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The river south of Healdsburg is pockmarked by gravel pits up to 90 feet deep that will forever compromise our water supply and groundwater quality.

Advocacy

Our organization was founded on advocacy that brought many watershed problems and issues into the public arena such as endangered Steelhead and Salmon, gravel mining, vineyard development practices, bank stabilization policies, urban stormwater pollution, riparian zone protection and Mercury pollution. Our goal has always been to research each issue and get to the bottom of it to propose solutions or stop a harmful practice such as disposing of grape processing waste near streams or wholesale stream bank clearing. If necessary we will use legal means to stop harm to the river such as our threat to litigate over a Vino Farms proposal to rip-rap (cover river banks with large rock) that brought Vino Farms and the county to the table to work on a better project. We view each issue strategically and propose solutions that work for the river and property owners.

CURRENT ADVOCACY ISSUES

Gravel Mining Encourage more protective permits for in-stream mining, fight application to overturn Arm plan provision to end open pit gravel mining in Sonoma, stop proposal for 250 acre open pit mine along Russian River and Ackerman Creek in Ukiah.

Clean Water Act & Wastewater Issues 303(d) List of Impaired Waters: Continue to support Regional water board effort to keep Laguna listed for Nutrients, review and comment on Santa Rosa & River Rock Casino NPDES permits, document compliance with construction stormwater permits, work with cities to implement improved post-construction stormwater pollution reduction measures, continue to oppose efforts to allow relaxation of water quality standards via the use of "Mixing Zones", work with Waterkeepers to stop various federal schemes to relax water quality protections and standards, review and comment on all treated wastewater recycling proposals to ensure they do not harm surface or groundwater resources and develop citizen enforcement cases as necessary to improve compliance in the watershed.

Riparian Protection Issues Ensure Sonoma county General Plan Update includes increased protection for riparian areas from development and misguided bank stabilization schemes, work with county to develop bank stabilization policy, continue to review, comment and oppose bank stabilization via armoring with rocks that further degrades riparian functions.

Enforcement Policy Continue efforts with California Coastkeeper Alliance to separate enforcement staff and permitting staff at Regional Water Boards, work with Dept of Fish and Game to further clarify riparian protection regulations, increase enforcement of stormwater violations at Regional Water Board.