Tribe taps Sonoma County wineries, farms to save Russian River water
To hear water stakeholders tell their stories, the connection to the Russian River is every bit as personal and spiritual as it is professional in nature. Take, for instance, Dry Creek Rancheria Tribal Chairman Chris Wright. The Pomo Indians tribal leader is spearheading a major grant-funded, multi-million-dollar, drought-resistant water capture plan. He hopes it will spark interest from Healdsburg-area wineries and farms in a 7,000-acre area to help with the water supply that keeps the Russian River economic microcosm going. … The phased-in project aims to replenish the groundwater basin with up to 9,000-acre feet of water savings annually, when the Russian River increases to high flows. Traditionally, that stormwater runoff represents a wasted supply.
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