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Latest entries

May 2009: Water Shortage

May, 2009

Dear Russian River Supporter

Lawns or canoes?  Water shortage means severe limits for recreation season…..
Urban water use in Sonoma County and Marin is at least twice as great in summer as in winter.  Coupled with high temperatures that cause evaporation, landscape watering and over-watering commonly accounts for greatly increased water use.

The Russian River is now experiencing one of the worst water shortages since the Sonoma County Water Agency (SCWA) came into being in the early 1950’s. It’s a complex story, and for those of us downstream, it’s profoundly unfair, since lower river residents themselves use far less water in summer than their urban friends.

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July 2009: Lower Flows and Basin Plan Amendment

Dear Russian River Supporter:

A Temporary Reprieve….

We have positive news to report thus far this summer, although it’s still fairly early.  As you recall from our last mailer, Russian River flows were scheduled to go down as low as 35 cubic feet per second (cfs) after July 6th.  In fact, they were supposed to go down to 85 cfs between June 15th and July 6th.  Those levels haven’t materialized yet. We have had few extended hot spells this season and Lake Mendocino storage levels have remained fairly constant, but there are signs that lower flows may be on the way, and we just have to wait and see what will happen.

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September 2009: Shelving of Water Project & RRCSD Wastewater Pond Lawsuit

September, 2009

Dear Russian River Supporter:

Water Agency Changing Course…..
Much to the chagrin of Sonoma County water contractors, half of whom provide water delivery services outside the Russian River watershed, the Sonoma County Water Agency has finally taken action to change its course.

At their September 15th Board meeting, Water Agency Directors (Supervisors) dropped their seventeen year quest for additional water rights that would allow increased water diversions of 26,000 acre feet a year (326,000 gallons per acre foot) from the Russian River.  That action included dropping the Water Project, its Environmental Impact Report (EIR), and the Application to the State Board for increased water diversions.

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November 2009: Santa Rosa Wastewater & RRWPC Picture Project

November, 2009

Dear RRWPC Supporter

Our last mailer of the year is customarily a time to review our accomplishments and challenges of the prior year.  2009 has been a very busy time for water issues in Sonoma County.  Gazing into the future, and based on what we have seen so far, we surmise that it will get even more hectic in 2010.  We also take this opportunity to thank our Board, our other volunteers, and all of you for helping to support and sustain our efforts.

We include our recent article submitted just days ago to the Sonoma County Gazette, summarizing current local water issue events.  We thank publisher Vesta Copestakes for this beautifully formatted community newspaper that regularly publishes our work and that of other community members.   You can see for yourself, as the entire paper can be read online at www.sonomacountygazette.com, including past issues.  This mailer also contains a donor list of those who have given $25 or more from November 1, 2008, through October 31, 2009.  Because of limited space, we could not list those donating less than that amount.We are very grateful to all of you for your loyal and generous support.

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March 2010: Low Flow

March, 2010

Dear RRWPC Supporter:

THE RUSSIAN RIVER NEEDS YOUR HELP!! Please send enclosed protest to State Water Board before April 12, 2010. Copies must also be sent to Sonoma County Water Agency.   Here’s the story; directions follow.

Background….
As you know, the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) issued a Biological Opinion (BO) about 1.5 years ago to institute management changes in the Russian River that would protect three fish species of concern: Coho and Chinook salmon and Steelhead Trout.  While RRWPC supports efforts to save the threatened and endangered species, the Order was very limited and did not examine all project impacts.  Furthermore, much of the project is a long-term experiment and results may not be known for fifteen years.

Because of very low storage levels in Lake Mendocino, Sonoma County Water Agency (SCWA) obtained permission to temporarily lower flows from 125 cubic feet per second (cfs) to between 35 and 70 cfs in 2002, 2004, 2007, and 2009.  SCWA was then ordered by the BO to apply to the State Water Board for a PERMANENT lowering of flows in the Russian River, which they did on September 23, 2009.  RRWPC has been tracking the Petitions in regard to the Hacienda and Dry Creek monitoring points since 2004.

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Sonoma County Gazette, April 2010

Protest alert for permanent river low flow!

by Brenda Adelman

Background….
Over a year ago, the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) issued a Biological Opinion (BO) to institute management changes in the Russian River that would protect three fish species of concern: Coho and Chinook salmon and Steelhead Trout.  While many support efforts to save the threatened and endangered species, the Order did not address many project impacts, such as water quality, recreation and the local economy.  Furthermore, much of the project is a long-term experiment and results may not be known for many years.

Because of very low storage levels in Lake Mendocino, Sonoma County Water Agency (SCWA) was permitted to temporarily lower flows from 125 cubic feet per second (cfs) to between 35 and 70 cfs in 2002, 2004, 2007, and 2009.  SCWA was also ordered by the Biological Opinion to apply to the State Water Board for PERMANENTLY lowered flows in the Russian River, which they did on September 23, 2009.  The State determined that protests are due by April 12, 2010, BEFORE they conduct environmental review.  There is also a study of water quality by U.S.G.S. that will be released AFTER the protest period has ended.  People are urged to ask for more time to express concerns.

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