Russian River

The Russian River within Sonoma County is a major water course with many tributaries of various sizes. The river gets a sizable portion of its flow from the Eel River in Mendocino County via the Potter Valley Project into Lake Mendocino/Coyote Dam.

Russian River Recreation

At one time the Russian River was a premier fishing river. Impacts have reduced the fish population and the species. The Russian River is still the most used river in the state for canoing. It is also heavily used in the summer for swimming. However, a recent Biological Opinion on the estuary at the river mouth may reduce the flow in the lower river to impact this activity.

Gravel Mining Impacts

Drinking water from several pumps along the river operated by the Sonoma County Water Agency supply water to many of the county’s cities. Ironically, gravel mining is still allowed in the river which among many other adverse impacts reduces gravel filtering for water.  Instream gravel mining has also changed the river’s natural hydraulics and caused bank erosion and siltation. This impacts the salmonid populations and may have been the main cause for the demise of the great fishing river.

Vineyard and Winery Impacts

More recent than gravel mining, the wine industry has moved into many of the river’s tributaries and takes stream water for frost protection and irrigation of grapes, especially late in summer. The result has been a drying up of many critical pools essential for salmonids in the spring and entire streams in summer.

The California legislature in passing AB2121 mandated the Water Board to adopt a stream flow policy that would protect California’s streams from being de-watered. The final outcome of this is still being determined. 

Due to fish kills of salmonids in at least two documented events, a new policy dealing with stream diversions for frost protection in the Russian River watershed is being considered separately by the Board.