Dear Ms. Townsend:
In 2010, I submitted comments requesting that the lower Russian River be listed for nutrients (attached). I included many photos and documents to substantiate my request (list attached). For awhile I was in touch with a man named Mr. Chu and eventually I was told that my photos were inadequate evidence for listing. Since that was the best I had, and since I lost track of the process for a long while, I didn’t do anything further. If the Board is interested in any or all of my original attachments, I would be happy to send them to you. Please let me know if they are of interest.
Not very long ago I came across some phosphorus data developed by the Sonoma County Water Agency for the Biological Opinion on the lower river (attached). I discovered that 100% of the phosphorus data in 2014 was out of compliance at all monitoring sites along the lower Russian River. This is a very serious issue, especially in light of the anticipated action to permanently lower summer river flows as per the Biological Opinion. Also, in light of drought and global warming, it is quite possible that we will be looking at invasions of cyanobacteria. I am also including my photo project from 2009, an extremely low flow year, showing many, many algal blooms during the summer season.
I also include a Regional Board document written as part of the Scoping for the Fish Flow Project addressing anticipated impairments resulting from low flow.
I have some health issues that prevent me from attending the meeting Thursday, but I hope you will take this evidence into consideration and make it part of the record. I know I am very late with all this; I found the phosphorus data fairly recently and did not know this item was coming before your board until a few days ago. I hope you will consider this information.
Sincerely,
Brenda Adelman
PS: In the 2012 Water Quality Report please look at pages 21 through 24.
Attachments: RRWPC 2009 Photo Project
NCRWQCB letter to SCWA, November 15, 2010