66 



Russian River Notes *»- March 1994 



In the Alexander Valley, the 

 Russian River Is broad and Its 

 channel Is wide and sparsely 

 vegetated. It Is very different from 

 the river long-time residents 

 remember. Some old-time resi- 

 dents we interviewed described a 

 brushy low-flow channel with 

 deep pools but no continuous 

 summer flows. Cows and children 

 could hide from the summer heat 

 In the dense vegetation. The 

 channel was nearly level with 

 surrourrttrtg flood plain fields. In 

 contrast soday the river flows 

 year-round. In the upper section 

 of the vaiky, Its channel is filling 

 and sediment b betngdepceited, 

 while ki the lower vanry a 

 downcutting trend has been 

 observed. The problem erf bank 

 erosion has grown and rip-rap is 

 regularly needed to protect 

 fannbrtd. Riparian habitat is 

 much reduced since the 1940s and 

 several owners have lost the use of 

 wells. Surveys Indicate that 

 be tween 1971 and 1991 the 

 riverbed dropped as much as 12 

 feet Just downstream erf the 

 Ceyaernlle Bridge. Meanwhile, 

 the upper valley nas aggraded 

 seveeu&et 



The Middle Reach of the 

 Russian River, stretching for nine 

 miles below Healdsburg, has been 

 Studied the most Intensively. Since 

 the 1940s this section of the river 

 has dropped by 18 feet. It has 

 continued to downcut throughout 

 the 1980s. These changes are due 

 largely to Intensive deep pit gravel 

 mining in the 1960s and 1970s, 

 narrowing of the channel for 

 agricultural reclamation, and 

 construction of the Warm Springs 

 Dam In the 1980s. As with the 

 Mendocino reach, bank erosion 

 both on the main channel and 

 tributaries and loss of groundwa- 

 ter wells have caused problems for 

 landowners. Bank erosion and 

 scour of riparian habitat, as well as 

 a drop in groundwater, Is ex- 

 pected to continue. Also a future 

 hazard along mis stretch of the 

 river are the deep riverside gravel 

 pits. As the river channel tries to 

 widen, it can erode through the 

 unconsolidated, unenglneered 

 soils that separate the pits from the 

 channel. Pit capture on other 

 rivers has resulted in rapid river 

 bed downcutting, undermining 

 bridges and eroding private 

 property. The enhancement plan 



project team la currently evaluat- 

 ing this potential problem and will 

 Include an alternative that ad- 

 dresses it In the plan. 



Documenting the trends on 

 the Russian River over the past 50 

 yean is the first step in the 

 planning process. Our technical 

 advisory committees have re- 

 viewed and discussed the study. 

 A list of more than 20 alternatives 

 has been developed to bring the 

 Russian River into better balance. 

 The river's processes of sediment 

 deposition and erosion determine 

 the beneficial uses that the river 

 system can provide and whether 

 wildlife habitat, a stable water 

 supply, more stable river banks, 

 and sustained agricultural use of 

 the floodplaln will continue. The 

 key to balance in the Russian 

 River system Is addressing the 

 long-term trends of river 

 downcutting and working with all 

 the interested parties to come to 

 agreeable solutions. The plan 

 recognizes that most of the river 

 corriaor is privately owned. 

 Cooperation of landowners is a 

 requirement for all projects. 



— Laurel Marcus 



The Plan 

 Objectives 



Rfesum River 



MOTES 



i ...,. ; r l«i,]vr r<M.li..ii..|,. 

 Si ,to,i ".M-.C..I l_'..u-- n.iniv 

 \1.mJi........I\,.,i>iv W.ii.-i A i 



1* Assemble existing information, 

 including historical maps and 

 documents. 



V Study long-term geomorphic 

 and hydrologie changes in the 

 river channefand corridor. 



V Evaluate measures to reduce 

 property damage from 

 streambank erosion and 

 flooding. 



e" Formulate measures to Improve 

 water quality, salmonid, and 

 wildlife habitat through 

 enhancement of the river 

 corridor. 



V Coordinate and cooperate with 

 local planning efforts, including 

 the update and environmental 

 Impact report of the Sonoma 

 County Aggregate Resources 

 Management Plan. 



If Convene an advisory commit- 

 tee in each county to provide 

 representation from the com- 

 munity and to review and 

 comment on the plan. Attempt 

 to survey or Interview river- 

 front landowners arid to gain 

 from their Input and knowl- 

 edge of the river. Hold work- 

 shops to obtain public input 



¥ Evaluate possible access sites 

 and recommend for develop- 

 ment several controlled walk-In 

 fubllc recreation sites along the 

 00-mile river corridor. 



