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The river south of Healdsburg is pockmarked by gravel pits up to 90 feet deep that will forever compromise our water supply and groundwater quality.

Advocacy

Our organization was founded on advocacy that brought many watershed problems and issues into the public arena such as endangered Steelhead and Salmon, gravel mining, vineyard development practices, bank stabilization policies, urban stormwater pollution, riparian zone protection and Mercury pollution. Our goal has always been to research each issue and get to the bottom of it to propose solutions or stop a harmful practice such as disposing of grape processing waste near streams or wholesale stream bank clearing. If necessary we will use legal means to stop harm to the river such as our threat to litigate over a Vino Farms proposal to rip-rap (cover river banks with large rock) that brought Vino Farms and the county to the table to work on a better project. We view each issue strategically and propose solutions that work for the river and property owners.

CURRENT ADVOCACY ISSUES

Gravel MiningWhen will the damage end? On July 8, 2008 Sonoma County Supervisors will either Keep or Break their promise and own regulations that called for the END of Open Pit mining along the middle reach of the Russian River. Indications are that the Supervisors have no intention of honoring their own county gravel ordinace or promises made in writing to settle years of litigation to end the permanently destructive practice of Open Pit Gravel Mining. In addition the Russian River is coming under renewed assualt from in-stream mining operations with Shamrock mining below Cloverdale again this year and two applications pending to resume mining in the lower Alexander Valley and Middle Reach. In-stream mining has destroyed numerous structures and caused hundreds of acres of property loss due to bank collapse as well as degrading spawning habitat for endangered Chinook Salmon due to channel incision or downcutting. We the public unfairly subsidize gravel mining in the Russian River by paying for replacing bridges, restoring habitat and endangered fish - We demand that the gravel miners pay the true and full cost of their activities or we will continue to oppose gravel mining in the Russian River!

Clean Water Act & Wastewater Issues 303(d) List of Impaired Waters: Continue to support Regional water board effort to keep Laguna listed for Nutrients, review and comment on Santa Rosa & River Rock Casino NPDES permits, document compliance with construction stormwater permits, work with cities to implement improved post-construction stormwater pollution reduction measures, continue to oppose efforts to allow relaxation of water quality standards via the use of "Mixing Zones", work with Waterkeepers to stop various federal schemes to relax water quality protections and standards, review and comment on all treated wastewater recycling proposals to ensure they do not harm surface or groundwater resources and develop citizen enforcement cases as necessary to improve compliance in the watershed.

Riparian Protection Issues Ensure Sonoma county General Plan Update includes increased protection for riparian areas from development and misguided bank stabilization schemes, work with county to develop bank stabilization policy, continue to review, comment and oppose bank stabilization via armoring with rocks that further degrades riparian functions.

Enforcement Policy Continue efforts with California Coastkeeper Alliance to separate enforcement staff and permitting staff at Regional Water Boards, work with Dept of Fish and Game to further clarify riparian protection regulations, increase enforcement of stormwater violations at Regional Water Board. Did you know that in 1955 we had more Fish and Game wardens than we do today? Did you know that DF&G wardens are the LOWEST paid law enforcement personnel in the state? Although our population has grown by tens of millions our Fish and Wildlife have far less protection than after World War II. Please write your Governor and DF&G Commissioner to demand more wardens by increasing their pay to the level of other law enforcement agencies