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Cloverdale council hears extensive update on Potter Valley dams, seeks water-resilience options
Summary
Council received a detailed update on the Potter Valley/PG&E license surrender and possible dam decommissioning, heard Vice Mayor Lance’s outreach to state and federal officials, and discussed next steps for studies, regional coordination and contingency water projects.
Cloverdale — The Cloverdale City Council spent the largest portion of its meeting on an update about the Potter Valley project and potential impacts of PG&E’s pending license surrender for the Potter Valley hydropower facilities.
City Attorney Mogg said the city filed a motion to intervene in the federal proceeding, arguing PG&E’s application did not meaningfully consult downstream communities and left the range of local impacts insufficiently studied. The motion asks regulators to require fuller analysis and mitigation for downstream users such as Cloverdale.
Vice Mayor Lance outlined three years of outreach and confidential negotiations with state and federal agencies, saying Cloverdale has pursued options ranging from dam rehabilitation with fish-passage improvements to alternative diversion schemes. Lance said he obtained seismic reports via public records requests that, in his account, showed the dams were safe to a high standard; he also described efforts to secure federal technical and funding support and to identify private and tribal partners to maintain water supplies for the Russian River basin.
Lance warned that certain diversion scenarios under discussion could reduce average seasonal releases to the Russian River and that, unless mitigated, downstream storage and seasonal diversion rules might not supply the towns that rely on Lake Mendocino. He said Sonoma Water has committed roughly $200,000 for geological work for deeper wells and aquifer recharge studies as part of contingency planning.
Council members stressed the need for fact-based public messaging, careful legal review and regional cooperation. Council member Marquez urged building an initial prioritized water-resiliency project list so Cloverdale can move quickly when funding opportunities arise. Several councilors suggested exploring a regional memorandum of understanding or joint powers authority to ensure the city has a seat at planning tables and to protect ratepayers.
The council did not take a new formal vote on direction at the meeting but directed staff to continue work with regional partners, prepare prioritized projects and return with options for engineering studies and funding scenarios. City Attorney Mogg said any next steps involving formal legal referrals or code-of-conduct concerns would be returned to council for a public vote.
What’s next: Staff will bring back a prioritized water-resiliency project list and options for studies and regional agreements at a future meeting.
