$2 million grant awarded to Sonoma Water to assist in fishstock diversion from Eel River

Sonoma Water received a $2 million grant to boost efforts to divert the Eel River to the Russian River with the least possible impact on salmon and steelhead.

The funding was announced in mid December by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation and comes from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which was co-authored by North Bay US Representative Jared Huffman.

“Funding for this design work represents a major milestone in the progress toward a true regional solution for the Potter Valley Project,” said Sonoma County Supervisor James Gore, who also serves on the Sonoma Water Board of Directors. “We’re grateful to Congressman Huffman for his efforts and advocacy in securing this grant. Through this planning process, we hope to create the best possible outcome for fish in the Eel River while also continuing critical diversions into the Russian River.”

According to a press release, Rep. Huffman personally advocated for this grant, which is a part of the Bureau of Reclamation’s WaterSMART program. The program aims to support the study, design and construction of collaboratively developed ecosystem restoration projects that provide widespread regional benefits and improve the health of fisheries, wildlife and aquatic habitat through restoration and improved fish passage.

The need for funding comes as vital after PG&E’s landmark decision in Nov. 17, 2023 to remove dams along the Eel River. The decomissioning of the Potter Valley Powerhouse and Scott and Cape Horn dams will free the waters of Pillsbury Lake, allowing for the natural restoration of natural fish stocks.

The Potter Valley Project has been diverting water from the Eel River into the Russian River watershed for more than a century, playing a critical role in supplying water for agriculture, homes, and instream flows to benefit aquatic ecosystems and threatened salmonids in Mendocino and Sonoma counties. Stakeholders of the new Eel-Russian Facility proposal sent to PG&E seek to build facilities to continue diversions from the Eel River into the Russian River as well as improving fisheries in the Eel River.

“Now that PG&E has decided to remove the dams, these federal funds will set us up to develop the Two-Basin Solution I have been encouraging for years,” said Rep. Jared Huffman. “In the face of compounding climate change impacts, dam removal and a modern diversion for water will help protect salmon and steelhead while ensuring a dependable water supply.”

Sonoma Water, Mendocino Inland Water and Power Commission, Round Valley Indian Tribes, Trout Unlimited, Humboldt County, Cal Trout, California Department of Fish and Wildlife, and Round Valley Indian Tribes have proposed to continue a diversion to the Russian River in a way that is most protective of fish.

“The Round Valley Indian Tribes are grateful that this funding is being provided to advance implementation of the Two Basin Solution, and we thank Rep. Huffman for his leadership on these issues,” said President Lewis Whipple of the Round Valley Indian Tribes.

Two decades ago, coho salmon were on the brink of extinction within the Russian River watershed, according to California Sea Grant, an organization funded by NOAA that works closely with Sonoma Water to monitor native fish stock in the Russian River. Today, California Sea Grant notes that adult salmon return to the Russian River by the hundreds each winter.

PG&E’s final application is expected to be submitted by Jan. 29, 2025 and dam removal is expected to begin in 2028.