Support CalTrout’s FERC Filing to Remove Scott Dam and Restore the Eel River

CalTrout urges you to comment on the Federal Energy Regulatory (FERC) docket to let FERC staff and the Project Planning Partners know you support the effort to remove Scott Dam. We urge you to speak in your own words, but have provided instructions on how to file and a sample letter for you to insert your own language

The Opportunity on the Eel River

On May 13^th, 2020 California Trout, Round Valley Indian Tribe, Humboldt County, Mendocino County Inland Water & Power Commission, and Sonoma Water announced that they have entered into a planning agreement to explore pathways to relicense the Potter Valley Project (Project) in the wake of PG&E’s decision to withdraw from the FERC relicensing process for the Project. The planning agreement aims to achieve a “Two-Basin Solution” that benefits water users and fish and wildlife in both the Russian River basin and the Eel River basin.

Most importantly, the Project Plan includes the removal of Scott Dam, which opens 288 linear river miles for salmonids above the currently impassable barrier.

Photo: Scott Dam by Kyle Schwartz

PG&E’s FERC license for the Potter Valley Project will expire in 2022. PG&E’s withdrawal from the relicensing process and its subsequent declaration of bankruptcy have provided an opportunity for CalTrout and local partners to work proactively to find solutions that improve the health of the Eel River watershed while respecting the needs of the many water users who currently depend on Eel River water.

The planning agreement between CalTrout, Sonoma Water and the Inland Water & Power Commission was prompted by Congressman Huffman’s “Ad Hoc Committee” process, which convened over twenty-five public, private, and governmental entities seeking to identify a solution that met water needs in both the Eel River and Russian River basins, known as the ‘Two-Basin Solution’” for the Potter Valley Project relicensing effort.

The three initial parties to the planning agreement have taken the initiative to push forward an affirmative solution in response to the compressed FERC timeline created by PG&E’s recent withdrawal from the relicensing process. The partners plan to move forward in a collaborative and transparent manner, while being inclusive of other stakeholders.

The process will build on significant work completed to date by members of the Ad Hoc Committee regarding fish passage above Scott Dam and water supply for both Eel and Russian River basins.

The planning agreement contains a set of principles ensuring that any proposal for relicensing the PVP will advance the mutual goals of the Two-Basin Solution, including: (i) restoration of viable, anadromous fisheries in both river basins, including the analysis of dam removal on the Eel River, (ii) continued water supply reliability that will meet the needs of consumptive water users in both basins, and (iii) hydroelectric generation (among other goals). All solutions will need to be based on the best available science and engineering.

The FERC comment period is now open and we ask for you to review our filing and in your own words, as much as possible, tell FERC why you support our filing!

How You Can Help – Submit Your Comment:

1. Click here to register with FERC and comment online (Note: Users have reported errors on Chrome when trying to submit a comment. Please try using a different browser such as Firefox or Safari if you run into any issues. Thank you.)
2. Once you register, check your email. In the email from FERC there will be a link to provide comment, click the link
3. Enter docket number p-77-285 and click search
4. Click the blue + on the right side of the table to select the docket
5. Submit your comments in support of dam removal and fisheries restoration in the comment box below. We recommend drafting your comments in a word processor then pasting. Talking points and a sample letter are included below.

FERC Submittal Talking Points and Sample Letter

Although CalTrout is pleased with the progress we have made, we encourage our members to use their voice to support or oppose Project Plan elements found in this Feasibility Study filed with FERC. Please use specific references when writing to FERC.

CalTrout recommends that you: (1) address the FERC staff formally, (2) talk specifically about your connection with the Eel River and why this project would go a long way in restoring the historic abundance of salmonids in the Eel River, and finally, (3) provide specific comments on the Feasibility Study that call out what you like and dislike on our FERC filing.

• Addressing FERC Staff:

Nothing special here, but address FERC Staff formally as the intro to your letter:

Dear FERC Staff,

• Personal Statement:

Make this section your own! Speak from the heart and explain why you are interested in this issue, especially identifying your relationship to the Eel or Russian Rivers:

My name is ______ and I am writing to comment on the Feasibility Study Report filed by the Two Basin Partnership for the Potter Valley Project. I enjoy steelhead fishing on the Eel River every year…

OR

My name is ______ and I am writing to comment on the Feasibility Study Report filed by the Two Basin Partnership for the Potter Valley Project. The Eel River represents a beautiful Wild and Scenic River, which is held in the public trust for every Californian to enjoy….

• Here are some specific issues to highlight in your FERC letter:

Removal of Scott Dam

I support the removal of Scott Dam as a highlight in Section IV of the Feasibility Study Report filing on May 13, 2020. As Congressman Huffman’s Ad Hoc fish passage working group determined, removing Scott Dam is the only feasible fish passage option. Removal of Scott Dam would open 288 linear river miles of spawning habitat for Chinook salmon and steelhead.

Cape Horn Dam Modifications

I support further investigation of Cape Horn Dam Fish Passage Modifications as stated in in Section IV of the Feasibility Study Report filing on May 13, 2020.  As constructed Cape Horn Dam does not provide adequate fish passage and we urge a more detailed analysis of the removal of Cape Horn Dam as one potential alternative to fish passage. I understand that water supply reliability is an essential piece of the two basin solution, but believe that the proposed Study Plans should determine if the Van Arsdale diversion is compatible with Cape Horn Dam removal. I urge the NOI parties to conduct a thorough analysis of Cape Horn Dam removal as part of the FERC study plan.

Fisheries Restoration Plan

I support the Fisheries Restoration Plan as written in Section V of the Feasibility Study Report filing on May 13, 2020. This description of fisheries restoration in the existing FERC footprint would allow for a thorough analysis of the effects of the Project. However, more is needed in the study plans to protect Eel and Russian River fisheries. I would like to see the NOI Parties evaluate basin-wide restoration opportunities to enhance fishery recovery, to maximize the benefit of the Proposed Project.

Sample Letter

Here’s a sample letter using all of these sections above:

Dear FERC Staff,

I am writing to comment on the Feasibility Study Report filed by the Two Basin Partnership for the Potter Valley Project. I visit the Eel River for steelhead fishing and strongly believe that this public trust resource and Wild and Scenic River system deserves to be restored to the levels of historic abundance.

I support the removal of Scott Dam as a highlight in Section IV of the Feasibility Study Report filing on May 13, 2020. As Congressman Huffman’s Ad Hoc fish passage working group determined, removing Scott Dam is the only feasible fish passage option above Scott Dam. Removal of Scott Dam would open 288 linear river miles of spawning habitat for Chinook salmon and steelhead.

I support further investigation of Cape Horn Dam Fish Passage Modifications as stated in Section IV of the Feasibility Study Report filing on May 13, 2020.  As constructed Cape Horn Dam does not provide adequate fish passage and we urge a more detailed analysis of the removal of Cape Horn Dam as one potential alternative to fish passage. I urge the NOI parties to conduct a thorough analysis of Cape Horn Dam removal as part of the FERC study plan, which as of now does not include adequate analysis.

I support the Fisheries Restoration Plan as written in Section V of the Feasibility Study Report filing on May 13, 2020. This description of fisheries restoration in the existing FERC footprint would allow for a thorough analysis of the effects of the Project. However, more is needed in the study plans to protect Eel and Russian River fisheries. I would like to see the NOI Parties look into the life cycle of salmonids on the Eel as a baseline to then study the impacts of the Project type.

The removal of Scott Dam is essential for the survival of the Eel River.

Sincerely,