The Sonoma County Board of Supervisors recently approved an Environmental Impact Statement that finds acceptable the continued artificial breaching of the Russian River Estuary between October 15 and May 15 by the Sonoma County Water Agency at a cost of up to $950,000 per year for "flood control". 

 

What most Sonoma County taxpayers may not know is that this "flood control" work is performed at County property taxpayer expense although this expensive and hazardous excavator work is done to provide flood protection to 7 private docks, 1 private boathouse, and the State Park Visitor Center. 

   

Since 1991 the Redwood Empire Chapter of Trout Unlimited has objected to the artificial breaching of the Estuary at Jenner because it can lead to the premature flushing of juvenile Coho Salmon and Steelhead into the ocean before they are mature enough to survive.  It also can destroy the very important fresh water lagoon habitat created in the Estuary when the mouth of the River is closed. For millions of years, the River has naturally opened its mouth in the Fall when conditions are right for juvenile salmonids to out-migrate and adults to migrate into the watershed.  

   

It may be that the Russian River Estuary is the MOST critical of Russian River's critical salmonid habitat.  Other rivers on California's central and north coast have thriving populations of thousands of wild juvenile steelhead in their natural fresh water lagoons.  A study in one such stream showed that 80% of the returning adult salmonids had reared in the Estuary.

   

The Water Agency's breaching of the Russian River Estuary since 1991 coincides with the precipitous decline in the wild Steelhead population of the Russian River although it is by no means the only factor in the history of the decline of salmonids in the Russian River.

   

As recently as 1968, 50,000 wild steelhead annually migrating up the River in the winter giving life to the a once thriving mid-winter Steelhead Economy along the Russian River.  Is continued breaching of the Russian River Estuary between October 15 and May 15 consistent with the goal of restoring a run of 50,000 wild steelhead in the Russian River?  The wild steelhead migration has historically been a natural process that has brought sustainable benefits to our watershed community year after year.  Or, will breaching continue as business as usual, flushing our natural treasure down the drain to protect 7 private docks, 1 private boathouse and the State Parks Visitor Center that should have been elevated or relocated years ago?  

 

Amy carried around a precious frozen salmon egg all day.

 

Our annual RETU Salmon Carcass Toss took place on Green Valley Creek and Salmon Creek watersheds in June this year. 

   

Frozen salmon carcasses were distributed along the streams to add vital "marine derived nutrients" back into the eco-system.  These nurtrients have been a part of the our tributary watershed's ecology for eons and were an important part of our landscape's evolution.

   

Hopefully some day, when our salmon populations are recovered, their spawned out carcasses will once again naturally fertilizing our forest lands and feed the aquatic insect populations on which young salmon feed. 

 

 

 

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