Editorial: Judge’s ruling muddies North Coast water plans
A federal judge just added yet another layer to planning a sustainable future for the region’s water resources. U.S. District Judge Jacqueline Scott Corley ruled that the Army Corps of Engineers violates the Endangered Species Act with water released from Coyote Valley Dam into the Russian River. Because of the way the 66-year-old dam is designed, a lot of sediment gets mixed with the water and clouds the Russian River. Salmon and other fish are accustomed to some natural turbidity in the water, as the clouding is called, but not that much. The good news is that the Corps of Engineers has a few months to come up with at least a temporary plan to address the judge’s concerns.