Federal energy regulators rejected a Southern California water district’s bid to join a Trump administration-backed effort to stop the removal of two Northern California dams.
What happened: The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission on Monday denied Elsinore Valley Municipal Water District’s request to become a formal party in PG&E’s proceeding to surrender the Potter Valley Project and remove the Scott and Cape Horn dams along the Eel River. PG&E determined that the aging hydroelectric project was too costly to maintain and is seeking to give up its license.
The Riverside County water district is one of the most aggressive proponents of preserving the dams. They entered the fight this year after farmers and ranchers in Potter Valley, who would see their water supply decline if the dams were removed, began appealing directly to Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins and the Trump administration for help.
Why it matters: Once a largely regional dispute over fish and water, Potter Valley has become a culture-war battleground for national farming interests and Trump allies who view the Klamath River dam removals as a cautionary tale and want to prevent more dams from coming down.
