Our last newsletter shared the tough news that drought is, once again, looming in our watershed. One supporter sent us a note about how she plans to to do her part to conserve water. We've printed it below anonymously with her permission. Let us know if you have any tips on how to love our [...]
In 1969, an oil slick on the Cuyahoga River in Ohio caught fire – the thirteenth fire of its kind in the river’s history. But this time, the fire ignited a national movement to protect our environment. In response, Congress passed the Clean Water Act in 1972, setting a goal to restore and maintain clean [...]
After the Walbridge and Glass Fires devastated our community last year, we quickly assembled a skilled 5-person crew to help properties recover and to protect the Russian River Watershed from toxic runoff. So far, we've accomplished the following: 64 properties helped 12 creeks protected Wine Creek, Grape Creek, Chapman Branch Creek, Crane Creek, Pechaco Creek, [...]
The looming 2021 drought could be the worst yet, and serves as a textbook example of the urgent need for climate adaptation. Doing “business as usual” is what has put the upper Russian River at risk of going dry as water managers are failing to adopt effective water conservation measures in time. Make no mistake [...]
February marks the start of Black History Month, a federally recognized celebration of the contributions African Americans have made to this country and a time to reflect on the continued struggle for racial justice. With it comes many opportunities to continue cultural growth, understanding, and action for a more just world. We must decolonize the [...]
The State Water Resources Control Board (State Water Board) adopted its first statewide rules to manage waste from winemaking and protect California’s rivers and groundwater. Winery wastewater contains a number of harmful pollutants, including salts, bacteria, high strength biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), total suspended solids (TSS), abnormal pH, and nitrogen that can contribute to harmful [...]
Goodbye 2020, hello 2021! Feels so good to say that even if really it is just another day, in another month. Needless to say, 2020 was rough for all of us. Turns out though, it was not all bad as we were able to use this past year to help better position ourselves for some [...]
2020 was a transformational year for all of us and exposed great inequities in our country and in our watershed. These inequities aren’t new and aren’t over. Last week’s attack on the Capitol showed that we all need to carry the mantle of protecting our democracy and standing up for justice. Indeed, that’s what our [...]
COVID-19 has worsened our trash problem by making us more reliant on disposable single-use products including safety masks and gloves. Many cash-strapped restaurants are staying afloat by offering take-out wrapped in plastic materials. With many public restrooms and businesses closed, recreational users tossed trash along the river’s many beaches. And although our homeless population has [...]
In late October, we hired and trained a crew to help Dry Creek and Mill Creek property owners recover from the Walbridge fire. Our new crew includes a former EMT, a volunteer firefighter, a vineyard manager, one of our Clean Team crew members, and a local landscape contractor. We have been installing straw wattles around [...]