Dam Removal Reshapes Eel and Russian Rivers

The removal of the Potter Valley Project dams will fundamentally change the Eel and Russian Rivers. - Rainbow trout above Scott Dam hold genetic code for sea-run life, now able to migrate.

- Non-native fish like largemouth bass and pikeminnow lose habitat; native lamprey gain spawning grounds. - Tule elk benefit from new river-bottom habitat; ospreys and eagles lose reservoir food source.

- Russian River faces reduced summer flows, challenging native species. The project, starting as early as 2028, will bring short-term sediment impacts but long-term ecological benefits for native species.