In 1993, the Russian River was deemed to be in peril. Thus began the birth of Russian Riverkeeper, the champion for a healthy river. The fundamental purpose of Russian Riverkeeper is to ensure that now and in the future Russian River is drinkable, swimmable, fishable, and equitably shared. We actively pursue the protection and restoration [...]
The State Coastal Conservancy Board of Directors voted recently to provide a $989,000 grant to Riverkeeper’s Arundo removal project! This grant will cover 70% of the project costs over the next 4 years to reduce fire danger and water loss from invasive Arundo donax. This grant is a big boost to increasing the pace of [...]
Paul Dolan: Industry Pioneer, Mentor, and Family Focused Photo courtesy of the Dolan family. Everyone at Russian Riverkeeper sends our deepest condolences to the family of Paul Dolan who passed on July 26th. Paul made a tremendous and positive impact on our community and the wine industry while paying the most attention to [...]
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 improving water quality and protecting communities from flooding. While acknowledging that, [...]
Arundo Update- June 2023 Here’s the latest update on Riverkeeper’s ongoing Healdsburg Arundo Removal Project: Our crews and volunteer groups have been working hard on eight properties and have removed approximately four acres of invasive Giant Reed, Arundo donax, from various private parcels along the Fitch Mountain area. The work has been funded by generous [...]
Russian Riverkeeper (RRK) and our state association, California Coastkeeper Alliance, recently filed a challenge to the Sonoma County Well Ordinance update. While the new ordinance started the conversation around what is needed, the final amendment is too vague and has not analyzed whether it will protect fish and other resources as claimed. The stakes are [...]
It’s going to be a great year on the river, get out and enjoy it! After a great rainy season, the Russian River is looking much better and more inviting than the slow, paltry flows of the drought years. We hope you are planning to go enjoy it this summer. If not, the coming summer [...]
It’s been a great Earth Month this last April and at Russian Riverkeeper! We’ve been keeping busy to make the greatest impact we can to protect and restore our watershed from harm. Earth Month started in the 1970s as a movement to resist the abuse and neglect caused by consumption. The movement gained momentum as [...]
Click here to see the previous update! The Sonoma County Board of Supervisors completed their vote to pass the proposed amendment to the Well Ordinance on 4/18/2023. With Supervisors Hopkins, Gore, and Rabbitt voting in favor of Staff recommendations, we believe the County has failed to take advantage of this great opportunity to protect our [...]
Spring is one of our favorite times of year on the river. The trees and vegetation are greening up and the winter floods have re-arranged everything giving it a new look. After 3 years of drought, we’re so thankful the rains returned and our river is flowing well again. We were hit by a record [...]