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Fifty years later, the fish are mostly gone, and the coho salmon, 

 once a common inhabitant of this system, has now been nominated 

 for listing on the Federal Endangered Species Act. The river chan- 

 nel has downcut in response to the dams, groundwater levels have 

 dropped, costing farmers and cities additional funds to pump 

 water. The land along the river is now eroding as the river tries 

 to readjust to our developments. Over 80 percent of the riparian 

 forest is gone. 



The long-term effects of our attempts to control and use the river 

 have been to reduce many of the benefits that it once provided. The 

 Russian River enhancement plan, which the Conservancy is pre- 

 paring, documents the long-term environmental and economic im- 

 plications of both Federal water development projects and the sub- 

 sequent floodplain developments and other watershed changes that 

 have occurred. 



We have collected over 50 years' worth of hydrologic, geomorphic, 

 and biological data on this river and it is one of the best studied 

 river systems in the country. The focus of the plan is to restore bal- 

 ance to the river's processes, and thus sustain the water supply, 

 agricultural land, and the fish and wildlife habitat. All these uses 

 and resources are intimately connected. 



The plan recommends restoring a river meander corridor of an 

 adequate width to sustain a healthy riparian fish habitat but is 

 smaller than would have historically occurred. The real question 

 that the Russian River plan addresses affects most of the rivers in 

 the western United States: How can we bring our fisheries back in 

 developed watersheds? Can we sustain a healthy ecosystem and a 

 healthy economy? 



In answering this question, the Russian River plan provides a 

 model for many other systems and a scientific approach that is ap- 

 plicable in many areas. Clearly, it is no longer worth even thinking 

 about having the Federal Government, the State of California, or 

 any other State set aside vast tracts of land to restore fish popu- 

 lations. Instead, we must view our river systems with an eye for 

 sustainable human uses and sustainable fishery habitat. 



Our plan utilizes a vast store of scientific information on the 

 Russian River to guide our restoration concepts and to bring bal- 

 ance back to the river. Our planning process also brings the com- 

 munity of interest groups into river restoration planning. We have 

 created a diverse community of farmers, landowners, fishermen, 

 environmentalists, water purveyors, businesses, Federal, State, 

 local agencies, and elected officials, recreational interests, and na- 

 tive Americans to guide the planning effort. A balanced river bene- 

 fits all these groups. 



We have also interviewed many landowners, held over 50 public 

 meetings and work shops, and made numerous presentations about 

 river science. Our Committee members are now very well versed on 

 river hydraulics and sediment transport and they are dedicated to 

 restoring this river. This inclusive open-planning process has been 

 heralded as a model for government planning, and just as this 

 science and restoration-based approach provide an example to oth- 

 ers, the community-based process we have employed also provides 

 a national example. 



