LAKEPORT >> The impacts to Lake County’s water supply were debated at the Board of Supervisors meeting February 27 with discussion centered over the substantial effects on the county’s future water supply if PG&E’s proposed plans are carried out in full.
Consideration was made of: A. requesting a letter of support from the State Department of Water Resources, and B, approval of resolution authorizing the grant application, acceptance and execution of the Potter Valley Project de-commissioning. Such action means probable removal of Scott Dam and maybe elimination of Lake Pillsbury.
Asking the Board chair to sign the letter was Matthew Rothstein, Chief Deputy County Administrative Officer along with Patrick Sullivan, treasure/ tax collector. Rothstein and officials from the California Department of Water Resources have regularly met with county staff, Chair Bruno Sabatier and District 3 Supervisor Crandell over last several months to discuss potential consequences of PG&E’s decommissioning proposal.
Meanwhile, the Department of Water Resources identified possible funding for the company to examine potential water supply effects that would result if Lake Pillsbury were lost. “Approximately $700,000 dollars is available to conduct a technical assessment to estimate the effects of the decommission process, including dam removal and implementing other mitigations,” Rothstein said. He also noted the county must approve a letter requesting support before the DWR can proceed any further in the grant process. At this time, the proposal is in the preliminary stages and the expectation is, it will continue to be refined with DWR. Rothstein also explained along with the letter, a resolution must be put before the Board. And the resolution language must be vetted by the DWR.
“So, you have seen in your board’s packet more detail of what the work is expected to entail,” he said. “One final note, the task description of the letter are left intentionally broad, as previously alluded in consideration of the fact, we’ll be continuing to work with DWR to refine the specific work to be undertaken. Staff recommends you approve the letter, adopt the resolution and authorize the chair to sig both documents.”
Sullivan stressed the letter is just a starting point. “DWR made clear this just what they need to proceed and we can refine the rest of it later; we didn’t have time to go deeper without further assistance,” he said.
Sabatier noted the documents were based on the last presentation he made, in tandem with District 3 Supervisor Crandell, which he gave to the Russian River Forum about the county’s concerns if the Scott Dam is decommissioned. “Impacts not just in Lake County, but downstream to water users, ag users and the fish,” he said. He went on to mention that data has been lacking but the decommission project is moving forward. Yet additional data will help inform the county of what they want to keep in the future and know what happens with that moving forward.
District 4 Supervisor Michael Green reminded the Board that they have gone on record opposing decommissioning. “My question is, the breadth we can put in at this early phase of this because definitely we have to look at all the scenarios presented,” he said. “Of course there’s the two scenarios of the decommissioning presently. One is rapid removal, and a phased removal over a period of years. Some project alternatives have been talked about for years, including saving the dam in some fashion. So, I understand this as a decommissioning center effort … If this is as billed, a study focused on decommissioning and that only, I don’t want to undervalue this grant’s study. Some project alternative was talked about for years, including saving the dam.”
Sabatier noted, FERC doesn’t want to see the Board submit a new plan, they want to speak to the plan submitted … PG& E’s. Rothstein added that the reason the state is able to provide funding for it, is the potential loss of water supply. “That would come with the destruction of Lake Pillsbury and the decommissioning,” he said. Public commenter, Helen Owen, asked if the county was closing the doors to keep the lake? Sabatier said, “Our Plan A, is keep the dam and keep the lake.” A motion for a vote was called and passed four to zero, with District 4 Supervisor Moke Simon absent.
