Upper Eel River Community Vision Proposes a Robust Future for Lake County
Following an 18-month community engagement process involving more than 130 interviews and four in-person workshops with representatives of local Tribes, public officials and agencies, organizations and stakeholders, the statewide nonprofit CalWild today released A Community Vision for the Upper Eel River Watershed, a compilation of project descriptions and needed actions proposed by local communities to improve fire resilience, habitat values, recreational opportunities and Tribal cultural values in the 215,000 acres of the Mendocino National Forest above Scott Dam, including the footprint of the Lake Pillsbury reservoir. You can download the report here.
Funded by the State Coastal Conservancy and Resources Legacy Fund, the report does not take a position on whether dams on the Upper Eel should be removed. Participants on all sides of this question were involved in helping to craft the vision, many of the recommendations of which can be implemented whether dams are removed or not, while CalWild served as a neutral convener and organizer for the project.
On July 25, 2025, Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) submitted its formal Surrender Application and Decommissioning Plan for the Potter Valley Project to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). The submission marks the official start of a federal and state environmental review process that will guide decisions about the potential removal of dams on the Eel.
The Community Vision for the Upper Eel River Watershed report will be submitted as a set of recommendations to PG&E and the FERC as it considers PG&E’s proposal to decommission the Scott and Van Arsdale dams, and will also serve as a springboard for local officials to seek funding to implement its recommendations, providing much needed support to the regional economy and adding amenities benefiting local residents and visitors alike.
“We have heard officials and local residents express that they felt shut out of many of the discussions about the future of the Upper Eel River and Mendocino National Forest,” said Mark Green, executive director of CalWild, “We were gratified to find that people on all sides of the question of dam removal were receptive, gracious and generous with their time and thinking as a part of this project. Having those diverse voices around the table made a big difference. Despite differences of opinion, the community came together to build a shared vision for the future. It is a vision rooted in restoration, resilience, and long-term stewardship of this vital watershed. We’re proud to have helped facilitate such a thoughtful and inclusive process.”
“I grew up here,” said Ryan Henson, Senior Policy Director at CalWild. “I have seen the region’s challenges and understand that people have often felt that wealthier surrounding counties have called the shots. This project is close to my heart because it gives a voice to people who haven’t felt like they had one.”
A Community Vision for the Upper Eel River offers a foundation for future planning, funding, and stewardship efforts that honor the region’s rich ecological, cultural, and recreational legacies.
Both FERC’s National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process and the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) process will include opportunities for public comment in relation to whether dams should be removed and, if so, which mitigation measures PG&E should be required to provide.
For more information and updates on the Community Vision, visit https://eelcommunityvision.org/
