Every year in Sonoma County, steelhead trout and coho salmon return to spawn in creeks along the Russian River that are fed by groundwater. Environmental advocates have long urged the county to adopt measures that would prevent groundwater pumping and well drilling from drying up these streams and damaging vital fish habitat. Now, a Sonoma County Superior Court judge has sided with environmental groups, ruling that the county violated state law and failed to meet its obligations to protect so-called public trust resources when officials adopted rules for wells under an amended local ordinance. Coho salmon are listed as an endangered species, while steelhead are listed as threatened. Both spawn in Russian River tributaries including Mill, Mark West and Green Valley creeks. The court’s decision underlines a legal requirement that California counties ensure that unchecked groundwater pumping isn’t drying up streams and threatening the survival of species, said Sean Bothwell, executive director of California Coastkeeper Alliance.

Related articles:

• Sonoma Sun: Chinook Salmon counts in the Russian River are dropping
• The Press Democrat: Editorial: Time to revist county groundwater rules