Town hall in Lakeport unites voices to save Lake Pillsbury

Passionate community members, elected officials, and tribal and environmental advocates gathered at the Soper Reese Theater on May 28 for a town hall meeting focused on the uncertain future of Lake Pillsbury and the potential removal of Scott Dam. Hosted by the Lake County Chamber of Commerce, the event highlighted competing concerns about water access, wildfire risk, economic impact, and ecological restoration as PG&E moves forward with surrendering its license for the Potter Valley Project.

The panel included Lake County Supervisors E.J. Crandall and Bruno Sabatier; Cloverdale Mayor Todd Lands; Lake Pillsbury Fire Chief Larry Thompson; Lake Pillsbury Alliance members Carol Cinquini and Frank Lynch; Round Valley Indian Tribes member Nikcole Whipple; and Deb Sally, representing the Sierra Club. Amanda Martin, executive director of the Lake County Chamber of Commerce, moderated the discussion. Congressman Mike Thompson addressed the audience via pre-recorded video remarks.

Background: PG&E’s Plan to Surrender the Potter Valley Project

Constructed over a century ago, the Potter Valley Project (PVP) includes Scott Dam at Lake Pillsbury, Cape Horn Dam at Van Arsdale Reservoir, and a tunnel diverting water into the Russian River watershed. Originally built to generate hydroelectric power for Ukiah, the project is now considered economically unviable by PG&E, which announced in 2019 it would surrender its license. With no new operator stepping forward, the project is on a path toward decommissioning, overseen by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

Local Officials Demand Inclusion, Transparency

Supervisors Crandall and Sabatier, who have both advocated for Lake County’s interests throughout the surrender process, expressed frustration that Lake County was not included in negotiations that produced a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between stakeholders in Humboldt, Mendocino, and Sonoma counties.

“What is happening in Lake Pillsbury is horrifying from my perspective,” Sabatier said, criticizing the surrender plan as incomplete and lacking crucial details on fire mitigation, ecological restoration, and future water access. “We don’t know any of those things until it’s already been approved … which leaves us in a very volatile situation.”

Crandall emphasized the economic and safety stakes for Lake County, citing an estimated $850,000 in lost annual tax revenue and $40 million in potential property devaluation. He warned that dam removal could compromise water access for hundreds of well-dependent properties in a remote area with no public utility system. The lake, he added, is a vital source of water for firefighting.

- Advertisement -

“We don’t talk about the number of small fires that have been put out,” Crandall said. “Those are uncounted. They don’t make the list, but it happens all the time.”

Competing Visions: Ecological Justice, Water Security, and Fire Risk

Congressman Mike Thompson, who represents both Lake County and downstream communities such as Santa Rosa, acknowledged the tension between constituencies and called for balance. In his video remarks, he described PG&E’s plan as containing a “serious lack of detail” and affirmed that “the economic impact on Lake County is significant and must not be taken lightly.” PG&E disputes the county’s tax loss estimate, suggesting a figure closer to $100,000.

Carol Cinquini of the Lake Pillsbury Alliance called Lake Pillsbury “the heartbeat” of the Mendocino National Forest and stressed its role in local recreation, wildlife habitat, and regional water supply. She warned the true cost of decommissioning could exceed $2 billion if restoration, fire mitigation, and long-term monitoring are included. “We want a full evaluation of the feasibility of modernizing Scott Dam,” she said.

Frank Lynch echoed those concerns, advocating for a full feasibility study before irreversible decisions are made.

Nikcole Whipple, a Round Valley Indian Tribes member and environmental advocate, offered a different view. She expressed strong support for eventual dam removal but said interim water diversions should continue until Russian River communities become more self-reliant.

“I am a very strong advocate for the Eel, anti-dam and anti-diversion,” Whipple said. However, she acknowledged the region’s current dependence on the system. She emphasized the long-standing exclusion of tribal voices from water management decisions. “These are all the tribes and tribal people who have been left out of this conversation for over 100 years.”

Fire Readiness and Infrastructure Concerns

Cloverdale Mayor Todd Lands said dwindling water diversions over the past two decades—from 150,000 acre-feet to about 39,000—have strained local infrastructure and imperiled firefighting capabilities. “Now you can look at all the wineries and vineyards in the area to support a huge economy,” he said. Lands criticized the MOU negotiations as opaque and exclusive, conducted via ad hoc committees outside public oversight.

He referenced a 2018 study proposing the installation of a new fish ladder at Scott Dam as a cost-effective alternative to full dam removal, which he said was dismissed by environmental advocates. “If the dam did not come out, it was not an option,” he said.

Deb Sally of the Sierra Club’s Lake County chapter said her organization supports dam removal and would like to see investment in restoration and new recreational opportunities in the Lake Pillsbury basin. She also cited seismic safety concerns as a major factor.

- Advertisement -

Firefighters Sound the Alarm

Lake Pillsbury Fire Chief Larry Thompson, who has battled some of the largest wildfires in state history, warned that without the lake, firefighters would lose a critical water source and firebreak. He showed dramatic images of aircraft scooping water from the lake and called Lake Pillsbury “our first and last line of defense.”

“We owe it to every family, every visitor, and every firefighter to fight for a water system that protects us all,” Thompson said.

- Advertisement -