Water Quality

Stormwater Runoff Is A Big Problem

Although local, state and federal governments and regulatory agencies acknowledge that stormwater runoff is the largest source of pollution to our nation’s waterways, their limited resources result in this problem being inadequately addressed.  Sampling of stormwater by Riverkeeper as well as the regulated community demonstrates that stormwater containing excess sediment, heavy metals, pesticides, fertilizers, oil and grease flows into the River with every significant rain event. The general public is largely unaware of the problem with stormwater pollution and the role they must play in addressing and solving this pollution problem.

The Russian River is on the Environmental Protection Agencies 303d list as impaired for the following criteria:

• sedimentation
• threat of sedimentation
• siltation
• turbidity
• bank erosion
• impaired spawning and rearing habitat
• increased rate and depth of flooding due to sediment
• property damage in Russian River and tributaries.
  

Of interest in the Lower Russian River are

• high levels of sediment in the estuary
• high turbidity during storm events
• bacteria counts at public beaches
• temperature for salmon
• discharges from agriculture and industry
• stormwater runoff
• and other sources.

Read more about California's Polluted Water list, including an interactive map.