Northern California’s Potter Valley is facing what local leaders describe as an existential threat: the potential removal of the Scott and Cape Horn dams, a decision that could dismantle the region’s water supply and devastate agriculture, public safety, and rural communities.
On Ag Meter, Todd Lands, vice mayor and former mayor of Cloverdale, outlined why the Potter Valley Project is critical far beyond its immediate footprint. The system includes Scott Dam, which forms Lake Pillsbury for flood control and drought mitigation on the Eel River, and Cape Horn Dam, which diverts water to Lake Mendocino while generating hydropower. Together, these facilities support water deliveries for up to 750,000 people across Mendocino, Lake, Sonoma, and downstream Russian River communities.
According to Lands, state leaders—including Governor Gavin Newsom—have expressed a desire to remove dams to allow rivers to “run free.” But Lands argues this policy ignores the human, agricultural, and environmental realities of Northern California. Without the Potter Valley Project, Lake Mendocino would lose roughly 70% of its annual supply, pushing the region into perpetual drought.
Potter Valley itself is almost entirely agricultural. Lands warned that removing the dams would turn the valley into a dry basin, leaving farmland unusable and property values decimated. An economic analysis from Sonoma County shows that even a 10% reduction in water supply could result in a $65 million loss and 200 lost jobs.
Beyond farming, Lands emphasized public safety risks. Reduced river flows would increase wildfire danger while drought restrictions limit municipal water storage. “You can’t fight two house fires at once if there’s no water in the system,” he said.
Proponents of dam removal cite fish recovery on the Eel River, but Lands disputed those claims. The dams block only about two miles of habitat, and independent engineers concluded in a 2024 report that upgrading the dams and installing fish ladders would be far cheaper and more effective than decommissioning. That option, Lands said, was dismissed because it did not align with activist demands.
After exhausting local and state channels, Lands took the issue federal. His advocacy reached USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins and NRCS Chief Aubrey Betancourt, who he credits with recognizing the national implications of water loss, food security, and rural survival.
“This isn’t partisan,” Lands said. “Water is life. And if it can happen here, it can happen anywhere.”