Looking into Hidden Agendas Behind the Proposed Plan to Save the Potter Valley Project
An independent investigative report by MendoLocal.News — funded by you
MendoLocal.News is launching its first Go Fund Me for an investigative project.
The link to our Go Fund me
Who is the Elsinore Valley Municipal Water District and what do they want with water from Northern California — and Potter Valley specifically? Why have they suddenly expressed interest in buying the Potter Valley Project from PG&E? Are they really interested in helping out local farmers in Mendocino County? Or do they have a hidden agenda/s?
Some questions worth pursuing include who is paying for EVMWD’s planned expansion? Separate from the costs of taking control of the Potter Valley Project, EVMWD is already pursuing $500 million in new projects, including an estimated $102 million treatment facility for PFAS contamination in Riverside County. Rates for their customers are being raised dramatically. How would taking over the Potter Valley Project affect existing customers in Southern California and how would the existing infrastructure projects affect the cost of water to Potter Valley farmers should the project become part of EVMWD?
With your support, we’ll launch an investigative project to find answers.
The reporting will produce a focused, multi-part series examining:
The financial structure behind EVMWD’s expansion plans
The potential impact on water rates in both Southern California and Potter Valley
Whether the Potter Valley Project proposal serves local communities—or outside interests
We’re asking for $4,500 to begin this work.
Investigative reporting takes time and experience.
I began working on investigative journalism projects 30 years ago for small newspapers and national publications. Before putting together the founding board of Mendo Local Public Media in August 2025, I did investigative reporting for organizations like U.S. News & World Report, Knight Ridder, and the San Jose Mercury News. .
At Mendo Local Public Media we do things differently.
We try to be rigorously nonpartisan. Our local news is not for sale to anonymous donors. We pledge to disclose all grants and gifts above $5,000. We do this so that you can hold us accountable for our coverage — or lack of coverage — of the donor and the donor’s favorite issues.
Please consider contributing.
We cannot do this investigation without your support. We are still short more than $3,000 of our goal of $10,000 for the campaign for help with operational expenses that we launched in February.
If you’d like to help but don’t have funds to spare, please share this campaign with others. We can also talk about creative fundraising — bake sales, dog washes, ice water challenges, and more.
Local investigative reporting doesn’t happen by accident. It happens because readers decide it matters.
Links to our coverage of the decommissioning of the Potter Valley Project are below.
Elsinore Valley Municipal Water District Vice President Explains Interest in Potter Valley Project (April 23, 2026)
Federal officials cite potential buyer for Potter Valley Project as local stakeholders raise question (April 23, 2026)
USDA Steps Into Potter Valley Decommissioning Fight (December 22, 2025)
USDA to PG&E: Mitigation is Required for Potter Valley Decommissioning (December 22, 2025)
Our coverage of local water rate increases may also be relevant.
Water Bills Set to Climb 60% Over Five Years for Ukiah Valley Residents (December 22, 2025)