Dealing with drought conditions throughout the County

By Dan Hamburg

Mendocino County faces ongoing challenges, particularly to its agriculture, due to lack of rainfall and uncertain groundwater capacity.

Off-stream ponds have been helpful in the Upper Russian River basin, particularly in terms of frost protection. Rep. Jared Huffman's FORECAST bill could help prevent another debacle such as occurred with the unwise release of tens of thousands of acre/feet unnecessarily from Lake Mendocino.

A continuing rational consideration with respect to releases from Scott Dam by the Control Board (RWQCB) and FERC will help. The inaccuracy of calculations that led to the Reasonable and Prudent Alternative (RPA), particularly with respect to the so-called "target storage curve", has hampered efforts to utilize "excess" Eel River water more fully in replenishing the Lake Mendocino in critically dry years like 2014. Re-licensing of the PG&E powerhouse seems absolutely mandatory at this time.

We all want to see a huge curtailment of water theft by illegal marijuana grows!

We all want to see Ukiah's wastewater purple-piped for frost protection and irrigation. None of us want Redwood Valley cut off, though their cuts in irrigation water will likely be more drastic than ever before in the history of that water district. Other water districts under the Russian River Flood Control and Water Conservation Improvement District have also had their allocations severely curtailed.