Nancy Kay Webb
Attorney at Law
126 Steiner Court,
Santa Rosa, CA, 95404
September 21, 2006
Craig J. Wilson, Chief
Water Quality Assessment Unit
Division of Water Quality
State Water Resources Control Board
P.O. Box 100
Sacramento, CA 95812-0100
SUBJECT: 2004 Clean Water Act Section 303(d) List
Laguna de Santa Rosa Phosphorus & Nitrogen
Dear Mr. Wilson,
On behalf of the following local organizations:
Coast Action Group, Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen’s Associations, California Trout, Friends of the River, Russian Riverkeeper, Russian River Watershed Protection Committee, Redwood Chapter Sierra Club, Community Clean Water Institute, Petaluma River Council, Friends of the Eel River, Blucher Creek Watershed Council, Sebastopol Water Information Group.
I want to thank you and the State Water Resources Control Board for your work on the current 303(d) list.
Our comments consist of wholehearted support for the continued listing of the Laguna de Santa Rosa listing as impaired for excess nitrogen, phosphorus, sediment, temperature and low dissolved oxygen (DO).
The scientific data on the record shows that the Laguna is a severely impaired waterbody. High nutrient levels are adversely affecting the Laguna’s beneficial uses. All sampling data indicates nutrient levels grossly exceed levels acceptable for swimming (REC-1) The nutrient levels, with associated eutrophication and associated low DO, are sufficient to limit fishery migration, survival, and incubation (REC-2 and COLD).
The high nutrient levels in the Laguna fuel the growth rate of algae and invasive aquatic plants like Ludwigia hexapetala (Ludwigia). The huge Ludwigia infestation in the Laguna constitutes an expensive nuisance as well as a health hazard by providing breeding habitat for mosquito species that transmit West Nile Virus.
The listing of the Laguna segment of the Russian River for biostimulants will go a long way towards protecting and restoring beneficial uses and is consistent with the Clean Water Act Section 303(d).
Sincerely,
Nancy Kay Webb, Esq.
INTERESTED PARTIES / SIGNATORIES TO LETTER
Alan Levine
Coast Action Group
P.O. Box 215
Point Arena, CA 95468
(707) 542-4408
Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen’s Associations (PCFFA)
California Contact: Vivian Helliwell
PO Box 11170
Eugene, OR 97440-3370
(707) 445-1976
Thomas J. Weseloh, Northcoast Manager
California Trout
1976 Archer Rd.
McKinleyville, CA 95519
(707) 839-1056
Steven L. Evans, Conservation Director
Friends of the River
915 20th Street
Sacramento, CA 95814
(916) 442-3155 x221
Don McEnhill
Russian Riverkeeper
PO Box 1335
Healdsburg, CA 95448
(707) 433-1958
Brenda S. Adelman, Chair
Russian River Watershed Protection Committee (RRWPC)
P.O.Box 501
Guerneville, CA 95446
(707) 869-0410
Margaret Pennington, Chair
Redwood Chapter Sierra Club
PO Box 466 SR, CA 95402
(707) 829-2294
Mike Sandler, Program Coordinator
Community Clean Water Institute
6741 Sebastopol Ave. Suite 140
Sebastopol, CA 95472
(707) 824-4370
David Keller, Director
Petaluma River Council
1327 I St.
Petaluma, CA 94952
David Keller, Bay Area Director
Friends of the Eel River
PO Box 2305
Redway, CA 95560
Jeannette Baumgardner, Chair
Blucher Creek Watershed Council
2100 Blucher Valley Rd.
Sebastopol, CA 95472
(707) 829-1452
Jane Nielson
Sebastopol Water Information Group (SWiG)
3727 Burnside Road
Sebastopol, CA 95472
(707-829-9393).