Russian Riverkeeper Evolving for the Future
Over the last 24 years, Russian Riverkeeper has grown from a single staff member to a paid staff of 14. This growth has helped increase our ability to protect and restore our watershed. We see a great need to expand our capacity even further [...]
Clearing the Clutter: Tackling Bulky and Hazardous Waste in Sonoma County
October is Zero Waste Month, and Russian Riverkeeper is raising awareness on trash disposal in Sonoma County, focusing on items that wouldn’t go in your usual curbside bin. Disposing of large or hazardous items like mattresses, batteries, furniture, and chemicals can be confusing, and [...]
October is National Estate Planning Awareness Month: Make a Lasting Impact
Did you know that October is National Estate Planning Awareness Month? It's the perfect time to think about how you can make a lasting impact on the causes you care about, like protecting our beautiful Russian River. Estate planning allows you to ensure that [...]
Advocacy Updates! What’s next after our big water win!
COURT FINDS SONOMA COUNTY VIOLATED ITS PUBLIC TRUST AND CEQA RESPONSIBILITIES AND ORDERS THE COUNTY TO PROTECT ITS WATERWAYS FROM EXCESSIVE GROUNDWATER PUMPING In late August 2024, the Sonoma County Superior Court held that the County of Sonoma failed to fulfill its mandatory duties [...]
Russian River Keeper Clean Camp Program Gets County Funds
We are grateful to Supervisor Lynda Hopkins who along with Supervisor Gore submitted a $85,000 budget request to fund the Clean Camp Program in the upcoming fiscal year. The Clean Camp Program works with unhoused individuals to prevent the accumulation of trash along the [...]
A Silent Threat to the Russian River’s Freshwater & Salmon
Excess Sediment: A Silent Threat to Freshwater Quality and Salmon Species The Russian River Watershed is known for its stunning landscapes, abundant wildlife, and critical salmon habitat. However, the health of our beloved ecosystem is continually under threat from a multitude of factors, and [...]
Great Progress on Arundo Removal!
Thanks to your support, we have made great progress removing arundo donax along the Russian River. Since August 1st we’ve removed over 36 acres of arundo out of the roughly 65 acres occurring in the 5-mile project area, significantly reducing fire risk! On August [...]
Vineyard Permitting in Sonoma County Protects Our Waterways
The North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board is currently working to draft a Waste Discharge permit for vineyard properties. The primary focus of this permit is to address the issue of sediment and nutrient runoff coming from some vineyard properties and entering our [...]
Supreme Court Limits Protection for Wetlands
Last week the US Supreme Court issued a ruling in the Sackett vs EPA case that limited federal protections of wetlands. In a poorly reasoned majority option, the Court gutted a key provision of the Clean Water Act, which plays a critical role in [...]