The Russian River drains the
sparsely populated, forested coastal area that stretches from San
Francisco to the Oregon border.
Along the Russian, federally funded dams have created Lake
Mendocino (at the Coyote Dam) and Lake Sonoma (Warm Springs Dam).
Locally built aqueducts channel water from these lakes into
growing Marin and Sonoma counties.
The Russian River is one of the most flood-prone rivers in
California, routinely overflowing during wet years. As storm
systems approach California, the wet bands of clouds are uplifted
by the Coast Range, releasing precipitation first and most
intensely on the coastal streams. One flood control dam is on the
Russian River and one on Dry Creek, a tributary to the Russian
River, which can capture about 20 percent of flood flows.
In addition to flooding issues, the Russian River faces other
challenges to balance competing demands for its water. In an area
that was once legacy to massive numbers of salmon and steelhead,
restoring the fishery has been a key focus, while water providers
must accommodate municipal needs as well as those of grape
growers in one of the world’s most prized wine-producing regions.
At the Aug. 21 meeting of the Russian River Recreation and
Parks District, board members faced a wave of frustration from
Vacation Beach residents over a neighbor who they say has been
blocking access to the Russian River. The heated discussion
centered around a fence erected by Mark and Rita O’Flynn,
longtime residents and environmental stewards, which some
neighbors claim has effectively privatized a portion of the
riverbank historically open to the public. The district has
standing in the river access dispute because it is responsible
for managing public lands and ensuring public access to these
areas under California law. The Public Resources Code Section
5780 grants recreation and parks districts the authority to
maintain parks, trails, and natural resources, including access
to navigable waters like the Russian River. The board is
legally obligated to investigate and address any obstructions
that infringe on public rights, such as access guaranteed by
the Public Trust Doctrine and prescriptive easements, making it
the appropriate body to resolve such issues.
The City of Ukiah is taking action over impacts to
the Upper Russian River, including environmental and economic
harm to the region, caused by PG&E dramatically reducing
flows to the Russian River from the Potter Valley Project. In a
formal “Request for Rehearing” filed July 29th,
the City again underscored how the Federal Energy
Regulatory Commission’s (FERC) approval for PG&E’s
reduction in water flows was made without fairly or adequately
considering the harmful impacts to the Upper Russian River.
The Lower Russian River Municipal Advisory Council (MAC)
reached a high-water mark in addressing some of the region’s
most pressing concerns at last week’s meeting. Often dismissed
as a Potemkin village, the MAC broke through the usual
surface-level chatter this time, digging into the real issues
plaguing the Russian River community. … The key topic
was the always thorny issue of public access to the river
versus private property rights. Don McEnhill, executive
director of Russian Riverkeeper, got straight to the point:
“The public’s rights do not include the right to trespass
across private property to get to the river. Those access
rights are incumbent upon members of the public getting to the
river via legal public access like our county river parks.”
Summer is here, and the Russian River is a favorite spot for
cooling off. But is it really safe to take a dip? The answer is
complicated. Recent water quality tests reveal a mixed picture.
Coliform bacteria are a group of microorganisms commonly found
in the environment, including human and animal feces. The US
EPA recommends that fresh recreational water for body contact
have fewer than 126 colonies per 100 milliliters
(mL). … High levels of coliform bacteria, including
E. coli, pose significant health risks. Ingesting contaminated
water or exposing open wounds can lead to gastrointestinal
illnesses and skin infections. Symptoms can range from mild
discomfort to more severe conditions requiring medical
attention. A key culprit is the aging and failing septic
systems along the lower Russian River, particularly between
Guerneville and Monte Rio.
Many of California’s watersheds are
notoriously flashy – swerving from below-average flows to jarring
flood conditions in quick order. The state needs all the water it
can get from storms, but current flood management guidelines are
strict and unyielding, requiring reservoirs to dump water each
winter to make space for flood flows that may not come.
However, new tools and operating methods are emerging that could
lead the way to a redefined system that improves both water
supply and flood protection capabilities.
California is chock full of rivers and creeks, yet the state’s network of stream gauges has significant gaps that limit real-time tracking of how much water is flowing downstream, information that is vital for flood protection, forecasting water supplies and knowing what the future might bring.
That network of stream gauges got a big boost Sept. 30 with the signing of SB 19. Authored by Sen. Bill Dodd (D-Napa), the law requires the state to develop a stream gauge deployment plan, focusing on reactivating existing gauges that have been offline for lack of funding and other reasons. Nearly half of California’s stream gauges are dormant.
This 25-minute documentary-style DVD, developed in partnership
with the California Department of Water Resources, provides an
excellent overview of climate change and how it is already
affecting California. The DVD also explains what scientists
anticipate in the future related to sea level rise and
precipitation/runoff changes and explores the efforts that are
underway to plan and adapt to climate.
A new look for our most popular product! And it’s the perfect
gift for the water wonk in your life.
Our 24×36-inch California Water Map is widely known for being the
definitive poster that shows the integral role water plays in the
state. On this updated version, it is easier to see California’s
natural waterways and man-made reservoirs and aqueducts
– including federally, state and locally funded
projects – the wild and scenic rivers system, and
natural lakes. The map features beautiful photos of
California’s natural environment, rivers, water projects,
wildlife, and urban and agricultural uses and the
text focuses on key issues: water supply, water use, water
projects, the Delta, wild and scenic rivers and the Colorado
River.
The Russian River is one of the major northern streams that drain
the sparsely populated, forested coastal area that stretches from
San Francisco to the Oregon border.
Other North Coast waterways include the Klamath, Trinity, Eel and
Smith [see also North
Coast Rivers]. These rivers and their tributaries flow west
to the Pacific Ocean and account for about 40 percent of the
state’s total runoff.
Travel most anywhere in California and there is a river, creek or
stream nearby. Some are highly noticeable and are an integral
part of the community. Others are more obscure, with intermittent
flows or enclosed by boxed concrete flood channels that conceal
their true appearance. No matter the location, each area shares
some common themes: cooperation and conflict regarding water
allocations, greater water conservation, an awareness of
environmental stewardship, and plans that ensure long-term
sustainability.
This printed issue of Western Water examines the Russian and
Santa Ana rivers – areas with ongoing issues not dissimilar to
the rest of the state – managing supplies within a lingering
drought, improving water quality and revitalizing and restoring
the vestiges of the native past.