The Center for Environmental Economic Development (CEED) recently completed a 60-page report, A River in the Balance: Benefits and Costs of Restoring Natural Water Flows to the Eel River. Authored by CEED economist Dan Ihara, and commissioned by Friends of the Eel River (FOER), it describes the impacts of water diversion. The Potter Valley Project (PVP) has diverted water from the Eel River to the Russian River watershed for since 1908.

The two PVP diversion dams destroyed over 100 miles of anadromous spawning habitat, and reduced critical summer water flows by over 80%. Economic loss to the fisheries alone could exceed $50 million annually.

The report makes several other economic points:
? Restoration of natural Eel River flow levels can increase opportunities for rafting and kayaking and thereby generate over $2 million annually.
? Citizens are willing to pay to preserve the "intrinsic" or non-market value of fish.
? There are significant resources of value to Native American tribes, including spiritual values related to salmon and water, which cannot be given a price.
? The diversion produces electricity, but it may cost more than it generates.
? Alternative water resources are available to the Russian River area.

A brief summary of the report appears in the summer 2002 issue of the Eel River Reporter, distributed free locally, and the full report should be available soon through Friends of the Eel foer@eelriver.org.

More Updates

• CEED Update
  
• Jobs and Road Report
  
• August, 2003 Update
  
• November, 2002 Update
  
• May, 2002 Update
  

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