PG&E has filed formal plans to decommission the Potter Valley Project, including two dams that connect the Eel and Russian River watersheds.
This could be the West Coast’s next major dam removal. According to the Press Democrat, the company says the project operates at a $1 million annual deficit. While federal approval is underway, actual dam removal is still years off, with the earliest surrender order expected by 2028.
Environmentalists are praising the move, as removing the Scott and Cape Horn dams would restore the Eel River, benefiting salmon. The plan also includes a new facility to divert water from the Eel to the Russian River, but only during high flow periods.
The public can submit comments on the decommissioning plans starting now.
