Russian River Biological Opinion
What’s New:
Interested in what’s happening with Dry Creek habitat enhancement, estuary studies and the “Fish Flow” project? The annual public meeting on implementation of the Russian River Biological Opinion was held on February 9th. The Public Policy Facilitating Committee reviewed presentations (below) from the US Army Corps of Engineers, National Marine Fisheries Service, California Department of Fish & Game and the Water Agency.
- February 9 2012 Public Policy Facilitating Committee Meeting
- Biological Opinion Milestones, Years 3 & 4
- Dry Creek Habitat Enhancement, Feb. 9, 2012
- USACOE Restoration & Fish Hatchery, Feb. 9, 2012
- CDFG coho broodstock program update, Feb. 9, 2012
- Fish Flow Project update, Feb. 9, 2012
- Estuary update, Feb. 9, 2012
- Biological Opinion Progress Update, Feb. 9, 2012
- Press release on Dry Creek Habitat Enhancement Demonstration Project
- Dry Creek Habitat Enhancement Demonstration Project Presentation to Board, 11/15/2011
- Biological Opinion Update - January 2012
- Biological Opinion Update - December 2011
- Draft Dry Creek feasibility studies - November 2011
- Russian River Biological Opinion Annual Report
The Biological Opinion
The Russian River Biological Opinion is a federally mandated 15-year blueprint to help save endangered fish and ensure our water supply.
Russian River Instream Flow and Restoration Project (RRIFR)
The Sonoma County Water Agency (Water Agency) has created the Russian River Instream Flow and Restoration (RRIFR) Project to implement the mandates of the Russian River Biological Opinion. RRIFR projects include:
Russian River Estuary Management Project
The Russian River Estuary closes throughout the year as a result of a sandbar forming at the mouth of the Russian River. The sandbar usually closes during the spring, summer, and fall when river flows are relatively low and long-period waves transport sand landward, rebuilding the beach that was removed by winter waves and river outflows. Closures result in ponding of the Russian River behind the sandbar and water level increases in the Estuary.
The Sonoma County Water Agency mechanically breaches the sandbar to alleviate potential flooding of low-lying shoreline properties near the town of Jenner. Beginning in Summer 2010, the Water Agency began implementing a new way of breaching the estuary to enhance rearing habitat for juvenile salmonids (particularly steelhead), while still managing estuary water levels to minimize flood hazards.
Learn more about the Russian River Estuary Management Project…
Changes to the Flows in the Russian River
Biologists with the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) have concluded that current flow levels in the Russian River and Dry Creek during the summer are too high for young coho salmon and steelhead. NMFS biologists believe that reducing summertime flows in the Russian River and Dry Creek would provide better fishery habitat by reducing velocity, minimizing the need to artificially breach the sandbar at the river mouth, and potentially improving estuary conditions for steelhead by allowing the formation of a freshwater lagoon.
Learn more about changes to Russian River Flows…
Dry Creek
From its outlet in Warm Springs Dam, Dry Creek meanders 14 miles to the Russian River. The creek is home to endangered coho salmon, threatened Chinook salmon, and threatened steelhead (including steelhead raised at the Don Clausen Fish Hatchery). The creek also serves as a conduit for water that is released from Lake Sonoma by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) in the winter for flood control purposes and by the Sonoma County Water Agency (SCWA) in the summer for water supply.
The biological opinion proposes enhancing six miles of habitat along Dry Creek over a 12- year period to create low velocity areas for juvenile coho and steelhead. The Dry Creek Advisory Group meets periodically to inform efforts to implement the Biological Opinion in the Dry Creek watershed.
Fisheries Monitoring
Regardless of which portion of the Russian River young salmon and steelhead originate, all must travel downstream through the mainstem Russian River and estuary as they make their way to the ocean. The Water Agency will monitor the effects that changes in river management related to the Russian River Biological Opinion have on salmon and steelhead populations over time by operating facilities designed to detect the movement of these fish out of tributaries and into the lower river.
Learn more about fisheries monitoring research projects…
Public Outreach
The Water Agency has created numerous opportunities for public comment on RRIFR projects, according to the RRIFR Public Participation Plan.
Public Meetings – Agendas and Staff Presentations
Download .pdfs of the RRIFR public meeting Agendas and Powerpoint Presentations:
- November 2008
- From the June 22nd, 2009 Jenner Meeting on the Estuary:
- From the January 27, 2010 Dry Creek Meeting on Habitat Studies:
- From the February 18, 2010 Santa Rosa Board of Public Utilities Hearing on the Dry Creek Pipeline Feasibility Study:
- From the June 19, 2010 Jenner Community Scoping Meeting:
Monthly updates
Public Policy Facilitating Committee
The Public Policy Facilitating Committee (PPFC) meets annually to serve as a forum on implementation of the biological opinion. The PPFC provides an opportunity for involved agencies and the public to learn whether milestones have been reached and what challenges lay ahead. Created in 1998, the original purpose of the PPFC was to provide a forum for disseminating information about the Section 7 consultation (which ultimately led to the issuance of the Russian River Biological Opinion).
- From the September 24, 2008 PPFC Meeting
- From the October 29, 2009 PPFC Meeting on the First Year of Implementation of the Biological Opinion:
- From the December 13, 2010 PPFC Meeting:
- February 9, 2012 PPFC Meeting
Media:
- ”Our Water Is...” Russian River Biological Opinion Outreach Campaign
- NBC Bay Area "Water Matters" Segment covering the Biological Opinion