NOAA Fisheries recently released a new, no-jeopardy Biological Opinion (BO) governing operations on the Russian River, Dry Creek, and related facilities. The 2025 BO replaces the 2008 version and introduces updated strategies for managing flows, habitat, and monitoring programs.

To start, and probably of most importance, the 2025 BO begins to incorporate more adaptive management measures that are reflective of actual watershed conditions and recognize the unpredictability of climate change. For example, the BO now includes a small blockwater pool at Lake Sonoma to help facilitate migration of salmonids below the Dry Creek confluence in drier years and at critical life cycle stages. The BO also requires a study to be completed to determine if a similar blockwater pool would be beneficial for Lake Mendocino and the Upper Russian River.

Other measures incorporated into the new BO are tied to the formation of a Reservoir Operations Group. This new group, made up of a mix of federal and state resource agencies (e.g., National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), Army Corps of Engineers, California Department of Fish and Wildlife, State Water Resources Control Board, Sonoma Water, etc), has been charged with a variety of tasks that are meant to result in a more informed decision-making process. For example, this new group will rely on monthly condition reports to determine the timing, magnitude, and duration of appropriate pulse flow releases to signal key migration periods. The use of pulse flows will help return some of the natural flow fluctuations that salmon rely on to cue them to migrate.

The BO also requires a number of studies to better understand and reduce risks to listed species. The results of these studies will then be used to inform further adaptive management measures meant to further reduce risks to salmonids. A few of these studies include: turbidity monitoring to better determine how dam operations impact sediment concentrations and fishery health, increased smolt survival tracking and tagging to evaluate and better understand species losses and habits within various reaches, and restoration feasibility studies for both the mainstem and estuary.

NMFS also took the release of this BO as an opportunity to support the continued use and benefit of Forecast Informed Reservoir Operations (FIRO) activities at both Lake Sonoma and Lake Mendocino. This operational change has resulted in more flexible and increased storage, which helps ensure there are sufficient flows for salmon in drier parts of the year. NMFS also supported the continued use of Lake Mendocino, instead of Lake Pillsbury, as the basis for the Russian River hydrologic index that informs flow storage and releases. Although Sonoma Water has already been doing this for several years now via the Temporary Urgency Change Petition process, in effect, this operational change helps ensure that decisions are being made on conditions within our own watershed. As Potter Valley changes continue to progress, this will become increasingly important as well.

While increased flexibility in flows to better align with natural functions is a marked improvement and additional studies are always beneficial, there remains uncertainty about how these measures will work in practice and whether they will fully meet the needs of salmonids, particularly during drier years when flows are at their lowest. The fact remains that our river’s salmonids continue to face threats of extinction, especially in the face of increased human demand and a climate that is hotter, drier, and more unpredictable than ever before. While the updated approach reflects over a decade of restoration efforts and scientific learning, the survival of coho, steelhead, and chinook in our watershed continues to remain uncertain.

Finally, as we discussed in Part I, the BO only addresses one piece of the puzzle. While diligent implementation of the BO is crucial for its overall success and effectiveness, it alone cannot ensure a healthy and thriving watershed. Rather, our community and resource managers must continue utilizing all available tools to address issues like transparent monitoring, timely enforcement, transparency in resource use and availability, and public accountability. By closing data gaps and maintaining flexibility in actions, we can better ensure there is an informed decision-making process and that our watershed is resilient to climate change.

Russian Riverkeeper will be tracking implementation closely—and pushing for stronger action if protections fall short.