At its January 29 meeting in Cloverdale, the Russian River Watershed Council approved an agreement with the California State Resources Agency which provides $6,650,000 "for the preparation of a feasibility study that is designed to produce a community-based watershed restoration plan for the Russian River." The five-year budget was the result of almost two years of often contentious meetings that finally produced a Council capable of taking on the challenge of increased stewardship if the river.
The agreement envisions using most of the money to study salmonid restoration, water supply quality and quantity, and tributary cleanup. There are also significant amounts available for studying the operation of the watershed's dams, along with establishing ongoing information assessment and public outreach projects. Within this general framework, the Council will set funding priorities for inclusion in the state budget.
One possible project discussed at the last meeting is a proposal to build a bypass at the north end of Lake Mendocino, which would open up the entire East Fork as a watershed habitat. Since there are many technical and policy questions surrounding the proposal, the Council can decide to give it a priority in the ongoing feasibility studies.
The Council is having difficulty dealing with the diversion of water from the Eel River, with some members saying that the issue is beyond the Council's scope. Others insist that we can't save one watershed at the expense of the other, and that any studies involving water supply must include the effects on the Eel.
The Council is deliberately divided into three caucuses - economic, environmental, and public - in order to ensure diversity of community involvement. There are also many non-voting members from various government agencies, for a combined total of 76. For a complete list of members, and other useful information, contact the Corps of Engineers at their web site, www.spn.usace.army.mil/russian, or contact the MEC.
Another group interested in the Lake Mendocino bypass is the Eel-Russian River Commission, composed of supervisors from Mendocino, Lake, Humboldt, and Sonoma counties. The Mendocino representative is Mike Delbar. At its last meeting in December, the commission considered such issues as the Sonoma County vineyard ordinance and rising concentrations of methyl mercury in fish from Lake Pillsbury. The commission decided to meet at the site of the proposed bypass at its next meeting on March 17, beginning at 10:00 a.m.. The access road is east of the Calpella exit off Highway 101, across the bridge and to the right.
The MEC has been sponsored by the State Coastal Conservancy to lead the cleanup of the Russian River in Mendocino County. The cleanup had been done in the past by volunteers, most notably Rebecca Kress of Russian River Unlimited. However, even the most motivated of activists need a break, and the effort flagged the past few years.
The MEC has since put together a support network to help such volunteers. The county Solid Waste Management Authority has pledged to haul the debris and pay any dump fees. Environmental Health will test and dispose of suspected toxins, and Building and Planning will haul away any vehicles. We then provided Rebecca with the organizational support she needed and voila! Russian River Unlimited was reborn.
The cleanup will occur on three Saturdays:
June 10 - Redwood Valley to Ukiah
July 15 - Ukiah to Hopland
August 12 - Hopland to Cloverdale
We're still trying to figure out the best way to involve the community in the cleanup effort. Although only adults should work in the water, schools could be involved in education and outreach, or perhaps adopt a stream. All ideas and involvement are welcome. Those interested can contact Russian River Unlimited at (707) 462-4649, or send e-mail to RussianRiverUnlimited@hotmail.com. Or call the MEC.
In addition to Russian River Unlimited, the Ukiah Valley Streams Coalition has taken on the stewardship of part of the watershed. This group has chosen to concentrate on the three streams that empty into Ukiah from the western hills: Orr, Gibson, and Dooley Creeks.
This year's restoration will target Orr Creek. The first phase is scheduled for May, involving in-stream and bank trash removal. The second phase, in July or August, will be more labor intensive, involving stream bank stabilization, boulder placement, vegetation planting, and modifying a waterfall "barrier" to spawning steelhead.
The Streams Coalition has received initial funding from the California Department of Water Resources and the Masonite Corporation. Anyone interested in participating should contact project coordinator Bill Randolph at 468-5883.
Copyright Mendocino Environmental Center 2000
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