Low Flow Russian River Proposal

By Vesta Copestakes

Tonight, January 22nd, the Russian River Chamber of Commerce hosted an incredibly well-attended and well-executed public forum and discussion of the Sonoma County Water Agency proposal to comply with federally mandated fish protection by drastically reducing the Summer flow of the Russian River.

Naturally, River residents and businesses are outraged, but environmentalists are also alarmed because the study that has been done so far has considered only one element to the complex problem in coming up with their “solution.” Hundreds of local concerned citizens filled the Guerneville Veteran's Hall and hundreds more stood outside to listen and to let their “No Low Flow” voices be heard.

Don McEnhill, our Riverkeeper and representative of Friends of the Russian River, gave the most rational explanation, rationalization and defense of the health of our River as well as received resounding support from the crowd. With the positive vote of the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors last month to allow RROC to fund in-depth studies of the impact of this Low Flow proposal, we can feel confident that Riverkeeprs will delve into every aspect of this complex problem - unlike the research institution hired by the Water Agency.

This is a long project with a long time-line that reaches to 2011 before a final decision will be made. Within that time frame, individuals can educate themselves, become pro-active, volunteer, and conserve water - our most precious resource that is in question here. There are many stages ahead and complacency will do no one good, no matter how long it is before a final decision is made.

Please support Friends of the Russian River, Riverkeepers, the Russian River Chamber of Commerce, the No Low Flow Committee and keep in touch as 95436.com posts more information on what you can do to get involved and save our river!

Comments

[A.D. Copestakes]

3000 miles away on the East Coast, one of our towns has a problem of a bottling comany that wants to take water out of the acqifer for commercial bottling. The local people with wells are obviously concerned about their wells and water supply. Water is money everywhere! And a very necessary commodity. The Russian River is such a beautiful area. Please take good care of it. A.D. Copestakes (yes,Vesta's Dad)

[Vesta Copestakes]

Yep - that's may Dad, an environmentalist, an activist and a volunteer in his community. I'm proud of him.

Water is our MOST valuable natural resource. Yes, it's renewable - up to a point. What's not renewable are ancient aquifers. Once water is drained and groundwater systems depleted, even if we had a 100 day rainfall, the water would not be sufficient to re-fill the old system and it would find other routes to travel anyway. That's the nature of water - and nature itself. It adjusts to the current conditions and is never stagnant or the same again.

What we, as humans and caretakers of the earth must hold as our responsibility, is the protection of our precious resources. The very systems that provide us life and life for our earth into the future. We cannot be only concerned with the present and present needs. This planet is a complex system of mutually depenent elements. Mess with one and another feels the impact.

Take this one seriously. Pay attention and don't assume someone else will. There will be decisions made in the next few months that will impact decisions made in a year and in seven years when the final river flow reduction is scheduled to begin. NOW is the time to get involved.

[warren cane]

what would the result of causing less water flowing down the Russian River be in terms of the configuration of the river and the look of the river during the summer months? I read about the commercial impact, but what about those of us who just want to take a dip once in a while ? I am trying to visualize the result but I need some help. thanks warren cane

[Timothy Przygocki]

As a connection to the San Francisco Chronicle newspaper article, dated May 9, 2004, by Timothy Egan referencing the obvious ploy to ruin the Salmon and Steelhead fish population and as an added plus, the area's tourist trade. I suggest that you all vote to remove the current Republican Administration. The city of Gureneville's clear connection to the past timber industry does not ring true today. The administration's slap at the inteligence of the Russian River's communities serves their purpose of disinformation. All of the river's communities should send the message along with every American who has the right to vote. Show the Bush administration the door in November 2004!

[Jon DiFrancesco]

To defeat the low-flow proposal, we need to understand it: The Spring 2004 Russian River Bulletin (URL / WEBSITE LISTED ABOVE) gives a very good and concise summary of the Russian River Draft Biological Assessment, which is the source of the Low Flow proposal. The Bulletin also provides the website for the entire Draft Assessment.

[Jon DiFrancesco]

WEBSITE FOR RUSSIAN RIVER BULLETIN: http://www2.scwa.ca.gov/docushare/dsweb/Get/Document-493/

[Jon Lucca]

Hello

Please notify all your concenred readers that the low flow is being pushed through by the Water Agency in an open meeting in Sacramento nex thrusday Nov18!

If approved by the State LOW FLOW will begin this spring!

This is not about the fish! There are many other unstudied soultions to the problem of the fish.

This is a water grab for the East County.
Large and numberous water contracts have been awarded to developers by the county and there is no water to fullfill the contracts, so the county is going to siphon off the water and destoy the lower russian river habitat and ecomomy not to mention the ecomomy of the entire county!

Please alert your readers. Ask them to donate money to Guerneville Chamber of Commerce mark checks 'NO LOW FLOW" Santa Rosa has hired a $350 thousand dollar lobbist in washington to get this through! We need people to be aware, donate, volunteer, educate and portect thier investment in thier real estate, ecomomy, and wild life!

respectfully
Jon Lucca
CEO Jon Lucca Inc.