R4 Discussion and Possible Action Including Reconsideration of Approval of Board Special Assignments/Appointments as Recommended by the Chair of the Board
(Sponsor: Supervisor Haschak)
Letter to the Mendocino County Board of Supervisors
February 3, 2026
Mendocino County Board of Supervisors
501 Low Gap Road, Room 1090
Ukiah, CA 95482
Strong Support for Supervisor Madeline Cline's Continued Representation on the Inland Water and Power Commission (IWPC) and Urgent Concerns Regarding the Lack of Downstream Effects Analysis in the Westside Watershed Flowing into the Russian River
Dear Chair Norvell and Members of the Board of Supervisors,
I am writing to you today as a concerned resident, property owner in Mendocino County's Western Hills, and plaintiff in the ongoing federal litigation Nui Rising Moon Trust ex rel. Kylle St. Pierre v. City of Ukiah et al. (Case No. 3:25-cv-08320-JD), to express my unwavering support for Supervisor Madeline Cline's position and continued role as Mendocino County's representative on the Inland Water and Power Commission (IWPC). In addition, I urge the Board to address a critical oversight in local planning and environmental assessments: the persistent lack of comprehensive analysis regarding downstream effects from activities in the westside watershed, particularly those impacting the Russian River. This issue is not only central to sustainable water management but also intersects with broader environmental, public safety, and economic implications for our county. Below, I explore these topics from multiple angles, providing context, examples, nuances, edge cases, and related considerations to underscore the urgency and completeness of my appeal.
Support for Supervisor Madeline Cline's Position and IWPC Representation
Supervisor Cline, at just 27 years old, brings a fresh, informed, and deeply rooted perspective to Mendocino County's water policy challenges. As a lifelong resident of Redwood Valley (District 1), she has demonstrated exceptional commitment to water sustainability, drawing from her early experiences in 4-H, her role on the Mendocino County Fish and Game Commission, and her work as a public policy consultant advocating for farmers and businesses. Her advocacy extends to critical issues like the Potter Valley Project (PVP) decommissioning, where she has organized meetings, written letters, and engaged with PG&E, state, and federal representatives to ensure accountability for environmental and economic impacts. This project, which diverts water from the Eel River to the Russian River, is vital for maintaining Lake Mendocino's storage and supporting agricultural, municipal, and ecological needs across the county.
From multiple angles:
Policy Expertise and Community Advocacy: Cline's position emphasizes balanced, sustainable water use, recognizing the PVP as "crucial for the county’s long-term water supply." She has pushed for collaborative solutions that address district-specific issues (e.g., impacts on Redwood Valley farmers and ranchers) while advocating for county-wide resilience, such as during the Board's debates on PVP resolutions in October 2025. This aligns with IWPC's mission as a joint powers authority managing water rights and flood control in the upper Russian River basin. Removing her from this role, as recently discussed, would undermine representation from District 1—the area most directly affected by PVP changes—and stifle public discourse on water security.
Nuances and Implications: Cline's youth is an asset, not a liability; it brings innovative thinking to longstanding challenges like drought emergencies (e.g., Governor Newsom's 2021 declaration for Mendocino). Her stance on PVP decommissioning prioritizes financial and environmental accountability, ensuring that reductions in Eel River imports do not exacerbate shortages in Lake Mendocino or downstream flows. Edge cases include potential conflicts with tribal interests (e.g., Round Valley Indian Tribes' role in post-decommissioning leasing), where her collaborative approach could foster equitable solutions. Broader considerations: Supporting her reinforces the Board's commitment to diverse voices, as endorsed by groups like the Mendocino Farm Bureau, which has publicly backed her IWPC role.
Related Considerations: In the context of my litigation, Cline's focus on water sustainability complements concerns about annexation-driven developments in the Western Hills, which could strain water resources. Her reappointment would signal the Board's priority on integrated resource management, potentially mitigating risks like those seen in recent curtailments (2021–2022).
I strongly urge the Board to affirm Supervisor Cline's IWPC representation and support her positions on sustainable water practices, as they are essential for Mendocino's future resilience.
Concerns Regarding the Lack of Downstream Effects Analysis in the Westside Watershed
A related and pressing issue is the inadequate assessment of downstream effects from land-use activities in the westside watershed—encompassing areas like Ukiah's Western Hills and Low Gap Road—on the Russian River. This watershed drains directly into the Russian River, influencing water quality, flood control, fisheries, and supply for downstream users. Recent projects, including the 752-acre Western Hills annexation (SCH #2021040428) and fuels reduction efforts (e.g., along Low Gap Road under BOS-23-098 amendments), have proceeded without robust downstream impact studies, risking sedimentation, altered hydrology, and ecosystem degradation.
Exploring from multiple angles:
Environmental and Hydrological Context: The westside watershed, part of the Ukiah Valley Groundwater Basin, contributes to the Russian River's flow, which supports salmonid habitats and irrigation (e.g., vineyards accounting for 63% of water use in some sub-basins). Fuels reduction and trail developments can increase erosion, leading to higher sediment loads downstream, potentially harming endangered salmonids and exacerbating flood risks during storms. Examples include the 2018 Camp Fire's aftermath, where watershed disturbances worsened water quality in downstream rivers; similar unmitigated effects here could mirror that catastrophe.
Nuances in Planning Oversights: CEQA documents for annexations and fuels projects (e.g., ISMND for Lookout Peak Trails) often downplay downstream hydrology, focusing on upstream benefits like fire safety while ignoring cumulative impacts from reduced Eel River diversions. Nuances: Climate change amplifies these risks, with predictions of warmer rivers and lower flows shifting habitats downstream. Edge cases involve annexed areas like Redwood Valley County Water District (RVCWD), where expanded water use could strain Russian River supplies without updated indices reflecting diminished PVP imports.
Implications and Economic Considerations: Downstream effects could impact fisheries (e.g., NOAA's SHaRP plan for Russian River tributaries), agriculture, and tourism, with potential costs from habitat restoration or water shortages. Broader ties: This aligns with IWPC's role in managing diversions; without analysis, projects violate principles in the Russian River Water Forum and state water board resolutions. Related edge cases: In drought years, unaddressed sedimentation could compound curtailments, affecting users from Ukiah to Sonoma County.
Recommendations and Call to Action: Mandate integrated downstream assessments in future CEQA reviews, incorporating hydrologic modeling and stakeholder input (e.g., via IWPC). This would enhance resilience, as seen in successful plans like the Russian River Parkway Project, which considered aesthetics and hazards but could expand to hydrology.
In conclusion, supporting Supervisor Cline's IWPC role and addressing downstream watershed effects are interconnected steps toward sustainable governance. I request this letter be entered into the public record and discussed at your next meeting. Please contact me for further dialogue.
Respectfully submitted,
I urge you to retain Madeline Cline on the IWPC. This country is a republic where We The People have individuals whom we elect to represent our interests. Every board, commission, elected body up to the Supreme Court has members of divergent views who are allowed to speak freely and put forth minority views. To silence a minority voice on the IWPC disenfranchises thousands of constituents, not only in Potter Valley, but up and down the entire Russian River Basin. It is the most reprehensible form of tyranny.
Board of Supervisors
Mendocino County
501 Low Gap Road
Ukiah, Ca 95482
RE: February 3, 2026 Board of Supervisors Agenda Item R4
Dear Honorable Board of Supervisors,
I am opposed to removing Supervisor Cline from the Inland Water and Power Commission. Ms. Cline
represents those who will be most affected by the removal of Scott Dam. Ms. Cline ably represents her
constituents and should be commended for seeking out the facts and opinions on both sides of Scott Dam removal and draining Lake Pillsbury issue. Just because Ms. Cline is an independent thinker and does not blindly follow the loudest, most biased voices in the room, is not reason to remove her from the Inland Water and Power Commission.
I stand with Supervisor Cline and support her work advocating for our community's water needs. Do not remove her as the County's representative on Inland Water and Power Commission.
Replacement of the Cape Horn Dam DIVERSION system with the NERF Project is a win-win for everyone. It will improve diversion control, reliability and volitional fisheries bypass at all times. Removal of Scott Dam water STORAGE will benefit no one, not even the fish. I could write pages of why the Eel River fisheries depends on Lake Pillsbury storage in today’s real world environment. But the real premise here lies in the application of the Beneficial Use Doctrine. A beneficial need of the many, over the wants of a few, must lead to your unanimous support for the NERF diversion AND retention of our current storage at Scott Dam.
The Tribes do not own the water in our country, and we the people, are the Federal Government. Water is adjudicated under principles of beneficial use for all people and needs of the many, not the few. We can’t afford to pay the Tribes $2,000,000.00 every year for a resource that belongs to us also.
Re: Board Special Assignments/Appointments:
RVIT Letter to Secretary Rollins and Secretary Burgum re
Potter Valley Project 1.14.2026
Potter Valley Project
I am a retired Lake County educator of 30 years living in Potter Valley. I became a local resident in 1978 and worked for the Potter Valley Irrigation District (PVID) for 5 years. I controlled the water flow, (up to 35 cuft./sec.) for the Westside of Potter Valley. Combined with the Eastside, this water came from the Potter Valley Project (P.V.P.).
Water at that time was used not only for irrigation of crops for farming, raising of animals, fire protection, recreation, but also for re-percolation of the domestic wells in and around the valley floor. To this day it is still the major source of water for residents during the summer months.
Part of this P.V.P. is Lake Pillsbury which has a positive cooling effect to California climate. Each year we see the large buildup of clouds over Lake Pillsbury during the hot summer months. These daily cumulus cloud buildups travel across our central valley, cooling the earth and help produce afternoon rain in the Sierra Mountains.
We in Potter Valley have our own school district (P.V.U.S.D) which relies on the P.V.P. for irrigation of its recess playing fields. We also irrigate our baseball, softball, soccer and football fields with P.V.P. water. One of our focuses at our high school (P.V.H.S.) is on agriculture. Future Farmers of America (FFA), supported by our team of teachers, has won many awards and recognition. We encourage students to continue their education at many universities including the U.C. Davis Agriculture Dept. We have an operating FFA farm on the property. Our local farmers have produced many crops over the years including: pears, apples, plums, berries, grapes, watermelons, olives for oil, corn, hay for cattle, alfalfa for horses, and irrigated pastures. Many ranchers raise cattle, sheep, goats, rabbits, pigs, or own horses. Large herds of Elk and many other wild animals travel to the Russian River and P.V. irrigation ditches to cool off and drink.
As a Potter Valley Volunteer Firefighter/EMT, I have seen the need for vast amounts of water storage for firefighting. Water from ponds that are filled with the P.V.P., are used by helicopters and ground firefighters for quick attacks, preventing many fires from becoming a conflagration. Ongoing water in large quantities, close to the fire scene, is also critical in preventing the spread of an ongoing fire. Fires in California’s Urban Interface have intensified not diminished!
During the summer many locals and vacationers travel to Lake Pillsbury and Lake Mendocino for camping and recreation. If you Google recreational lakes in Mendocino County it will bring up only these two major lakes- both part of the P.V.P. From these campsites campers and boaters enjoy viewing the wildlife that has been established, over the many years of the P.V.P. Many day campers can also be seen up and down the Russian River, above and below Lake Mendocino, cooling off and splashing in the cool running water provided by the P.V.P. Especially during the heat waves that I have seen go as high as 113 degrees.
I have seen Lake Mendocino during drought years turn into a stream, even with some inflow from the P.V.P.
Due to large parcel sizes in the valley, an in-ground piped, potable-domestic, municipal water treatment system is not cost effective or even possible for local residents. Without ground water regeneration provided by the P.V.P., many of these potable wells will go dry. There is no alternative other than hauling water by water-tender trucks. Many of the residents in the hills have had to have their water supplied during drought years with water truck deliveries provided by local wells
As a native-born Californian remembering growing up in Alameda during the 1960’s (San Francisco Bay Area), I remember constantly being reminded by my mother that we had an abundance of clean drinking water due to the water provided by the Hetch Hetchy Reservoir Project in Yosemite National Park. This water project still provides water to San Francisco and 26 wholesale customer agencies in the counties of Alameda, Santa Clara, and San Mateo. This water project is also controversial due to the flooding the Hetch Hetchy Valley’s Natural landscape and there are ongoing debates about restoring that valley also. Note: San Francisco voters have opposed an alternative water and power source (Hetch Hetchy also generates electricity for the city). They rejected a 2012 proposition that would have funded an $8 million study on how best to drain the Hetch Hetchy Valley.
In conclusion, established Infrastructure is counted upon by millions of Californians to be maintained. Whether it’s the Hetch Hetchy Project supplying water to 2.7 million residents in the bay area, or the Sacramento River’s Watershed where 2.0 million residents get 80% of their water from dam storage on the Sacramento and American Rivers, or the Potter Valley Project (P.V.P.) which supplies water for up to 600,000 residents, established man-made water sources are counted on by residents to be maintained, or equally replaced if removed.
Consider the labor, materials and planning that went into the completion of each of these projects. Consider the cost of removal. Consider the increasing severity from global climate change causing increased hot, dry, summers, and consider the wildlife and humans that have come to rely on these man-made projects. Supervisor Madeline Cline does.
As 1st District Supervisor, Madeline Cline represents all of Mendocino County and will work to ensure that the best interests of everyone in the county are addressed on this issue.
Letter to the Mendocino County Board of Supervisors
February 3, 2026
Mendocino County Board of Supervisors
501 Low Gap Road, Room 1090
Ukiah, CA 95482
Strong Support for Supervisor Madeline Cline's Continued Representation on the Inland Water and Power Commission (IWPC) and Urgent Concerns Regarding the Lack of Downstream Effects Analysis in the Westside Watershed Flowing into the Russian River
Dear Chair Norvell and Members of the Board of Supervisors,
I am writing to you today as a concerned resident, property owner in Mendocino County's Western Hills, and plaintiff in the ongoing federal litigation Nui Rising Moon Trust ex rel. Kylle St. Pierre v. City of Ukiah et al. (Case No. 3:25-cv-08320-JD), to express my unwavering support for Supervisor Madeline Cline's position and continued role as Mendocino County's representative on the Inland Water and Power Commission (IWPC). In addition, I urge the Board to address a critical oversight in local planning and environmental assessments: the persistent lack of comprehensive analysis regarding downstream effects from activities in the westside watershed, particularly those impacting the Russian River. This issue is not only central to sustainable water management but also intersects with broader environmental, public safety, and economic implications for our county. Below, I explore these topics from multiple angles, providing context, examples, nuances, edge cases, and related considerations to underscore the urgency and completeness of my appeal.
Support for Supervisor Madeline Cline's Position and IWPC Representation
Supervisor Cline, at just 27 years old, brings a fresh, informed, and deeply rooted perspective to Mendocino County's water policy challenges. As a lifelong resident of Redwood Valley (District 1), she has demonstrated exceptional commitment to water sustainability, drawing from her early experiences in 4-H, her role on the Mendocino County Fish and Game Commission, and her work as a public policy consultant advocating for farmers and businesses. Her advocacy extends to critical issues like the Potter Valley Project (PVP) decommissioning, where she has organized meetings, written letters, and engaged with PG&E, state, and federal representatives to ensure accountability for environmental and economic impacts. This project, which diverts water from the Eel River to the Russian River, is vital for maintaining Lake Mendocino's storage and supporting agricultural, municipal, and ecological needs across the county.
From multiple angles:
Policy Expertise and Community Advocacy: Cline's position emphasizes balanced, sustainable water use, recognizing the PVP as "crucial for the county’s long-term water supply." She has pushed for collaborative solutions that address district-specific issues (e.g., impacts on Redwood Valley farmers and ranchers) while advocating for county-wide resilience, such as during the Board's debates on PVP resolutions in October 2025. This aligns with IWPC's mission as a joint powers authority managing water rights and flood control in the upper Russian River basin. Removing her from this role, as recently discussed, would undermine representation from District 1—the area most directly affected by PVP changes—and stifle public discourse on water security.
Nuances and Implications: Cline's youth is an asset, not a liability; it brings innovative thinking to longstanding challenges like drought emergencies (e.g., Governor Newsom's 2021 declaration for Mendocino). Her stance on PVP decommissioning prioritizes financial and environmental accountability, ensuring that reductions in Eel River imports do not exacerbate shortages in Lake Mendocino or downstream flows. Edge cases include potential conflicts with tribal interests (e.g., Round Valley Indian Tribes' role in post-decommissioning leasing), where her collaborative approach could foster equitable solutions. Broader considerations: Supporting her reinforces the Board's commitment to diverse voices, as endorsed by groups like the Mendocino Farm Bureau, which has publicly backed her IWPC role.
Related Considerations: In the context of my litigation, Cline's focus on water sustainability complements concerns about annexation-driven developments in the Western Hills, which could strain water resources. Her reappointment would signal the Board's priority on integrated resource management, potentially mitigating risks like those seen in recent curtailments (2021–2022).
I strongly urge the Board to affirm Supervisor Cline's IWPC representation and support her positions on sustainable water practices, as they are essential for Mendocino's future resilience.
Concerns Regarding the Lack of Downstream Effects Analysis in the Westside Watershed
A related and pressing issue is the inadequate assessment of downstream effects from land-use activities in the westside watershed—encompassing areas like Ukiah's Western Hills and Low Gap Road—on the Russian River. This watershed drains directly into the Russian River, influencing water quality, flood control, fisheries, and supply for downstream users. Recent projects, including the 752-acre Western Hills annexation (SCH #2021040428) and fuels reduction efforts (e.g., along Low Gap Road under BOS-23-098 amendments), have proceeded without robust downstream impact studies, risking sedimentation, altered hydrology, and ecosystem degradation.
Exploring from multiple angles:
Environmental and Hydrological Context: The westside watershed, part of the Ukiah Valley Groundwater Basin, contributes to the Russian River's flow, which supports salmonid habitats and irrigation (e.g., vineyards accounting for 63% of water use in some sub-basins). Fuels reduction and trail developments can increase erosion, leading to higher sediment loads downstream, potentially harming endangered salmonids and exacerbating flood risks during storms. Examples include the 2018 Camp Fire's aftermath, where watershed disturbances worsened water quality in downstream rivers; similar unmitigated effects here could mirror that catastrophe.
Nuances in Planning Oversights: CEQA documents for annexations and fuels projects (e.g., ISMND for Lookout Peak Trails) often downplay downstream hydrology, focusing on upstream benefits like fire safety while ignoring cumulative impacts from reduced Eel River diversions. Nuances: Climate change amplifies these risks, with predictions of warmer rivers and lower flows shifting habitats downstream. Edge cases involve annexed areas like Redwood Valley County Water District (RVCWD), where expanded water use could strain Russian River supplies without updated indices reflecting diminished PVP imports.
Implications and Economic Considerations: Downstream effects could impact fisheries (e.g., NOAA's SHaRP plan for Russian River tributaries), agriculture, and tourism, with potential costs from habitat restoration or water shortages. Broader ties: This aligns with IWPC's role in managing diversions; without analysis, projects violate principles in the Russian River Water Forum and state water board resolutions. Related edge cases: In drought years, unaddressed sedimentation could compound curtailments, affecting users from Ukiah to Sonoma County.
Recommendations and Call to Action: Mandate integrated downstream assessments in future CEQA reviews, incorporating hydrologic modeling and stakeholder input (e.g., via IWPC). This would enhance resilience, as seen in successful plans like the Russian River Parkway Project, which considered aesthetics and hazards but could expand to hydrology.
In conclusion, supporting Supervisor Cline's IWPC role and addressing downstream watershed effects are interconnected steps toward sustainable governance. I request this letter be entered into the public record and discussed at your next meeting. Please contact me for further dialogue.
Respectfully submitted,
Kylle St. Pierre
I urge you to retain Madeline Cline on the IWPC. This country is a republic where We The People have individuals whom we elect to represent our interests. Every board, commission, elected body up to the Supreme Court has members of divergent views who are allowed to speak freely and put forth minority views. To silence a minority voice on the IWPC disenfranchises thousands of constituents, not only in Potter Valley, but up and down the entire Russian River Basin. It is the most reprehensible form of tyranny.
January 2, 2026
Board of Supervisors
Mendocino County
501 Low Gap Road
Ukiah, Ca 95482
RE: February 3, 2026 Board of Supervisors Agenda Item R4
Dear Honorable Board of Supervisors,
I am opposed to removing Supervisor Cline from the Inland Water and Power Commission. Ms. Cline
represents those who will be most affected by the removal of Scott Dam. Ms. Cline ably represents her
constituents and should be commended for seeking out the facts and opinions on both sides of Scott Dam removal and draining Lake Pillsbury issue. Just because Ms. Cline is an independent thinker and does not blindly follow the loudest, most biased voices in the room, is not reason to remove her from the Inland Water and Power Commission.
Sincerely,
Scott Ward
Hello Mendocino County Board of Supervisors,
I stand with Supervisor Cline and support her work advocating for our community's water needs. Do not remove her as the County's representative on Inland Water and Power Commission.
Replacement of the Cape Horn Dam DIVERSION system with the NERF Project is a win-win for everyone. It will improve diversion control, reliability and volitional fisheries bypass at all times. Removal of Scott Dam water STORAGE will benefit no one, not even the fish. I could write pages of why the Eel River fisheries depends on Lake Pillsbury storage in today’s real world environment. But the real premise here lies in the application of the Beneficial Use Doctrine. A beneficial need of the many, over the wants of a few, must lead to your unanimous support for the NERF diversion AND retention of our current storage at Scott Dam.
The Tribes do not own the water in our country, and we the people, are the Federal Government. Water is adjudicated under principles of beneficial use for all people and needs of the many, not the few. We can’t afford to pay the Tribes $2,000,000.00 every year for a resource that belongs to us also.
Steven Elliott
Potter Valley, CA 95469
2-3-26
Re: Board Special Assignments/Appointments:
RVIT Letter to Secretary Rollins and Secretary Burgum re
Potter Valley Project 1.14.2026
Potter Valley Project
I am a retired Lake County educator of 30 years living in Potter Valley. I became a local resident in 1978 and worked for the Potter Valley Irrigation District (PVID) for 5 years. I controlled the water flow, (up to 35 cuft./sec.) for the Westside of Potter Valley. Combined with the Eastside, this water came from the Potter Valley Project (P.V.P.).
Water at that time was used not only for irrigation of crops for farming, raising of animals, fire protection, recreation, but also for re-percolation of the domestic wells in and around the valley floor. To this day it is still the major source of water for residents during the summer months.
Part of this P.V.P. is Lake Pillsbury which has a positive cooling effect to California climate. Each year we see the large buildup of clouds over Lake Pillsbury during the hot summer months. These daily cumulus cloud buildups travel across our central valley, cooling the earth and help produce afternoon rain in the Sierra Mountains.
We in Potter Valley have our own school district (P.V.U.S.D) which relies on the P.V.P. for irrigation of its recess playing fields. We also irrigate our baseball, softball, soccer and football fields with P.V.P. water. One of our focuses at our high school (P.V.H.S.) is on agriculture. Future Farmers of America (FFA), supported by our team of teachers, has won many awards and recognition. We encourage students to continue their education at many universities including the U.C. Davis Agriculture Dept. We have an operating FFA farm on the property. Our local farmers have produced many crops over the years including: pears, apples, plums, berries, grapes, watermelons, olives for oil, corn, hay for cattle, alfalfa for horses, and irrigated pastures. Many ranchers raise cattle, sheep, goats, rabbits, pigs, or own horses. Large herds of Elk and many other wild animals travel to the Russian River and P.V. irrigation ditches to cool off and drink.
As a Potter Valley Volunteer Firefighter/EMT, I have seen the need for vast amounts of water storage for firefighting. Water from ponds that are filled with the P.V.P., are used by helicopters and ground firefighters for quick attacks, preventing many fires from becoming a conflagration. Ongoing water in large quantities, close to the fire scene, is also critical in preventing the spread of an ongoing fire. Fires in California’s Urban Interface have intensified not diminished!
During the summer many locals and vacationers travel to Lake Pillsbury and Lake Mendocino for camping and recreation. If you Google recreational lakes in Mendocino County it will bring up only these two major lakes- both part of the P.V.P. From these campsites campers and boaters enjoy viewing the wildlife that has been established, over the many years of the P.V.P. Many day campers can also be seen up and down the Russian River, above and below Lake Mendocino, cooling off and splashing in the cool running water provided by the P.V.P. Especially during the heat waves that I have seen go as high as 113 degrees.
I have seen Lake Mendocino during drought years turn into a stream, even with some inflow from the P.V.P.
Due to large parcel sizes in the valley, an in-ground piped, potable-domestic, municipal water treatment system is not cost effective or even possible for local residents. Without ground water regeneration provided by the P.V.P., many of these potable wells will go dry. There is no alternative other than hauling water by water-tender trucks. Many of the residents in the hills have had to have their water supplied during drought years with water truck deliveries provided by local wells
As a native-born Californian remembering growing up in Alameda during the 1960’s (San Francisco Bay Area), I remember constantly being reminded by my mother that we had an abundance of clean drinking water due to the water provided by the Hetch Hetchy Reservoir Project in Yosemite National Park. This water project still provides water to San Francisco and 26 wholesale customer agencies in the counties of Alameda, Santa Clara, and San Mateo. This water project is also controversial due to the flooding the Hetch Hetchy Valley’s Natural landscape and there are ongoing debates about restoring that valley also. Note: San Francisco voters have opposed an alternative water and power source (Hetch Hetchy also generates electricity for the city). They rejected a 2012 proposition that would have funded an $8 million study on how best to drain the Hetch Hetchy Valley.
In conclusion, established Infrastructure is counted upon by millions of Californians to be maintained. Whether it’s the Hetch Hetchy Project supplying water to 2.7 million residents in the bay area, or the Sacramento River’s Watershed where 2.0 million residents get 80% of their water from dam storage on the Sacramento and American Rivers, or the Potter Valley Project (P.V.P.) which supplies water for up to 600,000 residents, established man-made water sources are counted on by residents to be maintained, or equally replaced if removed.
Consider the labor, materials and planning that went into the completion of each of these projects. Consider the cost of removal. Consider the increasing severity from global climate change causing increased hot, dry, summers, and consider the wildlife and humans that have come to rely on these man-made projects. Supervisor Madeline Cline does.
As 1st District Supervisor, Madeline Cline represents all of Mendocino County and will work to ensure that the best interests of everyone in the county are addressed on this issue.
Thank your for your time,
Curtis R. Reichert
curtis@pacific.net