PG&E is moving forward with plans to remove the Scott and Cape Horn dams on the Eel River.
A draft decommissioning plan, over 2,000 pages long, details the process, including dam deconstruction, habitat restoration, and impacts on fish, wildlife, and water quality. A virtual public meeting is scheduled today to discuss the plan, which addresses concerns from various stakeholders, including farmers, tribes, and residents of Sonoma, Mendocino, and Humboldt counties.
Fisheries advocates support the removal to help salmon and steelhead, but also express caution regarding the sediment impact. PG&E abandoned the hydropower plant due to cost and seismic concerns and was unable to find a buyer. Despite this, efforts are underway to maintain water diversions from the Eel to the Russian River, crucial for over 600,000 people.
The public has until March 3rd to submit written comments on the draft plan.
