COYOTE VALLEY DAM, LAKE MENDOCINO
OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE
PROJECT LOCATION AND DESCRIPTION
Lake Mendocino, also known as Coyote Valley Dam, 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.
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TOTAL FUNDING
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TOTAL COST:
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N/A
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FEDERAL COST:
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N/A
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NON-FEDERAL COST:
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N/A
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FISCAL YEAR 2025 ALLOCATION
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$4,507,000
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FY 2026 BUDGET:
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$4,694,000
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COST TO COMPLETE:
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N/A
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FY 26 ACCOMPLISHMENTS
- Updates to the Coyote Valley Dam Water Control Manual (WCM) were completed Fall 2025. The manual leverages Forecast Informed Reservoir Operations (FIRO), a new paradigm and associated decision support tools that make permanent multiple techniques developed in R&D and during major deviations. This approach has already shown several efficiencies in the protection of downstream communities (flood risk management) and water security/supply.
- Officials from Sonoma Water, UC San Diego’s Scripps Institution of Oceanography Center of Western Weather and Water Extremes (CW3E) and California Department of Water Resources commemorated revised water control manual for Lake Mendocino in a ceremony at the lake in October 2025.
FY 25 ACCOMPLISHMENTS
- Completed engineering work on the Water Control Manual update. The updated manual and flood control rules integrate forecast informed reservoir operations (FIRO) allow for enhanced delivery of the project’s multi-purpose functions.
FY 24 ACCOMPLISHMENTS
- Executed cooperating association agreement (CAA) with the Greater Ukiah Business and Tourism Association (GUBTA). Among other things, the CAA enables the non-profit arm of GUBTA to serve as a mechanism to invest in operations and maintenance of the recreation program and enhance relationships with other partners and stakeholders in the community.
ISSUES AND OTHER INFORMATION
- The project continues to pursue local stakeholder relationships including tribes, businesses, and non-profits to enhance the public’s experience at Lake Mendocino.
CONGRESSIONAL INTEREST
- 2nd District, Rep. Jared Huffman
POINT OF CONTACT
- Deputy for Project Management, Thomas R. Williams, 415-503-6560
Updated on 20 February 2026
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