Mendocino County Inland Water & Power Commission (MCIWPC) held its regular meeting on January 16, 2025, with a focus on real property negotiations concerning the Potter Valley Project. The first two hours of the meeting were held in closed session, leaving limited time for public agenda items. Despite the shortened timeframe, key discussions included PG&E’s anticipated release of the final draft Surrender Application, a public meeting announcement, and updates on the ongoing water storage studies in Potter Valley. Additionally, progress on the Eel-Russian Project Authority and the Coyote Dam study were briefly touched on, with some agenda items postponed until the next meeting.
The first two hours of the MCIWPC meeting took place in closed session. The meeting agenda said the subject was “conference with real property negotiators,” including attorneys, about the price and terms of the Potter Valley Project. This was about the planned new seasonal diversion.
This left very little time for the public items on the agenda. A couple of highlights:
- It is expected that PG&E will release the final draft Surrender Application on January 31. PG&E will meet with tribal representatives and water agencies in Ukiah on February 6 to discuss the changes coming to the Potter Valley Project.
The Board is working to secure funding for extension of the contract with consulting firm Jacobs about finding solutions for water storage in Potter Valley. The previous contract expired on December 31. It needs to be extended for approximately $70,000 worth of continuing work this year.
A video narration of the slides from the November 14, 2024 Town Hall meeting in Potter Valley presented by consultants from Jacobs has been posted. Potter Valley Town Hall Meeting slides and narration. The audio quality of the original recording was poor, and the slides have been released with a narrated voiceover.
There is nothing new to report on the Eel-Russian Project Authority. They are waiting for PG&E’s final draft Surrender Application.
Regarding the study to raise Coyote Dam at Lake Mendocino, the Army Corps of Engineers is working with consulting firm KP. Discussion of this was pushed to the next meeting due to lack of time.
Also pushed to the next meeting was the discussion of the National Marine Fisheries Service listing of the Coho Salmon and Steelhead as threatened.
The next regular MCIWPC meeting is set for February 13, 2025 at 6:00 pm. Because they ran out of time to address all the agenda items on January 16, there may be an interim meeting scheduled before February 13.
We are working on a correction, but just to let everyone know in the meantime, a rep from PG&E contacted me to let me know that the Feb. 6 meeting in Ukiah is not open to the public.