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Brian Hines, a Creekkeeper Volunteer & TU State Officer, checks maps at an illegally dug channel in Alexander Valley.

On-the River (OTR)

All too often we find homeowners building elaborate docks with no permits such as this person above. This dock was being prepared as a ramp for a hydro-foil race boat and allowed sediment, concrete, roadbase and other pollutants into the river.

Related: Report a polluter to Riverkeeper.

Maintaining an on-the-water presence is at the core of all Waterkeeper programs. Russian Riverkeeper’s OTR program is the heart of the organization and consists of maintaining a constant presence on our River to bring information about the River to the community. The OTR program also empowers the community by providing training to gather information on water quality, riparian health, aquatic and terrestrial wildlife, land use and human activity. All the work we do is grounded in the everyday reality we see on the Russian River. Every year we spend hundreds of hours on the river from the upper reaches in the Ukiah Valley all the way to the mouth at Jenner. OTR is used for identifying problems impacting the river, documenting regulatory compliance and researching watershed dynamics. The information we gather often directs our activities and encompasses water quality, riparian vegetation, bank stability, terrestrial and aquatic wildlife communities, land use and human interaction with the river. We are often the first to spot problems and trends on the river and sometimes bring the regulators and elected officials on the river to see problems first hand and work on solutions. We spend more time on the river than some agencies charged with protecting the river, so our impact on problems is significant.

Our tools of the trade are fairly simple. It starts with a working knowledge of watershed systems, biology, water quality, resource protection laws and regulations and how to document problems and who to report them to. Our main patrol craft is a canoe although we sometimes use a kayak, aluminum skiff or inflatable zodiac with our modern low emission Honda outboard. Inside our boats our tools include a notebook, cell phone, binoculars, camera and video recorder, GPS device, electronic water meter and water sampling equipment. We also rely on reports from the public, so please let us know if you see anything of concern on the River!