A new memorandum of understanding announced this week aims to put in a place a permanent agreement on water diversions from the Eel River to the Russian River. The understanding involves multiple stakeholders, including the Mendocino County Inland Water and Power Commission, Humboldt County, Sonoma County, and the Round Valley Indian Tribes.
Under the MOU, water diversion will continue through a “New Eel-Russian Facility” (NERF). A newly established joint powers authority, The Eel-Russian Project Authority (ERPA), is responsible for planning, operations and governance of the NERF facility. ERPA is conducting planning and engineering studies now with grant support from both state and federal agencies.
ERPA is also the entity that will own and operate the diversion facility and sell water from this project. Sales of the water will fund lease payments to the Round Valley Indian Tribes for water usage, as well as the environmental restoration efforts on the Eel River.
