Potter Valley

History

In 1852, when William and Thomas Potter and Mose Briggs first entered what would become known as Potter Valley, they were searching for the headwaters of the Russian River from their base in Sonoma County. The Pomo people called it Ba-lo Kai. They found three Pomo villages (each about 500 people strong), the Russian headwaters, and a lush valley with wild oats "stirrup high". Eventually the Potters returned to settle there, and the valley became known by the American ranchers' name. The post office opened in 1870. In addition to his famous Ridgewood Ranch, Charles S. Howard, owner of the racehorse Seabiscuit, owned a ranch in Potter Valley where he ran cattle.

Geography

Potter Valley is located northeast of Ukiah and northeast of Lake Mendocino in Mendocino County, with the valley floor at roughly in elevation. The headwaters of the East Fork of the Russian River originate in the valley. The Potter Valley Project delivers additional water from the Eel River, which flows into the Russian River here via a controversial hydroelectric plant that tunnels through the mountains to take advantage of the relative proximity of these two waterways. This diversion supplies a significant amount of water to inland Mendocino and Sonoma counties. Potter Valley is a rich agricultural region, with excellent soils, planted mostly in irrigated pasture, wine grapes, and pears, but supporting a wide variety of farms and ranches. According to the United States Census Bureau, the Potter Valley Census Designated Place (CDP) covers an area of , of which 99.31% is land, and 0.69% is water. The entire valley, which is mostly rural, has an area of roughly .

Most-observed species

• Common Raven

  Corvus corax Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  4,024
• California/Woodhouse's Scrub-Jay

  Aphelocoma californica (Vigors, 1839) · Aves
  3,991
• Anna's Hummingbird

  Calypte anna (R.Lesson, 1829) · Aves
  3,969
• Dark-eyed Junco

  Junco hyemalis (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  3,738
• Acorn Woodpecker

  Melanerpes formicivorus (Swainson, 1827) · Aves
  3,547
• Turkey Vulture

  Cathartes aura (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  3,541
• California Towhee

  Melozone crissalis (Vigors, 1839) · Aves
  3,467
• Spotted Towhee

  Pipilo maculatus Swainson, 1827 · Aves
  3,427