Weekly Update 1/12/26

Ukiah tributary to Gibson Creek, January 5, 2026 by E Salomone
Ukiah tributary to Gibson Creek, January 5, 2026 by E Salomone

 Reservoir Storage & Operations:

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

Storage data for three lakes: Mendocino, Pillsbury, and Sonoma, with current figures and 7-day changes listed.
The chart shows water storage levels in Lake Mendocino from 2020 to 2026, including forecast data and key threshold indicators.
Graph showing Lake Sonoma water storage levels from 2016-2026, highlighting year-to-year changes and key storage thresholds.
The image depicts water storage levels in Lake Pillsbury over different years, comparing actual and target storage curves.

Additional storage graphs for same period:

Lake_Mendocino_Storage_1-12-26.pdfLake_Pillsbury_Storage_1-10-26.pdfLake_Sonoma_Storage_1-12-26.pdf

Sonoma Water Russian River TUCP Approved December 23, 2025

The State Water Resources Control Board approved the Temporary Urgency Change Petition (TUCP) filed by Sonoma Water in November 2025. For more information see https://rrfc.specialdistrict.org/2025-2026-russian-river-and-lake-mendocino-operations or Sonoma Water’s TUCP webpage: www.sonomawater.org/tucp.

PG&E's PVP Flow Variance Ends

PG&E submitted the Potter Valley Hydroelectric Project, FERC No. 77-CA 2025 Temporary Minimum Instream Flow Amendment December Lake Pillsbury Reservoir Storage Report on January 8th. The variance ended December 21, 2025 when Lake Pillsbury reservoir reached the required 36,000 acre feet to end the 2025 flow amendment (aka variance.) For more information see the RRFC webpage on PG&E 2025 PVP operations.

 

PG&E’s Final Surrender Application for Potter Valley Project

Comments Submitted to FERC on Decommissioning:

Note: The number of comments became too cumbersome to track thoroughly. All submissions can be found on the FERC eLibrary website, docket number: P-77-332 https://elibrary.ferc.gov/eLibrary/search

PVP related articles and resources:

 

Sonoma Water Announces the Next Public Policy Facilitating Committee (PPFC) Meeting

The image promotes a public meeting about the Russian River Biological Opinion on January 21, from 2:30-5 p.m. in Santa Rosa.

Please join us for a Public Policy Facilitating Committee (PPFC) on Wednesday January 21, 2026 from 2:30- 5:00 pm at the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors Chambers, 575 Administration Dr. Room 102a, Santa Rosa. This year the PPFC meeting will provide updates on:

  • 2025 Russian River Biological Opinion Summary
  • Lake Mendocino Turbidity
  • Dry Creek Habitat Enhancement Project
  • Reservoir Operations
  • Estuary Management
  • Survival Studies

Past meeting information can be found online at: https://www.sonomawater.org/ppfc

 

Ukiah Valley Basin Groundwater Sustainability Agency – Public Webinar

The Ukiah Valley Basin GSA technical team is holding a public webinar to provide updates and receive comments on the Upper Russian River Groundwater Dependent Ecosystem and Interconnected Surface Water Study. The webinar will be held on Wednesday, January 14th, 11 am - 12 pm PST via Zoom (link here: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/86074412428). A recording will be posted along with information on how to provide comments to the technical team. Contact GSA General Manager Blake Adams (badams@cityofukiah.com) for more information.

 

Climate Change, Human Mobility, and Community Resilience Briefing – Thursday, January 15 at 12 PM

The fourth briefing in our series on climate change and human mobility examines how communities and local governments in California are addressing the growing challenge of climate-induced human mobility and displacement. Our panelists will share best practices for building community resilience across sectors, including expanding healthcare access for communities, leveraging data systems to anticipate migration patterns and coordinate resources, and developing adaptive infrastructure. Register for the Briefing (Zoom)  Download the Event Flyer: Climate Change, Human Mobility, and Community Resilience (PDF)

 

January North Coast Resource Partnership Meeting - Cancelled

The NCRP quarterly meeting scheduled for Friday January 16, 9-1 via zoom has been cancelled. The NCRP will hold an in-person meeting on April 17, 2026 in the Eureka area.

The NCRP welcomes your participation in this meeting, and hopes that you will consider tabling at the resource fair to share information regarding your organization and initiatives. Registration information for this meeting will be sent out in early March. Meeting updates are provided on the NCRP website.

 

📢 State Water Board Announces New Water Rights Reporting System - CalWATRS

CalWATRS, short for California Water Accounting, Tracking, and Reporting System, is the State's new-and-improved water rights data system, replacing the legacy eWRIMS platform. With CalWATRS, water right holders will have a streamlined way to view all their water right records, file annual reports, and request water rights services. CalWATRS successfully launched on Oct. 7, as planned. Learn more about CalWATRS and get the latest updates, visit the CalWATRS webpage.

The State Water Resources Control Board is hosting office hours to support water right holders and agents with the new CalWATRS water rights reporting system. The office hours will provide one-on-one assistance with account registration, reporting, and more – registration is not required. 

Sacramento Office Hours 
Date: January 14, 2026 
Time: 1:00 – 3:00 PM 
Location: CalEPA Headquarters, 1001 I Street, Sacramento, CA 95814  
Note: You will need to check-in and receive a security badge in the lobby. 

Walnut Grove Office Hours 
Date: January 23, 2026 
Time: 12:00 PM – 3:00 PM 
Location: St. Anthony’s Parish, 14012 Walnut Ave., Walnut Grove, CA 95690 

 

 

In the press:

 

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