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PG&E Files a Long-Term Flow Regime Request Due to Restricted Storage Capacity to FERC

UPDATED FEBRUARY 2024: The drought variance will end when Lake Pillsbury storage exceeds 36,000 AF after October 1, 2024, or is superseded by another variance or license amendment. The
36,000 AF storage threshold would allow the reservoir to meet minimum flow
obligations, including a possible Blockwater release, through January 2025 if inflow
is extremely low in early winter:

UPDATED  OCTOBER 2023: From the PG&E 2024 Flow Variance Request: "...FERC requested PG&E to file an application to amend the license to leave the spillway gates open indefinitely. Currently, PG&E has initiated the internal process to prepare the license amendment." 

On July 31, 2023, PG&E filed a Long-Term Flow Regime Request Due to Restricted Storage Capacity to FERC, a copy of which can be found linked below. The long-term variance is very similar to the 2023 short term variance that FERC is currently reviewing, with added provisions for winter diversions.

On October 4, 2023, FERC responded, requesting further information on multiple points.

•  MendoFever: PG&E Wants to Dial Back Water Released into the Russian River from Lake Pillsbury, 8/6/23

Scott Dam Conditions Lead to Lower Lake Pillsbury Levels

MARCH 2023: PG&E Announces Changes to Future Potter Valley Project Operations

• PG&E issued a press release on 3/16/23: Water Levels at Lake Pillsbury to be Lower this Year. In summary, after a regular seismic analyses, the level of risk around seismic performance at Scott Dam has led to PG&E’s decision to not only abandon the closure of the spill gates that impound additional storage but from this point forward, storage at Lake Pillsbury will be reduced to 74% of capacity. This results in less water available both for Eel River summer flows and in the summer diversions of water to the East Fork Russian River, similar to conditions experience in 2021. More information can be found:
   
• Press Democrat article - Scott Dam gates to stay open, meaning Lake Pillsbury diversions to remain at drought levels, 3/16/23.
• KZYX - Spillway gates on Scott Dam to remain open, curtailing flow into East Branch, 3/18/23
• 2023, 3-21 Thompson let to FERC re Seismic Scott Dam impacts.pdf 
• 2023, 3-28 FERC response to PGE Seismic Scott Dam actions.pdf 
• 2023, 4-4 Lake County letter to FERC re Seismic issue.pdf 
• 2023, 4-12 DSOD to PGE, Scott Dam seismic.pdf 
• 2023, 4-28 FERC to PGE, Seismic Stability and IRRM Letter.pdf 

Op-Eds:

• Mendo Fever Op Ed by Adam Gaska: A tale of two rivers in Mendocino County: Where the Eel and Russian Rivers meet, 9/15/24
• Mendo Fever Op Ed by Adam Gaska: If the Russian River goes dry, affluent Marin County Has as much at stake as Mendocino, 2/18/24

Other:

• Times Standard: Multiple groups wary of new Potter Valley Project plan, 8/10/23
• PPIC: Defining Community Is Slippery on the Eel River, 8/10/23
• Mendo Fever: PG&E Wants to Dial Back Water Released Into the Russian River from Lake Pillsbury, 8/6/23
• Redheaded Blackbelt: PG&E Plans to Remove Both Potter Valley Project Dams , 5/18/23
• Mendo Voice: Environmental, fisheries groups sue PG&E over Potter Valley Project operations, 5/17/23
• Lost Coast Outpost: Fishing and Conservation Groups Sue PG&E Alleging Harm to Salmon and Steelhead on the Eel River, 5/16/23
• Sonoma State Star: PG&E may be dammed with Eel River safety concerns, 4/25/23
• The Revelator: Could California’s Next Dam Removal Take Place on This Endangered River?, 4/19/23
• Lost Coast Outpost: THE ECONEWS REPORT: Scott Dam and its Shaky Seismic Stability, 4/1/23
• KZYX: Spillway gates on Scott Dam to remain open, curtailing flow into East Branch, 3/18/23
• Press Democrat: Scott Dam gates to stay open, meaning Lake Pillsbury diversions to remain at drought levels, 3/16/23
• Nor Cal Public Media: Santa Rosa looks to shore up strategy to keep Eel River water available for use, 11/7/22
• KZYX: Regulatory agency approves reduced flows through Potter Valley Project, 9/29/22
• PPIC: An Opportunity to Restore Fish Abundance on the Eel Rive, 7/16/2019