PROJECT LOCATION AND DESCRIPTION

The study area is located in northern California on the east fork of the Russian River at Coyote Valley, near the city of Ukiah.  The Russian River drains an area of 1,485 square miles.  Approximately two-thirds of this area is in Sonoma County, with the remainder in Mendocino County.  The existing Corps project, Coyote Valley Dam, which was completed in 1957, consists of an earth-filled dam 160 feet high and 3,560 feet long, with a reservoir storage capacity of 122,000 acre-feet.  The authorized project, which created Lake Mendocino, included sediment, flood control, and domestic and agricultural water supply pools with a storage capacity of 199,000 acre-feet.  An additional water supply portion, which included additional storage for about 77,000 acre-feet, was placed in the deferred category as local interests considered it unnecessary at that time. However, now the population at risk below the dam has continued to grow and is now over 100,000. Since then, increased development and prolonged periods of drought have caused a need for additional water supplies as well as improvements for anadromous fish habitats. This will likely be a multipurpose project with elements of ecosystem restoration.

            TOTAL FUNDING

            TOTAL COST                                                                                $ 3,000,000

            FEDERAL COST                                                                       $ 2,158,000*

            NON-FEDERAL COST                                                               $ 842,000* 

            TOTAL FEDERAL APPROP THROUGH FY 2025                       $ 500,000

            FY 2026 BUDGET                                                                     $ 0

            COST TO COMPLETE                                                               $ 1,658,000

*Figure includes $658,000 tribal waiver

FY26 ACCOMPLISHMENTS

• Updates in progress. Check back soon for more information.

FY25 ACCOMPLISHMENTS

• Project delivery team (PDT) developed Project Management Plan and an initial array of alternatives.
• Non-federal sponsors Mendocino County Inland Water and Power Commission (MCIWPC) and Lytton Rancheria of California and the Corps signed the Feasibility Cost-Share Agreement in March 2025.

ISSUES AND OTHER INFORMATION

• The non-federal sponsors are the Mendocino County Inland Water and Power Commission (MCIWPC) and Lytton Rancheria of California. Lytton Rancheria of California is a federally recognized tribe and therefore enables the project to be eligible for a tribal waiver, which is an amount credited towards the non-federal cost share amount.

CONGRESSIONAL INTEREST­

• 2^nd District, CA, Rep. Jared Huffman

POINT OF CONTACT

• Deputy for Project Management, Thomas R. Williams, 415-503-6560

Updated on 20 February 2026