The Russian River
Russian Riverkeeper
 

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Russian Riverkeeper
PO Box 1335
Healdsburg, CA 95448
Phone: (707) 433-1958
Fax: (707) 433-1989
info@russianriverkeeper.org

 

Russian Riverkeeper Documentary

River Flows Outcome

On May 28th, State Water Board Order WR-2009-0034 was signed. The revised Order adopted some of our recommendations that many of you outlined in letters you sent to the State Water Board. We are hopeful that several new terms in the revised Order will avoid the worst potential impacts on the River.Riverkeeper will be very active this summer through our On The River program, monitoring water quality and recreational impacts and documenting problems.

Take a Canoe Trip to benefit Russian Riverkeeper!

SOAR Inflatable Canoes is having a Tuesday Special! Rent a canoe for a self-guided trip down the River from Healdsburg on any Tuesday and they will donate 10% to Riverkeeper. There is nothing like a leisurely trip down the River on a hot day! For more information go to www.rradventures.info. Rates are discounted for kids and dogs!

Your River Needs You

to Conserve Water!

We are on the brink of a critically dry year with possible required mandatory conservation. To preserve the health of our River we all need to reduce our water use. For some great tips on how to reduce your household water use, visit http://www.h2ouse.org/

Help us Protect the Russian River.

Russian Riverkeeper envisions a future in which an informed community works together to recognize, protect and benefit from a healthy Russian River watershed.

The values inherent in our river system are rich and diverse. The Russian River and its creeks provide a habitat for native Salmon and Steelhead, a source of clean drinking water, recreational opportunities, and natural beauty and economic benefits for the entire region. To ensure our river is protected for generations to come, we believe our community will need to work actively with the local, state and federal agencies charged with protecting this most valued public trust resource.

As part of the international Waterkeeper Alliance, Russian Riverkeeper monitors, patrols and educates in pursuit of a healthy watershed for all. As an organization we hold ourselves to the highest ideals and values. We embrace education as a tool for change. We also believe protecting our natural resources and a thriving economy are not mutually exclusive, but closely related goals that can serve each other well, as outlined in our Russian River Bill of Rights.

We invite you to browse our website and let us know what you think. Please consider your ability to support the efforts of the Russian Riverkeeper through your financial contributions and/or participation in one of our volunteer programs. We appreciate your interest in the work we are doing.

Join Russian Riverkeeper today to protect and preserve our community's watershed.


OUR WORK
:
  • Water Monitoring   • On The River  
 • Advocacy   • Education

News & Events

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Help Riverkeeper win $15,000!

Vote for us in the Eco-Champion Contest today!

In the first round of the Eco-Champion contest we came in the Top 25 out of 187 entries. Now we are on to Round 2 and need your vote! The voting continues until July 9th and you can vote once a day. Go here to cast your vote and ask your friends to vote too! You can also post it on your Facebook or Twitter for maximum exposure.

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North Sonoma Agricultural Reuse Project (NSCARP)
NSCARP would contaminate current and future drinking water supplies.

Update: Water Agency Pulls the Plug on Reuse Project

"Conceding it lacks the funding and the water customers to pull off a giant water recycling project, the Sonoma County Water Agencyon Tuesday pulled the plug on a controversial effort to reuse treated wastewater on north county farms and vineyards."

To read more about it, visit the Clean Water Coalition of Northern Sonoma County.

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Gravel Mining Lawsuit Filed

Russian Riverkeeper and two conservation groups file lawsuit to overturn county approval of continued destructive open pit gravel mining along the Russian River. See Press Release here.

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Map of Polluted Waters of California

To see a map of polluted waters in California, click on map above. Select a region to learn more about water pollution in your area, where it comes from, how it can affect your health and the environment, and how you can help stop the pollution!

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Agricultural Water Stewardship Online Resource Center

The California Institute for Rural Studies issued a new report, California Water Stewards: Innovative On-farm Water Management Practices(PDF), showcasing ten California growers implementing arange of water-saving practices on their farms.These agricultural water stewardship approaches help buffer farm operations against insecure water supplies while enhancing the environment, reducing costs, and conserving increasingly scarce water resources. The report is available online at http://www.cirsinc.org/Documents/Pub0109.1.pdf

They've also made available an Agricultural Water Stewardship Online Resource Center. Especially interesting to us is an article on dry farming. With vineyards using so much water in Sonoma County, along with the current drought conditions, it may be time to return to the old methods of dry farming. Very few vineyards in California are dry farmed any more, and John Williams of Frog’s Leap Winery, a proponent of dry farming, believes that much has been lost because of it. He compares irrigated vines to hydroponically grown fruits, and suggests that the issue of high alcohol levels in California wines is a result of irrigation.

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The 2007 First Flush Report is available here (PDF)

The Russian River First Flush 2007 event was coordinated by the Sotoyome Resource Conservation District and the Russian Riverkeeper and funded in part by the Sonoma County Water Agency and Russian Riverkeeper.This synoptic, county-wide, storm-based sampling event mobilizes participants to capture the effects of a single storm event throughout a wide geographic scope. The concurrent sampling effort captures storm water runoff to creeks that run though the urban areas
of Sonoma County. Read other Riverkeeper Water Monitoring reports here.

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Reduce Runoff: Slow It Down, Spread It Out, Soak It In

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Botanic Garden produced this 9-minute on-line video, “Reduce Runoff: Slow It Down, Spread It Out, Soak It In,” that highlights green techniques such as rain gardens, green roofs and rain barrels to help manage stormwater runoff.
The film showcases green techniques that are being used in urban areas to reduce the effects of stormwater runoff on the quality of downstream receiving waters. The goal is to mimic the natural way water moves through an area before development by using design techniques that infiltrate, evaporate, and reuse runoff close to its source.

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Green Concrete reduces need for gravel mining and produces far lower greenhouse gases! Read about it here.

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Riverkeeper Park Plans are available for your input.

Our concept is to create a natural pedestrian park with access to the Russian River in downtown Guerneville that reflects and demonstrates the goals of restoring the native plant community and proper ecological stewardship of the river banks. Take a look at the plans here and give us your input!

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Our updated list to report river problems is available

It includes phone numbers to report stormwater and construction site run-off, discharge of pollution w/o a permit, injury/death to wildlife, problems with vineyard development, hazardous spills, dumping along the river, dead birds, poaching, flood watches, etc. Please report any problems you may see!

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Read about Rainwater Harvesting and Permaculture practices here!

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Check out this new video with some amazing underwater footage to give you a below-the-scenes look at the historic reintroduction of endangered Coho Salmon to the Salmon Creek Watershed in Sonoma County, CA, where experts reveal why Coho are disappearing, and why you should care...http://www.oaecwater.org/your-salmon-creek-video

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Russian River ESA Biological Opinion released

National MarineFisheries have released their final Biological Opinion that evaluates the effects of US Army Corps and Sonoma County Water Agency activites at Lake Mendocino & Sonoma to the Russian River Estuary. This document will outline actions required o protect listed Steelhead , Coho and Chinook Salmon.

Read it here.

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See the Russian Riverkeeper on You Tube! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8CAhUHCJtuI
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New Waterkeeper Video:

The Waterkeeper Alliance has produced a new public service announcement: OURS TO PROTECT. We also invite you to preview The Russian Riverkeeper documentary available on DVD.

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Riverkeeper Park Volunteer Work Days

Wednesdays 8:30am-11:30am

in Guerneville

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WATER-FRIENDLY DEVELOPMENT IN THE EAST BAY

What is Blue-Green Building?

Green building, low-impact development, sustainable infrastructure — these terms open up a tool chest of ways to make cities more environmentally friendly. They include saving energy, recycling, using sustainable materials, minimizing global warming. This website showcases “blue-green” building – low-impact development aimed at sustaining water and watersheds, so that nature can flourish even in cities.


Complete events calendar

 

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