From Russianriver Keeper (www.russianriverkeeper.org) Our worst fears were realized in the Feb 28th flood event. The largest gravel pit mine, Syar’s Basalt Pit, had a complete levee failure on a section that had failed in previous floods. The image at left shows the breach in center of picture, with river on the left and Syar […]

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Dear Partners for Clean Water, As partners in a statewide effort to secure protections for polluted waterways, we ask for your help in letting U.S. EPA know that Californians support strong federal leadership on reducing storm water pollution and restoring the health of polluted lakes, rivers, streams, estuaries and coastal waters. In November 2010, EPA […]

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Shamrock has filed a demurrer in Sonoma County Superior Court, arguing that they are not a real party of interest in the Dutra Petaluma Asphalt Plant case, got no approvals from the county to do anything on their land, and should be dismissed from the case. See the attached documents.  * They argue that Shamrock […]

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Hello, Salmonid Restoration Federation will host the 29th Annual Salmonid Restoration Conference in lovely San Luis Obispo, CA, March 23-26, 2011. Conference registration is now open and is also available online at www.calsalmon.org. Field Tours have limited space and tend to fill quickly. Early registration expires February 23, 2011. We are pleased to announce the […]

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Syar proposal to mine up to 350,000 tons per year speeds through county approval process On October 26th, the Sonoma County Supervisors voted 5-0 to approve Syar Industries massive 350,000 tons per year 15-year mining permit based on a flawed EIR and information not available to the public. The Syar Project went through county review […]

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Syar proposal to mine up to 350,000 tons per year speeds through county approval process On October 26th, the Sonoma County Supervisors voted 5-0 to approve Syar Industries massive 350,000 tons per year 15-year mining permit based on a flawed EIR and information not available to the public. The Syar Project went through county review […]

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(Note: The Sonoma County Supervisors voted on December 7 to approve Syar’s Permit to gravel mine in an Alexander Valley section of the Russian River for 15 years) Once again, Sonoma County Water Agency staff and the SCWA Water Contractors remain completely silent on the impacts of gravel mining on our water supply and water […]

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Peter Fimrite, Chronicle Staff Writer December 2, 2010 A controversial plan to resume gravel mining, a practice that has been blamed for wiping out tens of thousands of salmon in the Russian River over the past century, is scheduled for approval next week along an important stretch of the river. Sonoma County supervisors will vote […]

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Santa Rosa Plain Groundwater Basin Planning Workshop November 17 About the Workshop The Sierra Club, Sonoma County Water Coalition and League of Women Voters are sponsoring a workshop to inform interested parties about groundwater planning currently under consideration. Workshop Date and Location The workshop will be held on November 17, 2010, from 6:30-9:00 p.m. located […]

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Roblar Road quarry to go before supervisors October 17, 2010. The Sonoma County Board supervisors will take on a controversial industrial project Tuesday, October 19, at 2:00 pm when it reviews the proposed Roblar Road rock quarry west of Cotati. The project would produce about 11 million cubic yards of construction-grade rock worth about $60 […]

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Settlement of dispute between Canyon Rock Quarry and Forestville Citizens for Sensible Growth I am pleased to let you know that the dispute between Forestville Citizens for Sensible Growth and Canyon Rock Quarry has been settled.  Under the terms of the settlement agreement, Canyon Rock has agreed to the following: Operations Eliminate back-up whistles to […]

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The Riverfest is right around the corner and we hope to see many of you there. We’ll gather on the banks of the River at Burke’s Canoe Trips on Saturday, September 25th from 4:30-7:30 p.m. for our annual fun fest. Come enjoy a great gourmet dinner, organic wine & beer tasting & local musicians as […]

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To All, In case you haven’t seen it, here are some press releases on the very big win in the gravel mining decision. Marc Judge’s decision could halt river gravel mining A decision last week in Sonoma County Superior Court overturned a 2008 Board of Supervisors decision to extend the deadline for terrace gravel mining […]

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August 21, 2009Matt St. John                                                                        North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board                                  5550 Skyline Blvd, Suite ASanta Rosa, CA  95403Email to: MStJohn@waterboards.ca.gov Subject: Comments on the Klamath Mainstem TMDL Water Quality Restoration PlanGeneral Comments We are  pleased with and fully supportive of Staff’s efforts in these Draft Water Quality Restoration Plan (“Implementation Plan”) provisions as well as in […]

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FYI, The Water Protection and Reinvestment Act of 2009 Yesterday Congressman Earl Blumenaeur (OR)  introduced, The Water Protection and Reinvestment Act of 2009, in Congress. The bill would establish a water protection and reinvestment fund to support investment in clean water and drinking water infrastructure. Today at 2 pm, the U.S. House Transportation & Infrastructure […]

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Contact Your Local County Commissioner and Tell Him or Her to Support Clean Water! The National Association of Counties (NACo) represents county governments all throughout the U.S.  Each year, NACo meets to consider resolutions on federal issues that affect their local governments.  Because this organization is made up of local officials, NACo is very influential with Congress. In […]

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4th Annual Spring-run Chinook Symposium July 23-24 on the Salmon River Following the annual Salmon River dives, SRF and Salmon River Restoration Council will host the 4th Annual Spring-run Chinook Symposium featuring rafting tours of Creek Mouth Enhancement Projects on the Mid Klamath tributaries, field trips to fish passage projects on the Salmon River; hands-on […]

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Finally, after years of delay, the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee (EPW) is going to mark up (vote on) a compromise version of the Clean Water Restoration Act (S. 787) THIS Thursday, June 18. This is an all-hands-on-deck alert! We need your help to make sure our Senators know how critically important it is […]

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Greetings!     Thanks to over 300 of your letters, California SB 670 shot through the Senate last week and is on to the Assembly.  Your help is needed to urge Assembly members to support the bill with equal speed and enthusiasm – please take 10 seconds to send a new one-click letter supporting limits on harmful suction […]

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To All, “The inconvenient truth about the impact of overfishing on the world’s oceans” — The Economist Fresh from its World Premiere at the 2009 Sundance Film Festival, THE END OF THE LINE is the first major documentary about the imminent peril facing the world’s oceans. Narrated by Ted Danson and based on the book […]

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Clean Water Restoration Act UPDATE On Thursday, April 2, 2009 Senator Russ Feingold of Wisconsin introduced the Clean Water Restoration Act of 2009 (S.787).  To read the text of this legislation go to the Library of Congress website and do a bill search for S.787: http://thomas.loc.gov/ Senator Barbara Boxer is an original co-sponsor of the […]

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Dear Clean Water Network Members and Others,   REMINDER:  ACT NOW to schedule meetings with your Senators and Representatives for the in-district work period of April 6-17 to talk with them about restoring the Clean Water Act. Setting up a meeting takes advance time, so it is best to get a request in as soon as […]

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Hi Earle I agree with you 100%. All I was doing was pointing out that the focus of the TPL study (done in partnership with AWWA) concerned water supply for humans. The points you make also lead to the conclusion that one cannot restore the Russian River simply by lowering flows, without restoring flow in […]

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Hello there, The public meeting I attended last week had a very light turnout (4 people).  It would be good for many more people to be familiar with this report and to provide feedback.  It lays the ground (so to speak) for much that will follow. Have a wonderful wet week, Rue ——  To Interested […]

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Speak Up for Clean Water in the  Russian River Watershed!! Impaired Waterways Workshop Join Russian Riverkeeper and the California Coastkeeper Alliance for a workshop on how to use the public comment process to effectively speak up for the health of your local waterways!   Monday, March 9th, 6:00pm @ the Environmental Center of Sonoma (Directions)  Every two years, by federal […]

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I remember them too. But, now these plumes last soooo much longer.  Any river will discharge sediment after a big rain event.  It is how fast they clean up. Alan This massive sedimentation is not a new problem.  I remember seeing huge, well defined plumes out at Jenner (looking down on Goat Rock from the […]

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Hi Everyone! This is a reminder that the Regional Board staff  will hold a workshop on Tuesday, Feb. 17th, at their offices at 5550 Skylane Blvd. at 6 PM on the 303(d) impaired water body list and 305(b) Water Quality Assessment. The comment period was opened recently and will remain open until March 20th. Call […]

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Please review – open to suggestions COAST ACTION GROUP P.O. BOX 215 POINT ARENA, CA 95468 January 21, 2009    Catherine Kuhlman:  Executive Officer North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board 5550 Skylane Blvd.  Ste. A Santa Rosa, CA 95403 Subject: Proposal to Amend the North Coast Basin Plan by Establishing  Exception Criteria to the […]

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Brock, You are so right on target.  I observed the effects of what you describe in the last flood as I watched water from vineyard agricultural operations drain off of tile drained bare land and flood Green Valley Road rather than be allowed to soak in and recharge the ground water at the top of […]

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Dylan Darling January 14, 2009 An American Indian tribe from the Klamath River has petitioned the state to ban a popular form of recreational gold mining on parts of the river and many of its tributaries. The Karuk Tribe — along with conservation groups California Trout, Friends of the North Fork and the Sierra Fund […]

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