Eel River Salmon and Steelhead Need You Today

Comment on the FERC docket and let FERC staff and other stakeholders know how important fisheries restoration in the Eel is to local anglers and environmental advocates. We have provided guidance on how to comment and sample letters and talking points for you below.

Background

On May 13, a coalition of five Russian River and Eel River interests, the Two Basin Partnership, filed a Feasibility Study with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). The proposal would see a Regional Entity taking local control of the Potter Valley Project from PG&E.

Importantly, the proposed project plan seeks to remove Scott Dam, providing access to habitat in the Upper Eel River basin for the first time in nearly a century, while maintaining a winter water diversion into the Russian River basin via Potter Valley.

The Two Basin Partnership grew out of the ad hoc working group convened by Rep. Jared Huffman. The ad hoc group was developed around the co-equal goals of securing fish passage on the Eel River and limiting impacts to Russian River water supplies. A fish passage working group comprised of fisheries experts recommended dam removal as the best way to secure maximum biological benefit for salmon and steelhead and modeling provided by a water supply working group showed that water needs could be met without the need to pay to maintain and upgrade the aging Scott Dam.

Trout Unlimited has long understood that the best way to provide sustainable fish habitat is to work directly and closely with people that depend on the water and ecosystem's in which salmon and steelhead also depend.

Many questions still need to be answered as part of the study process, including how the project is paid for and what happens to the 100+ year old Cape Horn Dam and its needed fish ladder upgrades. That said, we remain cautiously optimistic that the proposed project will be a positive step toward fisheries recovery while also meeting water needs.

The filing of the Feasibility Study (Read the Feasibility Study here) started the clock on a 45-day public comment period. While this is the first step in what will be a multi-year process, it is important that fishery advocates voice our support for dam removal and the proposed fisheries restoration plan.

How You can help - Submit your Comment:

1- Click here to register with FERC and comment online

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.

Sample Letter

We have created text blocks and talking points you may copy and paste below, but it is best to write in your own words. A complete sample letter is provided at the bottom of this page.

Start your letter:

Dear FERC staff,

I’m writing to comment on the Feasibility Study Report filed by the Two Basin Partnership for the Potter Valley Project. Thank you for the opportunity to provide comment on this important project.

Explain in a few sentences why the Eel is important to you:

As a steelhead angler, I look forward to fishing the Eel River each winter.

The Eel River is one of California’s most beautiful Wild and Scenic rivers and its restoration should be a high priority.

As a recreational angler, the Eel River fishery is of great value to me, the people, communities, and businesses along it.

Highlight dam removal and fisheries restoration as important:

I support the proposed project because it provides the greatest good for the greatest number of people. The Project strikes an appropriate balance for our region by removing Scott dam and removing or modifying Cape Horn Dam to improve fish passage – an important step toward the recovery of Eel River salmon – while also meeting the needs of water and power users through a continued wet season diversions which will have fewer negative environmental impacts than the existing Project.

The expert Fish Passage and Water Supply Working Groups convened by Congressman Huffman’s Ad Hoc Committee found that Scott Dam removal has the highest potential for successful fish passage while achieving maximum biological benefit and that water supply and power generation needs can be met without the need to assume liability of Scott Dam, making a true “two basin solution” possible. Removal of Scott dam will result in a project of a reasonable scale for a Regional Entity to maintain, while also meeting the needs of both the Eel and Russian River basins.

Additionally, the Two Basin Partnership has stated that they will study upgrades to the Van Arsdale diversion and fish passage structures at Cape Horn Dam. I would urge the Partnership to include run of the river diversions in their alternatives analysis. Dams will almost always delay or restrict the passage of fish and fragment ecosystems by blocking the transport of sediment, wood and nutrients. A run of the river diversion would eliminate the negative effects associated with a dam and be the best option for fishery recovery and ecosystem health. Ongoing operations and maintenance costs should be considered in each scenario.

Optional talking points:

Salmon and Steelhead are important to tribes, recreational and commercial fishermen and contribute to the local economy along the entire length of the Eel River. The dams and their lakes not only block or restrict fish passage, but also negatively affect the broader river ecosystem which in turn impacts fisheries. Dam removal will have a positive impact on the entire river ecosystem, not just within the project footprint. I strongly support dam removal as the most important action that can be taken to recover salmon and steelhead in the upper Eel River.

And/or

The loss of lake based recreation caused by dam removal will be offset by increased river based recreation. The Eel River is part of the Wild and Scenic Rivers system for much its length below Cape Horn Dam due to its remarkable fisheries and recreational values. A natural flow regime and restored river ecosystem will have positive effects on downstream Wild and Scenic River System reaches, for anglers and other recreation interests.

Closing:

Removal of Scott dam is the right path forward for our region.

Sincerely,

Complete letter:

Dear FERC staff,

I’m writing to comment on the Feasibility Study Report filed by the Two Basin Partnership for the Potter Valley Project. Thank you for the opportunity to provide comment on this important project. As a recreational angler, the Eel River fishery is of great value to me, the people, communities, and businesses along it.

I support the proposed project because it provides the greatest good for the greatest number of people. The Project strikes an appropriate balance for our region by removing Scott dam and removing or modifying Cape Horn Dam to improve fish passage – an important step toward the recovery of Eel River salmon – while also meeting the needs of water and power users through a continued wet season diversion which will have fewer negative environmental impacts than the existing Project.

Salmon and Steelhead are important to recreational and commercial fishermen and contribute to the local economy along the entire length of the Eel River. The dams and their lakes not only block or restrict fish passage, but also negatively affect the broader river ecosystem which in turn impacts fisheries. Dam removal will have a positive impact on the entire river ecosystem, not just within the project footprint. I strongly support dam removal as the most important action that can be taken to recover salmon and steelhead in the upper Eel River.