Tuesday, November 5, 2024

Lake County’s Push to Preserve Lake Pillsbury Gets $700K Boost for Impact Study

The following is a press release issued by the County of Lake:


Scott Dam, with Lake Pillsbury behind it, all part of the Potter Valley Project [Picture via California Trout taken by Mike Wier]

The Lake County Board of Supervisors has been steadfast in affirming Scott Dam remaining in place as a significant matter of priority. Efforts to demonstrate and articulate the regional value of Lake Pillsbury can be strengthened by gathering additional data. 600,000 Californians depend on water releases from Lake Pillsbury and the Potter Valley Project for drinking and agricultural water security, and adequate water supply is essential to every facet of our daily lives. 

Further, should Pacific Gas and Electric Company ultimately succeed in gaining Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) approval to remove Scott Dam, it is essential we understand the potential effects and threats that may accompany that profound change.

$700,000 in Water Shortage Management Program Funds Will Support Greater Understanding

With the intent of protecting regional water security at the forefront, the County of Lake is excited to announce the California Department of Water Resources has committed $700,000 in Water Shortage Management Program funding to support the “Lake County Resource Assessment, Impact Analysis, and Adaptation Strategy Evaluation Project.”  This project will provide for analysis of the potential effects of PG&E’s proposed decommissioning of Scott Dam across domains including the following:

  • Recreation;
  • Wildfire suppression;
  • Ecosystem;
  • Power;
  • Sediment;
  • Water supply; and
  • Infrastructure (e.g., roads).

Funding will likewise support the following tasks:

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Identify Potter Valley Project Decommissioning and Climate Change Scenarios

Perform modelling of existing conditions, plus one or two decommissioning scenarios. Perform Climate Change modelling and include scenarios that explore extreme drought and flood conditions in the Upper Eel River watershed. 

Evaluate Impacts to Resources and Develop Adaptation Strategies

Technical impact analysis includes hydrological, hydraulic, and sediment modeling of the Upper Eel River and Lake Pillsbury; recreational impacts analysis; GIS and bathymetry data analysis, and economic modeling. Once impacts are identified, potential adaptation strategies will be developed.

Evaluate Adaptation Strategies for Potential Implementation

Evaluate factors like technical complexity, cost, environmental concerns, social, and other considerations related to implementation of adaptation strategies. 

Report Findings

Summarize the process, results, and key findings. 

RFP No. 24-32 is Out Now – Interested Firms Are Encouraged to Respond

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RFP No. 24-32 has been issued, seeking qualified firms to further define and conduct this critical analysis.

This is truly an opportunity to make a difference in Lake County and California’s future, and we are seeking firms to help ensure studies and analyses are highly effective, and can inform efforts to ensure the most responsible decision-making possible in 2025’s Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) P-77 Proceedings.

Interested parties are encouraged to visit https://lakecountyca.gov/Bids.aspx!

Lake Pillsbury is a Lake County Gem

To see the beautiful landscapes, some of the wildlife that call Lake Pillsbury home, learn more about the community that has grown around Scott Dam, and more, watch this video, presented at an October meeting of the Russian River Water Forum.

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4 COMMENTS

  1. Thank you for this article. The video is spot on about the reasons and value, and necessity to keep Lake Pilsbury. The legacy is something that should never have or will be in danger of destruction. It’s interesting that just a few years ago the horrible history making drought & fire years have been totally forgotten by politicians and agencies wanting dam removal. Water storage is mandatory in cilmate change. Saving wildlife ecosystems is mandatory in this time of earths changes. The fact that PG & E has been neglecting green energy producing and enviormental ecosystems that it originally created and made, shows the money has been mismanaged and infrastructure neglected by administrators for years. I am glad to see the wake up call …after the horrendous result of other dam removals north of us. Most residents know that Pilsbury is a treasure worth saving.
    California government has always claimed to be enviormently conscientious. The destruction of this lake shows the opposite. California Governor Newsom really hasn’t shown any care about this precious natural treasure or Northern Californians water sustainability of supplies…If he did….where is his voice on this?

  2. The other impact no one seems to care about is the impact on the property values for all the property owners around Lake Pillsbury and those who rely on the water downstream. If this impact is severe will the counties be prepared for the potential loss in taxable values?

  3. Glad to see efforts for further study data. I love the idea of preserving Lake Pillsbury with it current dam. I think one great reason is to protect downstream near the river properties from flooding. Global Warming shifts could bring record rains in our future. Big Question in my mind: What studies have been submitted for potential downstream floods if that dam is removed. Please put a spotlight on em, if they exist.

  4. Recently heard the sediment buildup behind dam would be a disaster flushing down the river. I can easily believe that (without any need for further expensive studies), after seeing a YouTube clip this morning entitled “Tension Rise Amid Klamath Dam Removals”. Looks like story of self inflicted disaster. Check out that 16 minute clip.

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MendoFever Staff
MendoFever Staff
Editor's Note: Whenever an article's byline reads "MendoFever Staff", the contents of that article were not composed by any of our reporters. Types of writing that will be attributed to "MendoFever Staff" include press releases, letters to the editor, op-eds, obituaries— essentially writing that is not produced by a reporter.

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