Mission & History

Russian Riverkeeper's mission is to preserve, restore and enhance the natural systems of the Russian River through citizen action, scientific research and expert advocacy.

HISTORY OF RUSSIAN RIVERKEEPER

Friends of the Russian River (FORR) was incorporated in 1993 as a 501(c)(3) organization with a mission to actively pursue conservation and protection of the river's mainstem, tributaries and watershed through public education, citizen action, scientific research and expert advocacy. FORR's objective: long-term environmental and economic sustainability of the basin's wild fisheries, clean drinking water, agricultural, recreational and cultural values.

1994"Russian River In Peril" conference, 300 attended day-long discussion of the rivers ecology, threats and regulatory structure with scientists electeds & federal, state and local agency officials

1995Filed notice of intent to sue state of California over violations of the Public Trust Doctrine in the Russian River, leading to creation of Watershed Council of stakeholders to work on a comprehensive watershed management and fishery restoration plan.

1997FORR organized a two-day "Steelhead Expo" with Trout Unlimited featuring talks on steelhead's "threatened" ESA listing by National Marine Fisheries Service

1998FORR board worked with grape growers to craft agricultural practices standards to protect habitat values and prevent erosion when hillsides are converted to vineyards, which lead to Sonoma Countys' Hillside Vineyard Ordinance.

1999FORR published white paper on Sonoma County Water Agency's practices and Sonoma Counties Aggregate Resource Management Plan. Joined Friends of the Eel River in a lawsuit on a new county water plan that ignored grave impacts from Eel River diversion.

2001Russian Riverkeeper Project launched under direction of our first Riverkeeper, Don McEnhill

2002Robert F. Kennedy Jr. officially launches the Riverkeeper boat & speaks at an evening fundraiser, first River Patrol case is enforced

2003Russian Riverkeeper catches mining firm dumping waste material into stream channel under un-approved revegetation project, Hosts " Pipe Schemes" at the Raven Theater a forum on Santa Rosas wastewater plans for the Russian River. Riverkeeper becomes technical coordinator for the Russian River First Flush citizen monitoring program monitoring 36 sites in urban creeks across the watershed with over 200 trained volunteers.

2004Russian Riverkeeper outlines study plan later funded by the county to independently review "Low Flow" proposal to improve habitat for endangered fish, study concludes no evidence supports hypothesis that lowering flows will help the struggling fish populations. Riverkeeper awarded State contract for largest study in the watershed of pesticide concentrations in urban creeks.

2005Russian Riverkeeper with Trout Unlimited launch the Foss Creek Community Restoration Project. FORR receives donation of 5-acre riverside parcel in Guerneville and Riverkeeper will manage demonstration native plant revegetation and creation of natural community park. A Community Foundation of Sonoma County anonymous grant launches the Creekkeeper Academy to train 24 Creekkeepers each year to serve two years monitoring a section of the watershed.

May 2005 California Coastkeeper Alliance

Joined CCKA in May. CCKA already has assisted in over 16 state level issues facing the Russian River. Worked with CCKA & CA keepers to obtain $5K in grant funding for RR First Flush as part of consolidated CCKA grant.

September 2005 FORR changes name to Russian Riverkeeper! Friends of the Russian River has formally changed our name to Russian Riverkeeper to reflect the experience, talent and resources brought to us through our membership in the Waterkeeper Alliance and California Coastkeeper Alliance. We will never part with our proud legacy of Friends of the Russian River and it will always be part of who we are and what we do. Our name change reflects that being a member of the Waterkeeper family vastly improves our capability to protect and preserve our river for our community. Like Friends of the Russian River, Russian Riverkeeper will continue to be funded and directed by our local community and a leader in protection, promotion and enjoyment of our Russian River.

2007 Riverkeeper Report

Russian Riverkeeper was “On it!” again in 2007! Despite many challenges internal and external, Russian Riverkeeper made a difference for your River. Our many successes were due to your contributions and we look forward to your support for our work to preserve and protect the Russian River in 2008. Our advocacy work is funded entirely by local individual contributions so please think of Russian Riverkeeper in your year-end giving. Your on-going support ensures we can respond to threats facing the River and make a difference!

In 2007 Riverkeeper:

-Exposed and stopped the daily discharge of 250,000 gallons of toxic processed water from Syar gravel plant that contained enough Mercury to kill aquatic life.

-Successfully argued for additional mitigations for in-stream gravel mining permits due to mining causing increased erosion, bank instability and sedimentation.

-Met with state water officials and gave testimony in Sacramento that lead to the Mandatory Water Conservation Order that favored a flowing River over green lawns in cities.

-Documented the highest readings ever for muddy water from a construction site that was fined and increased construction site pollution enforcement by city officials in Santa Rosa and Healdsburg.

-Initiated a lawsuit against one of the biggest industrial stormwater polluters in the Russian River, Redwood Empire Sawmills in Cloverdale. Our goal is for this facility to comply with the Clean Water Act. Currently, each time it rains, this facility causes large-scale toxicity to Oat Valley Creek and the Russian River.

Please consider increasing your giving to Riverkeeper so we can meet crucial challenges in 2008 such as:

Finally end Open Pit gravel Mining along the River

Ensure wastewater reuse does not imperil wildlife or groundwater quality

Keep our River flowing rather than see it run into gutters from over-watered lawns