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In response to the precipitous decline of coho salmon in the Russian River
watershed, the Russian River Coho Water Resources Partnership (Partnership)
is developing a systematic approach to improve streamflow and water supply
reliability in five Russian River tributaries critical to the recovery of
endangered coho salmon.
Initial efforts will
focus in five first-priority streams --
Dutch Bill Creek,
Grape Creek,
Green Valley Creek,
Mark West Creek and
Mill Creek
-- where streamflow is believed to limit salmonid survival and where cooperative projects could provide significant opportunities for both salmonids and water users.
Just as the Mediterranean climate of the Russian River watershed can place pressures during the dry season, it can provide opportunities to ameliorate those pressures during the rainy winter. Using a suite of tools ranging from innovative conservation strategies to increase off-stream storage opportunities for use during critical flow periods, the multi-disciplinary team of the Partnership is committed to working with landowners and water users to address
complex issues related to salmonid recovery and provide well-developed,
long-term solutions for communities and the environment.
The long-term goals of the Partnership are to
- Restore a more natural flow regime during the dry season;
- Increase viability, and ultimately numbers, of coho salmon in the Russian River watershed;
- Increase water reliability for water users in each watershed;
- Develop governance mechanisms to carry out these efforts;
- Develop tools and methods for others to use.
To meet the needs of the landowners, the regulatory agencies, and fish and
other natural resources, we will employ a science-based approach
to identify the areas that have the greatest
opportunity for implementing alternative water management
strategies and work with landowners to identify,
study, permit and finance solutions that improve streamflow.
The first year of the program will focus on collecting
information to lay a scientific foundation to develop streamflow
and water use management plans for each watershed
and on working with the landowners and water users to identify
tools and solutions to improve water reliability
and flows. Projects identified for implementation in future years
of the program could range from off-stream
water storage -- such as residential roof catchment systems
and agricultural ponds -- to agricultural conservation
practices that may include finding alternatives to water
for frost protection such as micro-sprinklers and fans.
Too often there is a misconception that the needs of agriculture
and fish are at odds, when in fact both of these
vital resources can be balanced for mutual benefit.
The partnership is committed to finding solutions that balance
the needs of water users and fish. The guiding principal
of this project is that water for both human uses and coho
salmon can be secured through careful planning and water supply management.
For more information, please contact your local Resource Conservation District;
for Dutch Bill and Green Valley Creeks, contact John Green, 874-2907,
john@goldridgercd.org
and for Mark West, Mill and Grape Creeks, contact Sierra Cantor, 569-1448 x107, scantor@sotoyomercd.org.
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