Watershed Monitoring and Assessment Program

The Russian River watershed encompasses one million acres and is home to nearly 600,000 people. The watershed is also home to Coho salmon and Steelhead trout, fish now on the federal endangered species list. The people who live in the Russian River watershed, whether large ranch owners or suburban residents, all have a part to play in creating a healthy river and watershed.

Our Monitoring and Assessment Program, in partnership with our Habitat Enhancement Program, is designed to improve watershed conditions through collaboration between private landowners, community groups and public agencies. Working together to find viable solutions for the restoration of the smaller tributary watersheds that will lead to improvements downstream in the main stem of the Russian River Watershed is one of the main goals of this program.

Components of the SRCD Russian River Monitoring and Assessment Program

Participating Watersheds Fife Hobson Hulbert Maacama Mark West Matanzas Pena

• Assessing Salmonid Habitat
• Water quality sampling
  • First Flush sampling
• Measuring creek channels and riparian corridors
• Evaluating erosion on roads and slopes
• Measuring water flow, siltation and rainfall
• Identifying restoration and enhancement projects including road repair, erosion control, planting riverbanks, removing non-native plants, improving water quality and reducing urban storm water runoff
• Historical research and interviews with long-time landowners.

Reports & Guides

• Russian River First Flush 2008 Summary Report
• Russian River First Flush 2007 Summary Report
• Russian River Coastal Tributary Improvement Program
• Homeowner Guide to Septic System Operation
• Russian River Creek Stewardship Monitoring and Assessment
  Summary Report 1998-2004