Resource Library

Available for sale or download from the Sotoyome RCD.

For ordering information contact us by email or phone (707) 569-1448.

Sotoyome RCD Newsletter
Summer/Fall 2009

Russian River Coho Water Resources Partnership

The Russian River Coho Water Resources Partnership (Partnership) has received funding from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation to develop a systematic approach to improve stream flow and water supply reli-ability in five Russian River tributaries critical to the recovery of endangered coho salmon. The Partnership includes the Center for Ecosystem Management and Restoration, Gold Ridge RCD, Occidental Arts and Ecology Center WATER Institute, Sotoyome RCD, Trout Unlimited, and UC Cooperative Extension.

In the first year of the program, the Partnership will focus on collecting information to lay the scientific foundation to develop stream flow and wa-ter use management plans for watersheds where water is believed to be a critical factor limiting coho salmon persistence. These include Dutch Bill, Grape, Green Valley, Mark West and Mill Creek Watersheds, The RCDs will be providing primary outreach to landowners to gauge interest and in future years the partnership hopes to work with willing landowners and water users to identify solutions to improve water reliability and flows.

Just as the Mediterranean climate of the Russian River watershed can place pressures during the dry season, it can provide opportunities to ameliorate those pressures during the rainy winter. Using a suite of tools from water conservation to increased water storage opportunities, the multi-disciplinary team of the Partnership is committed to work with land-owners and water users to address complex issues related to salmonid recovery and provide well-developed, long-term solutions for communities and the environment. The long-term goals of the Partnership are to:

1. restore a more natural flow regime for spring, summer and fall;
2. increase viability, and ultimately numbers of coho salmon in the Russian River watershed;
3. increase water reliability for water users in each watershed;
4. develop governance mechanisms to carry out these efforts; and
5. develop a template for others to follow.

Please contact Sierra Cantor at 569-1448 ext. 107 for more information.