Litigation

Here's How

Know of litigation that's water- or watershed-related and should be listed on this page?

Email us a suggested title, description, and the link and we'll post it if we deem it appropriate.

Current Litigation

Riverkeeper Files Lawsuit Against Gravel Mining In Ukiah

Riverkeeper is concerned that the Ukiah Valley is now on the path to a future with more deep gravel pits, like Sonoma County’s Middle Reach, that will permanently destroy prime farmlands and create permanent impacts to the Russian River’s health and water quality and its native Steelhead that have been prized by generations of anglers. Open pit gravel mining transforms fertile farmland into a forever barren landscape pockmarked with deep stagnant pits that spew sediment into our already sediment-polluted Russian River in flood events. Read Press Release(download PDF).

Past Litigation

1995- Riverkeeper filed 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.

2008- Riverkeeper improved water quality in the Russian River by achieving a settlement with Redwood Empire Sawmill in Cloverdale for storm water pollution prevention measures and the payment of mitigation funds to help restore local waterways.