CalTrout has dedicated 50 years to restoring the Eel River, California’s third-largest river, crucial for wild salmon populations that support local economies and communities. As PG&E plans to remove Scott and Cape Horn dams during the decommissioning of the Potter Valley Hydroelectric Project, several key points emerge:
-
Economic Drivers: The removal is primarily driven by economic considerations. Aging dams are costly and inefficient, prompting PG&E to surrender its federal license to operate the project.
-
Water Supply Collaboration: Local groups are developing alternatives to maintain water supply benefits while ensuring ecological restoration, including a new fish-friendly diversion proposed by the Eel-Russian Project Authority.
-
Economic Benefits: Dam removal and new diversion infrastructure could generate up to $345 million in economic output and create thousands of jobs, particularly in Lake and Mendocino counties.
-
Salmon Recovery: Removing the dams will significantly enhance habitats for Chinook salmon and steelhead, essential for their recovery, by unlocking access to high-quality spawning areas.
-
Invasive Species Reduction: Dam removal may help control non-native pikeminnow populations that hinder salmon recovery by allowing salmon access to tributary streams and reducing warm reservoir habitats.
- Longest Free-Flowing River: With the dams gone, the Eel River will become California’s longest free-flowing river, improving salmon habitats and aiding in broader regional recovery efforts.
Overall, this initiative promises substantial ecological and economic benefits while reinforcing the river’s health and salmon populations.
