Northern California’s Potter Valley is facing what local leaders describe as an existential threat: the potential removal of the Scott and Cape Horn dams, a decision that could dismantle the region’s water supply and devastate agriculture, public safety, and rural communities.
On Ag Meter, Todd Lands, vice mayor and former mayor of Cloverdale, outlined why the Potter Valley Project is critical far beyond its immediate footprint. The system includes Scott Dam, which forms Lake Pillsbury for flood control and drought mitigation on the Eel River, and Cape Horn Dam, which diverts water to Lake Mendocino while generating hydropower. Together, these facilities support water deliveries for up to 750,000 people across Mendocino, Lake, Sonoma, and downstream Russian River communities.
According to Lands, state leaders—including Governor Gavin Newsom—have expressed a desire to remove dams to allow rivers to “run free.” But Lands argues this policy ignores the human, agricultural, and environmental realities of Northern California. Without the Potter Valley Project, Lake Mendocino would lose roughly 70% of its annual supply, pushing the region into perpetual drought…