Trump Agriculture Secretary Pushes Southern California Water District to Buy Northern California Dams Set for Removal

Trump Administration Intervenes in California Dam Removal Battle

In a surprising move that spans 600 miles and raises eyebrows across California, President Trump's Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins announced this week that a Southern California water district is in talks to purchase two Northern California dams currently slated for removal.

Southern California's Northern Water Grab?

The announcement centers on the Potter Valley Project - a pair of dams owned by Pacific Gas & Electric Company (PG&E) in Lake and Mendocino counties. Rollins posted on X Tuesday that the Elsinore Valley Municipal Water District in Riverside County has expressed "strong interest" in purchasing the aging hydroelectric project.

This development immediately drew criticism from Rep. Jared Huffman, who represents the region and helped broker agreements for dam removal. Huffman characterized the announcement as having "the marks of a Southern California water grab."

The Stakes: Environment vs. Agriculture

The Potter Valley Project consists of the Scott and Cape Horn dams along with an outdated 118-year-old power plant that diverts Eel River water into the upper Russian River system. These diversions have supported local farms and boosted water supplies for customers in Mendocino and northern Sonoma counties for over a century.

Under a historic agreement reached in February 2025, both dams are scheduled for demolition in what would become the nation's next major dam removal project. The plan aims to restore California's third-longest river and revive struggling salmon and steelhead trout populations.

Trump Administration's Strategic Intervention

The Agriculture Department's involvement isn't coincidental. In December, Rollins filed a federal notice to intervene in PG&E's decommissioning bid, urging the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to reject the utility's application to surrender its operating license.

Dam removal opponents, including Lake County officials and farming interests, have actively lobbied the Trump administration to step in and preserve the water infrastructure.

A Puzzling Partnership

The Elsinore Valley Municipal Water District serves 163,000 customers in western Riverside County with an annual operating budget of $125 million. The district imports approximately 75% of its water from the State Water Project running through the Central Valley.

Critically, the Eel River system has no connection to the State Water Project, with the closest hub located dozens of miles away across rugged terrain. This geographic reality makes the Southern California district's interest in a Northern California water project all the more puzzling.

Local Opposition to Federal Interference

Round Valley Indian Tribes President Joseph Parker firmly stated, "The dams must come down," emphasizing the goal to "restore the health and habitat of the river and ensure people have access to water."

Members of the coalition working toward dam removal characterized Rollins' announcement as a "top-down end-around" that bypasses local interests and years of careful negotiations.

Financial Reality Check

PG&E operates the Potter Valley Project at a $1 million annual deficit and filed formal decommissioning plans in July 2025. The utility giant says the aging infrastructure no longer makes financial sense.

Any potential buyer would face significant challenges:

• Costly upgrades for fish passage required for relicensing
• Unresolved seismic safety concerns with Scott Dam
• An estimated $10+ million needed just for initial feasibility studies

Political Theater or Genuine Solution?

Cloverdale Vice Mayor Todd Lands, a vocal dam preservation advocate, welcomed the Riverside County district's interest, calling it "a solution for all" that "protects public health, supports agriculture and rural communities."

However, the district's public affairs officer, Sylvia Ornelas, remained vague about specific plans, stating only that they're in "initial stages" of gathering information about "long-term water availability" options.

What's Next?

The announcement adds another layer of complexity to an already contentious water rights battle. While Trump administration officials frame this as protecting agricultural interests, environmental groups and tribal nations view it as federal interference in carefully negotiated local agreements.

As California continues grappling with water scarcity and environmental restoration, this 600-mile water grab attempt highlights the ongoing tensions between agricultural needs, environmental protection, and federal versus local decision-making authority.

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission will ultimately decide whether to approve PG&E's decommissioning application or consider alternative ownership arrangements.