Should The Russian River Run Dry?

A proposal for modifying the operation of Coyote Dam in Mendocino County has surfaced at the Russian River Watershed Council, a public-private group that directs the use of funds by the state Resources Agency and the Army Corps of Engineers. The basic idea of this Low Flow proposal is to dry up the Russian River temporarily in imitation of the way the river flowed in summer in pre-Columbus time. The West Fork of the Russian River still has many of those features because it lacks the augmented flow of the East Fork and main channel, but because of local dams and water diversions it's not a perfect example. Low Flow could be accomplished by shutting off the water coming out of Lakes Mendocino and Sonoma, sometime during the dry season before the rains begin. Probably later in the dry season would be easier because less natural water would be entering from the tributaries, fewer recreationalists would be affected after Labor Day, and harvest season might bring less demand from farmers. Shutting it off earlier might have an advantage in that irrigation pumping could help remove the water faster therefore causing less total down time to the present management scheme. Indeed, discounted use of that water (for those who may have an allotment) could be an incentive for their participation.

Some potential advantages are:

* Predatory fish populations could be determined and lowered to pre-Columbus levels assuring salmonid smolt returning to the ocean an equal opportunity.

* It would enable safer and more thorough removal of the invasive exotic giant reed Arundo donax growing on the river bank. Without being able to use Rodeo or other herbicides in Mendocino County, it is necessary to dig out the roots and rhizomes of the plant and any part of the plant that gets carried away by the current can regrow, including sections of the bamboo-like stem.

* It would enable easier and safer removal of large pieces of trash such as truck tires, refrigerators and car parts.

* If the amount of water not released from Lake Mendocino during the low flow period were similar to the proposed 15% Eel River withdrawal for salmon restoration it might serve two purposes; that amount of water could be kept in Lake Pillsbury and released whenever the Eel River fishery needed it.

* It could serve as practice for the time when either the lakes become useless due to sedimentation or human population outgrows water sustainability.

* If done with proper timing, early returning adult salmon might not be fooled by high flows into coming upriver too soon for their own good and getting stressed out in warm tributaries.

Along with the timing of Low Flow, feasibility studies should include the possibility of having low flow conditions on limited sections of the river with other sections treated at a separate time. For instance, the Ukiah to Healdsburg reach could be dry while Lake Sonoma delivers water to Santa Rosa. Or alternatively, Lake Mendocino could serve Santa Rosa minimum water so the reach below Wohler diversion could be dry.

Affected cities could coordinate water rationing with river awareness activities such as river cleanups, festivals, nature walks, predatory fish gathering, riparian restoration plantings, etc. Low flow conditions caused by recent drought could be used to predict problems and find solutions. Experience doing it could be used to fine tune how often treatment would be needed and the optimum number of days or weeks needed for it.

The above proposal is being considered for endorsement by the MEC Board of Directors. Comments are encouraged.

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Last Update: 8/1/01