Two of Mendocino County’s key water agencies—the Inland Power and Water Commission (IWPC) and the Ukiah Valley Basin Groundwater Sustainability Agency (UVBGSA)—met this June to address funding gaps, contractor amendments, and looming questions about long-term water infrastructure and governance. As the region braces for continued drought pressures and state compliance deadlines, both agencies are navigating complex inter-agency negotiations, unexpected cost overruns, and the challenge of maintaining quorums amid member withdrawals.
Inland Power and Water Commission Meeting — June 23, 2025
The Inland Power and Water Commission held a closed session to discuss price and terms of negotiations with PG&E regarding the Potter Valley Project. In open session, Chair Janet Pauli reported that Sonoma Water requested IWPC contribute to cost overruns by Jacobs Consulting for well monitoring and meter installation. Although the possibility of extra costs had been raised in December, an invoice totaling $67,280 was not submitted until the day of the meeting. With the 2025–26 budget already finalized, a payment plan will need to be arranged.
Pauli also noted that Jacobs’ final report is expected soon. The IWPC is seeking a grant to fund recommended aquifer testing in Potter Valley, where early assessments suggest potential groundwater availability. To confirm this, test wells will need to be pumped until depletion, followed by recharge measurements throughout the year. Jacobs will also recommend potential water storage locations—two sites are already under consideration. Of a $2 million grant distributed among members of the Russian River Water Forum, $200,000 has been allocated to Potter Valley’s storage project.
The Eel Russian Project Authority—a joint powers authority that includes IWPC—will convene on July 21 in the Sonoma County Supervisors’ Chambers. The agenda has not yet been posted.
To support consultants and legal work through 2027, IWPC is considering several funding strategies, including a potential parcel tax, bond measure, or sales tax. This will be discussed at the next meeting.
Consultant Eric Nagy reported that the Army Corps of Engineers has officially initiated the feasibility study on raising Coyote Valley Dam at Lake Mendocino. The Corps will begin with several virtual scoping meetings in July, followed by an August site visit and an October planning session. The Corps’ project team is largely unfamiliar with the region and will be introduced to the local context in early meetings.
The study’s estimated cost is between $1.25 and $1.3 million. The Lytton Rancheria’s involvement qualifies the project for tribal participation credits. Continued federal funding is essential for the study to proceed, although the President’s current budget does not include new funding. If needed, Lytton may withdraw from the cost-sharing agreement once the credit is exhausted.
The next IWPC meeting is scheduled for July 18 at 3:00 p.m.
Ukiah Valley Basin Groundwater Sustainability Agency Meeting — June 12, 2025
The UVBGSA Board approved a $1.32 million budget for fiscal year 2025–26—a 48% increase over the previous year. Projected expenses total $1.14 million. The rise in revenue is attributed to a grant from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, a 2.2% fee increase indexed to inflation, and larger-than-expected reserves from the previous fiscal year.
The increased funds will cover costs related to the Interconnected Surface Water and Groundwater Dependent Ecosystems Study and additional requirements for the agency’s Groundwater Sustainability Plan. The Board also authorized annual fee increases—capped at 4%—to be added to local tax rolls. The approved increase for FY25–26 is 2.4%.
Vendor contracts were extended as follows:
- California Land Stewardship Institute: Streamflow gauge monitoring, not to exceed $10,000
- Mendocino County Resource Conservation District: Groundwater elevation monitoring for 26 wells and quality sampling for nine wells, not to exceed $35,622
- West Yost: Administrative services, not to exceed $30,000
- Larry Walker Associates: On-call technical services, not to exceed $75,000
The Upper Russian River Water Agency will officially withdraw from UVBGSA on July 7, creating a vacant board seat. Meanwhile, the current seat representing tribal interests remains inactive, leaving the agency with just four active members—the minimum required for quorum. The Ukiah Valley Water Authority has expressed interest in joining the JPA, and discussions are underway.
Additionally, the agency is exploring a transition of the controller/treasurer role from Mendocino County to either another member agency or the City of Ukiah. This topic will return for discussion at the next meeting, scheduled for August 14.
Supporting documents, budgets, and contracts are available here.
Yikes! So many agencies, studies, and consultants. It’s an overwhelming feat they’re trying to accomplish and time is not on our side. I think everyone affected by the loss of water will wake up when the water is gone. Dam removal is the worst idea ever in the history of this region besides the majority of Lake Mendocino’s water rights being sold to Sonoma County.
You got that right. Complete insanity. But a huge windfall for the tribes. I read hundreds of millions of dollars for river restoration will go to the tribes. If the lake is removed. There are too many hands in the pot. This is more than a leftist environmentalist scheme. This is a financial scheme. By removing Lake Pillsbury there is so much money to be made by so many people. The dams should just be left the way they are. This entire dam removal project is almost criminal. A half billion dollar project. You could build Scott Dam three times over with that much money. Just retrofit the thing and put in a fish ladder like I’ve been saying for years till I am blue in the face.
Exactly! Fix it, don’t replace it!
Meant to say keep the dams!
Of course keep the dam!! It’s so obvious.
The problem is, this backward county voted for leadership who wants to take down the dam. Huffman, gore, all of them, are pandering grifters that should never be in office!