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The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission issued an order to PG&E Company on July 27, 2022, approving a variance that substantially reduces flows from the Potter Valley Project to the Russian River Watershed. The Division has posted a revised Curtailment Status List that includes additional curtailments due to the reduced water availability. Certain right holders must cease or reduce their diversions as directed by the list. All right holders must continue to monitor the Curtailment Status List for the latest curtailment statuses. Among other determinations, the Variance sets the inter-basin transfer of water diverted from the Eel River to the Russian River through the Potter Valley Project. At the moment, the flow for the East Fork Russian River above Lake Mendocino is 75 cfs, which has allowed the Voluntary Water Sharing Program to be implemented and very limited curtailments issued by the State Water Board. However, the Variance reduces that flow in the East Fork to 5 cfs with a note that target release can be adjusted between 5 cfs and 25 cfs based on storage projections. No buffer (extra) water will be released to prevent flows from dropping below 5 cfs. This target release does not include water that is delivered to Potter Valley Irrigation District (PVID) under its contract with PG&E. PVID will operate on a demand based schedule. PG&E will provide PVID only with what is needed and no more than 50 cfs. Per the water sale contract, PG&E has discretion to limit deliveries, and will do so as needed to maintain Lake Pillsbury storage above the 30,000 acre feet target. Some return flow from PVID use is expected but is not significant in the larger scope of the impact to the Upper RR water users. The Variance is effective immediately and remains in effect until Lake Pillsbury storage exceeds 36,000 acre-feet following October 1, 2022. Source: State Water Resources Control Board & Russian River Flood Control & Water Conservation Improvement District
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