The Round Valley Indian Tribes are taking a stand against the Trump administration's efforts to hinder the removal of dams on the Eel River. This move is part of their broader mission to restore the health of their reservation and address the alarming rates of diabetes and obesity within their community and other Indigenous populations. The tribes' efforts are deeply intertwined with the river, a connection that has persisted for millennia. As Parker, the current president of the Round Valley Indian Tribes, states, 'We are Native people tied to the resources and rhythms of the Eel River. Our health is connected to the river.'
The tribes' struggle is centered around reclaiming water rights that have been overlooked for a century. Pacific Gas & Electric Co., a dominant player in the region for generations, has proposed decommissioning its network of dams and a hydropower plant in Lake and Mendocino counties. This proposal has sparked a federal review, pitting the tribes and environmental groups in favor of dam removal against farming interests, reservoir supporters, and the Trump administration, which has expressed skepticism about dam demolition. The tribes, despite having minimal say when the dams were initially constructed, have been actively involved in recent talks aimed at planning the future of the Eel River.
The central issue revolves around a century-old diversion that links the Eel River to the Russian River in the south, serving farms and approximately 100,000 residents who rely on the upper Russian for drinking and irrigation. This diversion has attracted a multitude of interests, including counties and farm and fishery groups, highlighting the complexity of the situation. The tribes' ancestors' water rights were completely disregarded, as Parker emphasizes, 'Our water rights were completely ignored.' The Round Valley Indian Tribes found themselves in a survival mode when the dams were built and the diversions began.
The tribes have now secured a powerful ally in the Trump administration, which has raised objections to dam regulators in a letter from Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins. Rollins warns that the plan, if approved, will devastate hundreds of family farms and eliminate over a century of agricultural tradition in Potter Valley. The tribes responded by highlighting the administration's failure to acknowledge their 'senior water and fishing rights, much less our culture, our economy, and our way of life.'
The two-basin solution, a locally brokered water pact, has been proposed to address the water supply and fish in the Eel River. This solution aims to continue diversions from the Eel River to the Russian River after dam removal, ensuring sufficient water for salmon and steelhead runs. However, the deal faces staunch opposition, with Cloverdale Vice Mayor Todd Lands being a prominent critic. Lands fears that the change from year-round to seasonal diversions will not be enough to sustain Lake Mendocino, which is crucial for dry-season flows in the upper Russian River.
Despite the challenges, the Round Valley Indian Tribes remain committed to their mission, emphasizing the importance of collaboration and a healthy ecosystem for both fish and people. The tribes' ancestors have a deep connection to the area, dating back to 'the beginning of time,' as Bezdek notes. The Eel River and its tributaries were the center of Indigenous culture, religion, and trade. The tribes aim to restore the health of the river and their community, as Russ states, 'If the river is not healthy, the community is not healthy.' The tribes' efforts are a testament to their resilience and determination to protect their heritage and the environment.
