With golden eagles soaring above the glassy surface of a full Lake Mendocino, local leaders and federal officials gathered at the edge of Coyote Dam on April 11 for a momentous signing ceremony that could reshape the region’s water future. Against a backdrop of tribal songs and tight security, Congressman Jared Huffman and a coalition of partners formally launched a long-awaited feasibility study to raise and modernize the dam—an ambitious step toward water security, drought resilience, and tribal inclusion in water management for generations to come.
The ceremony opened with a prayer sung by Sonny Elliott, Chair of the Hopland Band of Pomo Indians, as golden eagles soared overhead. A small, invitation-only crowd gathered at the foot of Coyote Dam, with CHP officers and Lake Mendocino rangers posted nearby.
The feasibility study, officially launched at the event, is a collaboration between the Army Corps of Engineers and two non-government partners: the Mendocino County Inland Power and Water Commission (MCIWPC) and the Lytton Band of Pomo Indians from the Lytton Rancheria in Windsor. The study will evaluate the potential to raise and modernize the dam, increasing the lake’s capacity and strengthening regional drought resilience.
Janet Pauli, Chair of the MCIWPC, described the initiative as the revival of a long-standing vision first proposed in the 1950s and revived in 2005 amid growing concerns over water scarcity and shifting regulations. “It is appropriate to partner with the Corps,” Pauli said, citing the 2024 Water Resources Development Act, which directs the agency to prioritize water supply, conservation, and drought resilience in its projects.
In the 1950s, Congress authorized the Army Corps of Engineers to build three projects: Coyote Dam and Lake Mendocino, Warm Springs Dam and Lake Sonoma, and the third project was to raise Coyote Dam by 36 feet. Raising the dam was never completed. Pauli said, “It is appropriate to partner with the Corps, particularly in light of the Water Resources Development Act of 2024, where Section 1161 includes directions to the Corps to ‘maximize opportunities for water supply, water conservation measures, and drought resiliency efforts,’ and in the operation of water resources development projects. It also further directs the Corps to ‘participate with states and local interests in developing water supplies for domestic, municipal, industrial, and other purposes’. . . .”
Pauli introduced Congressman Jared Huffman, “who has been a strong supporter of renewing this feasibility study and for securing initial funding, which makes today’s event possible, and moving forward with this process.”
Huffman said he has been working on this project with Pauli since he came to Congress, 13 years ago. Huffman called the partnership with the Lytton Rancheria and Chairman Andy Mejia “an exciting new chapter in this effort.” Huffman was enthusiastic about working with the Army Corps of Engineers and told Colonel Shebesta, “You and your team have just been fantastic. You have just had a can-do attitude about this all the way through. . . .” The Army Corps is now charged with working on secure water supplies, and “there are just so many reasons to take a new look at this and a new approach. Water from this lake right here, which thankfully is full right now, at pretty historic levels, is incredibly important.” Water from Lake Mendocino is used for municipal and agricultural uses, for fish and wildlife in the Russian River, and for wildfire protection. The study will look at flood protection and improved water quality in the Russian River.
Huffman said Ukiah Valley Water Authority’s Sean White has “really helped to spotlight the importance of fixing the turbidity problems and doing right by the resources in the Russian River, which is another important fishery that could benefit tremendously from this work that we are about to undertake today.” Huffman called the inadequate storage in Lake Mendocino “a threat to people and wildlife.” The uncertainty surrounding PG&E’s removal of the “antiquated Potter Valley Project system,” is also an opportunity to work on the Two Basin Solution for the Eel and Russian Rivers, which “can actually take care of the water needs of this basin for decades to come.”
Colonel Timothy Shebesta, USACE San Francisco District Commander, spoke about the study and other changes that are coming to Lake Mendocino. Colonel Shebesta thanked Congressman Huffman, and said, “I’m confident the study will investigate all of the project’s alternatives.”
Lytton Rancheria Chairman Andy Mejia said, “Today’s signing represents far more than just the start of a study. It’s the beginning of a partnership built on collaboration, respect and shared purpose. For the Lytton Rancheria, it’s also a powerful step forward in reclaiming a voice and how water resources in our ancestral territory are managed. Water is life and for far too long tribal voices have been left out of the major decisions about water supply, ecosystem restoration, and long-term planning. The feasibility cost share agreement opens a new chapter, one where we are not just stakeholders, but co-creators on a better path forward.”
First District Supervisor Madeline Cline, who represents the County on the board of the MCIWPC, thanked Congressman Huffman, and said, “I would be remiss not to thank Janet Pauli, Chair of the Inland Water and Power Commission, whose dedication is unmatched.” Pauli, whose family owns farms in Potter Valley and other areas of the County, has been a driving force in working to secure Potter Valley’s water supply after PG&E announced its decision to abandon the Potter Valley Project.
Mendocino County Supervisors Maureen Mulheren and John Haschak were also present, along with UVWA’s Sean White and Ukiah attorney Phil Williams, as well as representatives from Sonoma Water and MCIWPC Commissioners.
Expert sources told MendoFever that the feasibility study is expected to take three years, and that actual raising of the dam is years away after that.
After the signing, we spoke to Katrina Kessen of the Greater Ukiah Business and Tourism Alliance, who was manning a table with refreshments and a poster announcing the Lake Mendocino Festival of Lanterns on May 23 at 6:30 pm. Participants will decorate floating lanterns containing small electronic candles, not real flames, which will be floated on the lake as the sun sets. Kayakers will be standing by to gather up the lanterns after the event. Food trucks will be on hand. The ACOE is working with GUBTA to create a park at Lake Mendocino modeled on the Tunnel Tops Park at the Presidio in San Francisco, which has beautiful playgrounds made of huge pieces of driftwood, landscaped with native plants.
Hopefully this study includes building new campgrounds, raising the lake will flood campgrounds. The campgrounds bring tourism dollars into the county.
After spending much time and many dollars building picnic shelters and restrooms on the edge of the northwest shore of the lake.
The vineyards and wineries in southern Mendocino county bring in more. Better paying jobs too.
Love it or hate it, wine is a major part of our economy.
Maybe with enough water the dirty smelly hippies can bathe, including shaving?
Golden eagles? I don’t think so. Lol
Actually, they are seen flying at Lake Mendocino from time to time. There are about 30 pair of nesting Golden Eages in Mendo County.
I paid for a subscription to Mendo Fever & my check was cashed on Oct 4,2024. For whatever reason it isn’t acknowledged. ??
A good idea but it seems the Corps of Engineers have let the lake and all the campgrounds etc. totally deteriorate. Most of us who have lived here for awhile can remember what a jewel it used to be. If they can’t take care of it now how will they take care of something much bigger?
I believe the Corps of Engineers have faced huge budget cuts for a few years. A Corps of Engineers employee told me a few years back that they were extremely short handed. I also believe FEMA leased the property for survivors to camp after the Paradise Fire.
why lytton rancheria but not coyote valley???
Good question but a better question would be why would the Coyote valley tribe support anything regarding lake Mendocino?
After all their original rancheria in addition to the ancient village sites and hundreds if not thousands of their relatives and ancestors have been covered by a watery grave since what 1957?
In addition to their fishing grounds ceremonial sites and roundhouses and the valley where they harvested tubers and grasses etcetera for many centuries for basket making and medicinal purposes.
A huge thank you to Janet Pauli for her many years of dedication and service to this effort. She has been a champion!
Three years to complete the study then several more years before they might take steps to raise the dam? This is either a long game or a way to calm down the local Ag community jitters while they decommission the Scott’s valley dam in the meantime.
If they can afford to raise the dam at Lake Mendocino then they can afford to seismically retrofit Scott Dam at Lake Pillsbury. And preserve Lake Pillsbury.
[…] “With golden eagles soaring above the glassy surface of a full Lake Mendocino, local leaders and federal officials gathered at the edge of Coyote Dam on April 11 for a momentous signing ceremony that could reshape the region’s water future. Against a backdrop of tribal songs and tight security, Congressman Jared Huffman and a coalition of partners formally launched a long-awaited feasibility study to raise and modernize the dam—an ambitious step toward water security, drought resilience, and tribal inclusion in water management for generations to come. The ceremony opened with a prayer sung by Sonny Elliott, Chair of the Hopland Band of Pomo Indians, as golden eagles soared overhead. A small, invitation-only crowd gathered at the foot of Coyote Dam, with CHP officers and Lake Mendocino rangers posted nearby. … ” Read more from Mendo Fever. […]
If they raise the dam 36′ how much does that actually vertically raise the water level? What is the increase in acre-feet capacity?
This confuses me. Isn’t Jared Huffman the one whom wants Lake Pilsbury gone and Scott dam destroyed. Water that fills the lake comes from Pilsbury. So water will dry up & no water especially during drought will go to Lake Mendocino? So why spend tons of money on art survey & spend lots more to raise the lake, if no water coming down from Pilsbury to fill Lake Mendocino? Makes no sense at all.
This confuses me. Isn’t Jared Huffman the one whom wants Lake Pilsbury gone and Scott dam destroyed. Water that fills the lake comes from Pilsbury. So water will dry up & no water especially during drought will go to Lake Mendocino? So why spend tons of money on a survey & spend lots more to raise the lake, if no water coming down from Pilsbury to fill Lake Mendocino? Makes no sense at all.
Huffman needs a security detail? What a self righteous ass. Most people could care less what he is doing, which is very little.