You're Invited!: Eel River Dam Removal Webinar

Hello EPIC Members,

As many of our members may be aware, Eel River dam removal is just around the corner. We are excited to invite you all to a webinar on Monday, August 18th, at 2 p.m. to learn more about Eel River dam removal and the importance of its timeliness. The webinar will feature Alicia Haaman, the Executive Director of Friends of the Eel River, and Charlie Schneider, the Lost Coast Project Manager for CalTrout. To join, you can register HERE for the webinar.

For more information and context as to why speedy dam removal on the Eel River is vital for the fish population, read the message copied below from our friends at Friends of the Eel River:

The Potter Valley Project includes two century-old dams in the Eel River headwaters and an out-of-basin diversion into the Russian River. The Project has failed in just about every way it can. It has long been uneconomic, no longer produces electricity, poses serious seismic risks, and the water supply is increasingly unreliable due to sedimentation of the reservoir.

The Wild and Scenic Eel River presents unique opportunities for the revitalization of native fish. The watershed has high-quality habitat protected in large tracts of wild spaces. Importantly, the Eel’s salmon, steelhead, lamprey, and other native fish still hold their wild genetics. Removing the Eel River dams will open access to hundreds of miles of excellent habitat in the upper headwaters, restore the natural flow of sediment, eliminate the accumulation of methylated mercury, and improve water quality downstream of the dams.

Removing the Eel River dams is the single most important restoration action we can take to support recovery of the Eel’s once-abundant native fish. The effort to Free the Eel is broadly supported by Tribes, commercial and recreational fishing folk, recreation advocates, and environmental NGOs. Take this opportunity to join your community and help correct a century of harm. Be a part of the movement to Free the Eel!

On Friday, July 25th, PG&E published its final License Surrender Application and Decommissioning Plan (LSA), bringing the Eel River one step closer to becoming California’s longest free-flowing river. There isn’t currently a public comment period for PG&E’s License Surrender Application and Decommissioning Plan (LSA), but we expect to see one in the future. You can join the Friends of the Eel River this week or next for in-person comment writing workshops:

1. Pints for Nonprofits & Comment Writing Workshop: Thursday, August 7 from 5 - 8 pm at Paskenta Mad River Brewing | 101 Taylor Way, Blue Lake

2. Dam Removal Comment Writing Workshop & Social: Friday, August 15 from 4 - 7 pm at the Willits Environmental Center | 630 S Main St, Willits