Industrial Toxic Pollution and the Unfulfilled Promise of the Clean Water Act Environment Maryland Research & Policy Center March 22, 2012 Industrial facilities continue to dump millions of pounds of toxic chemicals into America’s rivers, streams, lakes and ocean waters each year—threatening both the environment and human health. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency […]
Read MoreCategory: Streams and Wetlands Impacts
The MLPAI, an Illusion of Protection
The problem with the MLPAI, is that it created the illusion of protection, when it does nothing of the sort. Instead of dealing with the problem of over-fishing and trawl fishing, it simply closed off areas to people who had already figured out how to live in balance with their local resources, in areas where […]
Read MoreComments on Public Access to Creeks
This is a continuing troubling trend in reducing public access to California’s waterways. David
Read MoreAction Alert! Stop Eureka’s 101 Bypass Through Restored Coastal Marsh!
When: Tuesday, April 17, at 6 pm Where: Eureka Council Chambers, 2nd floor of Eureka City Hall, 531 “K” Street, Eureka The Coastal Commission has gone on record saying the project—a proposal to punch a new road through the Palco Marsh from Del Norte Street to Truesdale–cannot be approved because it is not consistent with either […]
Read MoreCalifornia Creeks, Levees May be Next Battleground for Public Access
Matt Weiser, McClatchy / News Report March 25, 2012 Public access to coastal beaches has been a high-profile struggle for decades. The same battle on inland waterways, however, has received far less attention. It was January 2010 when Shawn O’Brien visited her favorite paddling spot on Cache Creek, in Yolo County’s scenic Capay Valley, and […]
Read MoreFish and Game moving forward with frost protection
Fish and Game moving forward with frost protection Vineyard owners receive letters reminding them to comply despite court action By JUSTINE FREDERIKSEN Updated: 03/30/2012 PDT Though proposed frost protection regulations have been put on hold, landowners along the Russian River received letters from the California Department of Fish and Game reminding them of their need […]
Read MoreComments on Low Dose Pesticide Risks
To All, Subject: [chescience] EHN/YaleEnviro360: Excellent summary of seminal Vandenberg/Colborn/Hayes/vomSaal/Myers paper on low-dose risks While this is centered on human health it is safe to assume there are similar impacts on the balance of the food chain. Who is looking? T Yarish Friends: the paper reviewed here by Vandenberg et al is a truly critical […]
Read MoreNews of Urgency for Planet Action Except in USA
(Try not to be discouraged please… please try to do a little bit more to help if you can manage it for Climate Resiliency or Recovery… I think we all find it hard at times… I certainly do. Courage… Let me know if I can be helpful please). Roni Thank you to Fred Krueger for […]
Read MoreComment Regarding Win for Salmon in 9th Circuit
Hurrah! Down with Westlands Water District! Jane
Read MoreRUSSIAN RIVER WATER SUPPLY SYSTEM TOURS
Tour Dates: April 14th, May 19th, September 8th, and October 13th. The Sonoma County Water Agency invites the public to attend a free half day tour of the Russian River water supply system. The tours will start at 9 a.m. and conclude at noon. Tour participants will visit facilities that divert, pump and treat the water […]
Read MoreSalmon win in 9th circuit court
California salmon and salmon fishermen won in federal court Friday when the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit said the federal water project is obliged to provide enough water to double the salmon population. You can read the decision here. Under the ruling, only surplus water from the bay-delta water system can be […]
Read MoreStream Gauge Data in Russian River for 2011
CoastalwrkshpYoseConf All, Attached is our report summarizing stream gauge data in the Russian River for 2011. It includes data from our gauges as well as those from other publicly available sources relevant to the frost protection issue. If you are aware of any additional data, please let me know so we can have a more […]
Read MoreA Report from the Soil and Water Conservation Society
Dear Interested public: One of the objectives of the growing community with respect to changes to Vineyard and Erosion and Sediment Control Ordinance (VESCO) is to satisfy conditions of Reg’l Board’s Irrigated Lands waiver. Although the condition of our impaired water bodies and fisheries are the public’s business, the growers do not want the public […]
Read MoreClearcutting Action Letter
All, Our forests are under attack from clearcutting axes that hack, hack, hack! But with your help we can stop this frightful assault and bring the destruction to a grinding halt. Add your name to our petition, and let’s protect our forest’s from demolition. Have you heard the story of the Lorax — the fuzzy, orange […]
Read MoreThe Department of Terroir Security Website
I came across this interesting website–The Department of Terroir Security–that seems to focus on the rampant increase of vineyards/wineries everywhere and the environmental/social impacts. Who are those guys? http://terroirsecurity.com/?p=595 Larry
Read MoreJudge postpones frost protection rules for Russian River growers
CATHY BUSSEWITZ THE PRESS DEMOCRAT February 2, 2012 A Mendocino County judge on Thursday postponed the state’s new rules on frost protection until grape growers who filed a lawsuit challenging the rules have their day in court. Rudy and Linda Light, who own a small family vineyard in Redwood Valley on a tributary to the […]
Read MoreLaguna Docent Training Orientation and Informational Meeting
Laguna Docent Training Orientation and Informational Meeting Wednesday, February 29, 6-7:30pm Central Santa Rosa Library, corner of Third & E Street, Santa Rosa Take positive action for the environment, stay connected with younger generations, learn, have fun and make new friends! These are just some of the reasons to become a Laguna docent in 2012. […]
Read MoreTwo Grant Announcements for Protecting SF Bay
Dear Interested Parties, EPA is pleased to announce the release of TWO competitive grant announcements for projects that protect and restore San Francisco Bay and its watersheds. Please use the link below to find the TWO open Requests for Initial Proposals (RFIPs) posted at www.grants.gov and our website http://www.epa.gov/region9/water/watershed/sfbaywqfund/index.html EPA is utilizing a two-step application process to simplify […]
Read MoreRussian River Biological Opinion Hearing at SC Bd of Supes
Friends: First, I thought you might be interested in this announcement below. Normally at this time of year, the Army Corps of Engineers is in charge of dam releases. Because this has been a dry year so far, they are playing it safe by keeping more water in the reservoirs for the time being. […]
Read MoreWorld Wetlands Day
February 2 each year is World Wetlands Day. World Wetlands Day first began in 1997 and marks the date of the signing of the Convention on Wetlands back in 1971 at the Ramsar Convention in Iran. The Ramsar Convention was put together to address global concerns regarding the loss and degradation of the worlds wetlands. Its mission is “the […]
Read MoreMercury in the Water
Mercury has been a high priority pollutant in the Sac River Watershed for many years with TMDL’s and a number of cleanups. I’ve always wondered why the North Coast Board has not done likewise. The Russian River receives the contribution of the many abandoned mines in the Geyser’s District as well as that lovely relic […]
Read MoreNorth Coast Dems Tighten Their Grip
Article from Anderson Valley Advertiser: theava.com In what is probably a first in the history of wine’s conquest of all arable land in northern California, a 528-acre expanse of former wetlands in southern Sonoma County is set to be converted into a grape vineyard and olive plantation, with perhaps other crops in the mix. Or is […]
Read MoreNapa growers give up land for salmon
TRACIE CONE Associated Press Along one of the San Francisco Bay’s most valuable watersheds, healthy salmon runs will soon coexist, at last, with cabernet sauvignon. The ambitious project to halt erosion in the heart of California’s premiere winegrowing region includes 40 landowners voluntarily giving up 135 acres of some of the most prized farmland in […]
Read MoreTwo Very Different Gualala River Watershed Groups
Dear Friends of the Gualala River,People sometimes confuse Friends of the Gualala River (FoGR) and Gualala River Watershed Council (GRWC) – two very different organizations. Here’s a comparison. Friends of the Gualala River (FoGR) GualalaRiver.org Gualala River Watershed Council (GRWC) GRWC.info FoGR is a leader in environmental advocacy and action dedicated to protection and recovery […]
Read MoreDiscussion on the Latest on Estrogen in Water
To All, Sewage effluent testing has shown high levels of estrogen and other pharmaceuticals that are likely to interfere with the reproductive cycle – and provide larger breasts for guys (as well as slower running and biking capabilities). Sewage sludge has other issues – especially if handled improperly, A way to beat up your sludge […]
Read MoreAction Letter to Protect Our Waterways from Pesticides
To All, Pesticides in our waters, often overlooked, are a significant threat to wildlife and human health. Right now chemical and agribusiness lobbyists are trying to persuade Congress to gut the Clean Water Act and allow unregulated pesticide application. You can help turn back this toxic tide. Industry lobbyists are pushing a radical revision of our […]
Read MoreLetter to Supervisor: Hobbs is Not One Bad Apple
October 27, 2011 Supervisor Efren Carrillo Board of Supervisors 575 Administration Dr. Rm. 100A Santa Rosa CA 95403 RE: Paul Hobbs, Henry Cornell, and the Public Trust Dear Efren, Many thanks for your recent candid and accurate public comments concerning Paul Hobbs’ desecration of Highway 116 corridor trees and beauty. To many Sonoma County residents, […]
Read MoreAlan Levine Responds to RRWPC Response
Efren, In your piece on the Estuary there are some issues you missed. Folks are concerned regarding SCWA management and related EIRs. There are two EIRs: One for management of the estuary via manipulation of the bar that closes the mouth and one for the flow management. Neither EIR speaks to the other – though […]
Read MoreRRWPC Response to Supervisor Carrillo’s op-ed on Myths about Sandbar Plan
Press Democrat, By Brenda Adelman, October 26, 2011 Russian River Watershed Protection Committee (RRWPC) has closely followed Sonoma County Water Agency’s (SCWA) Estuary Management Plan process for many years. We are quite familiar with the issues addressed by Supervisor Carrillo in the Close to Home article entitled Myths about sandbar plan that ran on Oct. 18, 2011 […]
Read MoreMeetings and Issues Announcements from NCRWQCB
North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board ANNOUNCEMENTS The next Regional Board meeting will be 11/03/2011 Policy For Implementation of the Water Quality Objective for Temperature Public Comments on the Policy for Aquatic Ecosystem Restoration CEQA Scoping Document due November 8, 2011 Citizen’s Guide to Working with the California Water Boards Waiver of Waste Discharge […]
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