CSPA

Conservation Alert Russian River

CALIFORNIA SPORTFISHING PROTECTION ALLIANCE

CONSERVATION ALERT

The Russian River Fish Story

Do you believe in fish stories? The CSPA filed a public trust complaint

with the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) regarding adverse

impacts to threatened coho salmon and steelhead resources of the

Russian River watershed as a result of the SWRCB issuing water right

permits. The Division of Water Rights is the staff of the SWRCB. The

CSPA was recently advised by the Division of Water Rights that:

"With regards to CSPA's complaint requesting that all existing

appropriative water right permits and licenses be opened and modified to

include the operating criteria recommended by Division staff for pending

applications, the Division does not intend to initiate such action at

this time. Before an existing water right permit or license can be

modified, the project would have to be evaluated on a case by case

basis, and an opportunity for hearing would have to be provided. Given

the resources required to evaluate 1,326 current water right projects

within the Russian River watershed, which includes 1.047 permits and

licenses, 11 stockponds, 21 small domestic use registrations, and 247

identified riparian or pre-1914 projects, current staff resources

preclude the Division from addressing CSPA's request. Until such time as

additional staff resources are provided to the Division for compliance

and monitoring purposes, no further action will be taken with regard to

CSPA's complaint."

The SWRCB give away Russian River water at the expense of the coho

salmon and steelhead resources, and now suggest they do no have enough

money to fix the problem they created.

However, the Division of Water Rights suggested that:

"As discussed with you, the SWRCB is actively assisting in developing a

work plan as part of the Watershed Restoration and Protection Council.

We believe that process will be an effective method to develop measures

to enhance the anadromous fishery resources in all coastal streams,

including the Russian River. Again, we would appreciate the active

participation by CSPA in that process."

It sounds like another CALFED process.

The CSPA will continue to pursue the restoration of the anadromous

fisheries of the Russian River watershed. We have several alternatives

such as the courts ordering the SWRCB to fix the problem they created.

In the meanwhile, the anadromous fisheries of the Russian River

watershed do not have the necessary and needed habitat the fish need to

survive.

The Russian River Fish Story will continue with CSPA updates.

For further information contact Bob Baiocchi at either 530-836-1115 or

at e-mail address: cspa@psln.com - the CSPA's fax number has been

changed to 530-836-2062.