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**PG&E’s Potter Valley Project a Looming Disaster, Dam Removal Imminent**

NORTH COAST, CA – Pacific Gas and Electric’s (PG&E) Potter Valley Project (PVP) is facing imminent decommissioning as the utility seeks to eliminate the financial and safety risks associated with the aging infrastructure. The project, comprised of the Cape Horn and Scott Dams, has become a financial burden for ratepayers, generating a minuscule fraction of PG&E’s hydroelectric power while costing exorbitant amounts to maintain.

The failure of the Potter Valley powerhouse in 2021, after which PG&E declined to replace the transformer, signaled the end of power generation at the site. However, it is the serious safety concerns surrounding Scott Dam, which impounds Lake Pillsbury Reservoir, that are truly driving the push for dam removal.

Located near the Bartlett Springs Fault Zone, capable of producing a M7 earthquake, Scott Dam presents a multitude of engineering and geological challenges. These include:

* **Flawed Construction:** Built atop a large boulder that shifted during construction, requiring a last-minute redesign.
* **Sediment Accumulation:** The Eel River’s high sediment yield has led to significant buildup in Lake Pillsbury, putting pressure on the dam and threatening to block the low-level water outlet.
* **Aging Infrastructure:** The century-old dam is increasingly vulnerable to catastrophic failure.
* **Foundation Concerns:** Questions about the dam’s foundation materials and methods have gone unaddressed.
* **Seismic Risk:** The dam’s location on the Bartlett Springs Fault presents a high risk of earthquake damage, compounded by an active landslide above the dam.

Congressman Huffman shared concerns from a PG&E engineer, stating that Scott Dam is a major source of worry due to its potential for failure.

PG&E has already lowered the radial gates to reduce capacity in preparation for decommissioning. An attempt to auction the project failed because of the associated liability of the dams and the annual operating losses.

The planned dam removal is expected to restore the Eel River to California’s longest free-flowing river. It will also promote the recovery of native salmon and steelhead populations. While diversions into the Russian River will continue in a more sustainable manner. Stakeholders are collaborating to ensure a better ecological outcome for both watersheds.

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