill gates that impound additional storage but from this point forward, storage at Lake Pillsbury will be reduced to 74% of capacity. This results in less water available both for Eel River summer flows and in the summer diversions of water to the East Fork Russian River, similar to conditions experience in 2021. More information can be found:
- Press Democrat article - Scott Dam gates to stay open, meaning Lake Pillsbury diversions to remain at drought levels, 3/16/23.
- KZYX - Spillway gates on Scott Dam to remain open, curtailing flow into East Branch, 3/18/23
- 2023, 3-21 Thompson let to FERC re Seismic Scott Dam impacts.pdf
- 2023, 3-28 FERC response to PGE Seismic Scott Dam actions.pdf
- 2023, 4-4 Lake County letter to FERC re Seismic issue.pdf
- 2023, 4-12 DSOD to PGE, Scott Dam seismic.pdf
- 2023, 4-28 FERC to PGE, Seismic Stability and IRRM Letter.pdf
Curtailment Orders Rescinded for the Russian River Watershed
Effective immediately, the Deputy Director for the Division of Water Rights (Division) is rescinding all curtailment orders issued pursuant to the drought emergency regulation in the Russian River watershed. In June 2022, the Division of Water Rights issued “Orders Regarding Curtailment Status” to each water right holder in the Russian River watershed. The orders required water right holders to monitor a “Curtailment Status List” and stop or reduce diversions when the list showed their water right was curtailed. Following the Governor’s recent Executive Order (N-5-23), and in consideration of reservoir storage conditions and continued precipitation throughout the region, the curtailment orders are no longer needed in the Russian River Watershed.
As a result of this rescission, water right holders will no longer be subject to the curtailment requirements under the drought emergency regulation, such as checking curtailment status, restrictions on riparian diversions, and reporting for human health and safety exceptions. Please note that this rescission does not eliminate or pause ongoing or pending enforcement actions and related settlements.
If you have any questions, please contact the Division of Water Rights at RussianRiverDrought@waterboards.ca.gov or (916) 341-5318.
