Native tribes and partners agree to dismantle dams, restoring free flow to California's Eel River
California tribes, environmental groups, PG&E and agencies have settled on a plan to remove two dams on the Eel River, aiming to restore its free-flowing condition by the 2030s.
A coalition of California native tribes, environmental organizations, utility giant PG&E and several state and local agencies has reached a consensus on a “Two Basin Solution” to close the Potter Valley hydroelectric project on the Eel River. The century-old Cape Horn and Scott dams, built in the early 1900s, have long blocked fish passage, prompting tribal opposition. A recent inspection revealed a $15 million repair need for an aging power system that serves roughly 750 homes, leading PG&E to seek federal approval for decommissioning.
If authorized, dam removal slated for the 2030s would create one of the nation’s longest free-flowing rivers and reopen hundreds of miles of habitat for salmon, steelhead, Pacific lamprey and other species. Round Valley Indian Tribes member Nicole Whipple highlighted the river’s cultural and subsistence importance. Oversight will be transferred to the newly formed Eel Russian Project Authority, a five-member board that includes the Round Valley Indian Tribes, Sonoma Water, the County of Sonoma and the Mendocino County Inland Water and Power Commission.
Why it matters
Restoring the Eel River will revive critical fish habitats and honor tribal cultural ties while removing costly, obsolete infrastructure.
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