Santa Rosa Settles on Laguna Wastewater Discharge

It took many years to get to this place, but the City of Santa Rosa has decided that the best way to dispose of their highly treated wastewater is also the least harmful to the environment as well as the least expensive. The pipeline to the Geysers takes care of the vast majority of wastewater disposal - 100% during dry years to 90% during wet years - and when needed, the rest can be discharged into the Laguna de Santa Rosa from Delta Pond. This is a tremendous environmental victory for everyone who opposed the alternatives.

Report from Brenda Adelman of the Russian River Watershed Protection Committee.

Well, it's official! Santa Rosa's Board of Public Utilities formally voted today to select the enhanced Laguna discharge project instead of either the Healdsburg discharge or Steelhead Beach. The City will also create nutrient offset programs (under the watch of the Regional Board and subject to public review) to meet their requirement of no net increase of nutrients to the
Laguna.

What this means is that most of Santa Rosa's wastewater will go to the Geysers, no discharge is expected in dry to normal years, and only in heavy rain years will up to 5% of the total winter flow be discharged to the Laguna. (For eight years now, I've been presenting data that showed the project to be unnecessary. Instead they spent $12 to $15 million on studies and documents.)

In his presentation to the BPU, City consultant Dave Smith said that zero discharge was probable in most years. Up to a few months ago, he was insisting that the City needed 26 million gallons a day (mgd) capacity, even though current dry weather flows are at 15 mgd and have been in that range for many, many years.

The Laguna project will cost the City about $6.5 million whereas Steelhead Beach would have cost up to $265 million. Of course, when they started this process eight years ago, Steelhead came in at $30 million. The prices seems to go up as interest in the project goes down. Nevertheless, the current economy helped turn this around.

At the meeting today, on behalf of Russian River Watershed Protection Committee and Friends of Steelhead Beach, I submitted 5206 signatures into the record, thanks to the dedicated work of community members, Steelhead Beach lovers, RRWPC supporters, local business people, and many more who helped collect signatures. We also submitted a letter asking that the
petition be entered into the record and that all people be contacted if the City ever revisits that project.

It's been a long road, but we are thrilled with the direction the City has taken. We thank all of you who helped with this effort. Next year, we will be dedicating ourselves to the "low flow" and "incidental runoff" issues which are already heating up.

Read article »

Sonoma County Election Final Results

It's FINALLY official - and if this tight election doesn't prove that votes count - nothing will!


It's official - by a mere 604 votes, Efren Carillo wins the 5th District Supervisor seat and we move on. Congratulations Efren! We'll be seeing more of you from now on.

For those of us who are Rue Furch supporters, it hurts. THANK YOU Rue for the nearly two decades of service you have dedicated to our community and environment on the Planning Commission and in your other volunteer efforts. We know that you will continue putting energy into our communities and environmental health in new ways.

We have to put our faith in Efren that he will be true to his word and not be beholden to the individuals, industries & businesses who financed his campaign; that in office he will be more considerate than his campaign's promotional material we received in our mail boxes - and that he will learn quickly the myriad issues that we find vital to our very survival - economically and environmentally. So along with our trust we will pay attention - and as the saying goes - hold his feet to the fire as we have done every supervisor before him.

If you have not done so already - please log on the the Sonoma County web site and sign up for e-mail alerts to meeting agendas so you can keep track of issues that have importance in your lives and communities. Both the County Supervisor meetings and the Planning Commission meetings are where the most impactful issues are handled. There are many ways to be involved - find one that fits your life and priorities.

These sites have links for signing up for meetng agenda notices and updates:
Board of Supervors Agendas: http://www.sonoma-county.org/board/agenda.htm
Project Review & Advosory: http://www.sonoma-county.org/prmd/b-c/prac/index.htm

On the VERY local front of Forestville (my home town) - what looked like an affirmation that Rob Abler would remain on the Forestville School Board took a turn at the recounting and by a mere 34 votes, Guy Eck is now on the school board and Ron retires after nearly 30 years serving our community school. I feel for Ron but am reminded that he told me that Guy Eck is a good man with lots of smarts and that he is worthy of the position. So we win no matter what! THANK YOU RON for all the years you have dedicated to our childrens' education. We appreciate your passion!

Read article »

Chinook Salmon Return to the Russian River

Every year we anxiously await our salmon's fall return to our rivers, and hope that there is enough water left to aid their journey home to spawning grounds. This year we have been blessed with rain at just the right time. Is it enough rain? Probably not -but something is better then nothing.

The following report comes in from the Sonoma County Water Agency who monitor our fish and the flow of the Russian River. This summer they asked Sonoma County residents to conserve water so there would be enough water in our reservoir lakes to release this fall for the salmon's return. Here's is what they have learned this year and the story so far.


Chinook Salmon in the Russian River

2008 Chinook/ Wild Steelhead Migration Count:

11/03/08 - 576 Chinook

11/03/08 - 1 Wild Steelhead

The 2008-09 spawning season has begun. Thanks to two underwater video cameras located in fish ladders adjacent to the Agency's rubber dam on the Russian River, we are able to count the amount of Chinook, coho and steelhead migrating. Over the 2005-2006 spawning season, more than 2,563 Chinook salmon were counted swimming through the Agency's fish ladder, which allows the migrating salmon to bypass the rubber dam.

Each year as the seasons change from summer to fall, Chinook salmon begin their annual migration up the Russian River to their natal spawning habitat. However, until quite recently, the Chinook run in the Russian was relatively unknown. Few people knew that Chinook inhabited the Russian and no one knew how many returned to the river annually. This all changed when the Sonoma County Water Agency began conducting research on the effects of its water diversion facilities on fish, and more importantly, ways to avoid impacting fish in the Russian River Basin. Much of this research stems from our Section 7 consultations (Endangered Species Act requirements) that the Agency has participated in with the National Marine Fisheries Service and the Army Corps of Engineers. This research has significantly increased our knowledge of Chinook salmon inhabiting the Russian River.

We reviewed historical documents on salmon and steelhead populations in the Russian River from 1880 to the present to try and determine if Chinook were native to the Russian River. The oldest report mentioning Chinook salmon in the Russian River were stocking records from 1881. We also found reports from the late 1880's describing an in-river commercial fishery for "salmon" on the Russian River. However, the reports that specifically identified the catch as occurring in the river did not include Chinook salmon jumping up the Agency's Mirabel Inflatable Damthe species captured (referring to the fish as "salmon"), and those that identified the fish as Chinook salmon did not specifically refer to the location of capture as the Russian River. The time of year that the commercial fishery operated was mentioned only once, when the fishery occurred between October and March. This time period overlaps the time of year when Chinook, coho, and steelhead are migrating in the river. Thus, all three of these species could have been captured in the fishery.

During the 1940's and 50's, CA Department of Fish and Game (CDFG) documents indicated that the general consensus among local biologists was that few Chinook inhabited the river, and those that did were the results of stocking activities. Chinook salmon were first stocked in the river in 1881, and stocking efforts continued sporadically until 1982, when CDFG began a serious, but largely unsuccessful effort to establish a run at the Warm Springs Fish Hatchery. Approximately 8 million fry and 5 million smolts were released from the hatchery between 1982 and 1996. Adult returns to the hatchery ranged between 0 and 304 fish during this time. CDFG ended its Chinook hatchery program in 1996.

Against the historical backdrop, in 1999 we began studying fish populations in the Russian River with the general mindset that Chinook salmon were present in the basin at very low numbers. Surprisingly, the most abundant fish captured in our downstream migrant traps that year (and every year since) were juvenile Chinook salmon. This discovery ran counter to the historical documents that we had reviewed.

Our monitoring program consists of five interrelated studies assessing adult and juvenile salmonid passage around the Agency's inflatable dam, spawning habitat distribution, seasonal water temperature conditions in the study area, and predator populations above the dam. Here we report on the results of the upstream adult monitoring program and spawner surveys.

Adult fish passage is provided at the inflatable dam in the form of two Denil style fish ladders. Although the ladders have been in place since the dam was installed, their effectiveness had not been assessed. We installed a video system consisting of ultra-high resolution monochrome video cameras with wide-angle lenses housed in waterproof cases at the upstream end of each fish ladder. Images are recorded on two time-lapse videocassette recorders. The Chinook salmon swimming through the Agency's fish laddercameras are operated continuously 24 hours a day from at least mid-August until the dam was deflated (mid-November through mid-January, depending on the water year). Videotapes are reviewed on high quality VCRs having a wide range of slow motion and freeze frame capabilities. Video cameras have been operated from 1999 until the present.

The video cameras provide fairly high quality images under most flow conditions (see image at right). The image quality is significantly degraded during periods of high turbidity associated with rain events. Another factor limiting counts is the cameras are only operational when the dam is in place. The dam is deflated during high flow periods which have ranged from mid November to mid January, depending on rainfall patterns in the basin. In addition, some Chinook salmon spawning has been reported in tributaries located downstream of the dam. Thus the results of our video counts reflect a minimum number of Chinook salmon in the Russian River.

An often-asked question is: why is it that when most salmon and steelhead populations are decreasing across their range that the Chinook salmon in the Russian River appear to be increased over historical populations? We truly have no satisfying explanation. One possibility is that the populations could have built up since the advent of the Potter Valley Project began discharging a stable flow into the river. The stable flow conditions during the fall months could have allowed the population to enter into the river each year and spawn. This sounds like a reasonable explanation except that these flows were present in the 1940's and 1950's when CDFG reports suggested that few Chinook inhabited the river. A second possibility is that access along the Russian is poor over a large section of the river, particularly during the 1940's and 1950's, and that the fish were just missed. It is true that there were no definitive studies conducted in the river to determine the presence or absence of Chinook salmon during this time period. While this is certainly plausible, the Russian River is (and was) a popular steelhead stream. Chinook are a large fish that would have been hard to miss by steelhead fisherman. A third possibility is that the current run of Chinook salmon are strays from other river systems or that they are remnants of the Warm Springs Fish Hatchery. However, genetics work conducted by the Bodega Bay Marine Lab reported that these fish are not related to populations in Central Valley rivers, the Eel River, or from the Warm Springs Hatchery.

So, while many aspects of Chinook in the Russian remain unresolved, what we currently know is positive: the river currently supports a fairly large population of Chinook; and that these fish appear to be native to the river. We are hopeful that continued research will help us better understand these fish, and help with the recovery of this fishery.

For the complete story with all the graphs and links - please go to the Sonoma County Water Agency web site: http://www.sonomacountywater.org/environment/natural_resources/chinook_salmon.php

Read article »

Sonoma County Water - Biological Opinion Meetings

The meetings for public input from our community on the Biological Opinion are about to end. The last meeting is at the mouth of the Russian River where it flows into the Pacific Ocean - Jenner. The meeting is on November 19th - please start assembling at 6:30 - the meeting is scheduled to begin at 7pm.


Wednesday, November 19
Jenner
Community Hall
10432 Highway 1
(Park across the street from gas station, walk behind gas station and across foot bridge)

Open House: 6:30 p.m.
Presentations, Q&A: 7-9 p.m.

Focus: Estuary adaptive management

For additional information and updates, go to www.sonomacountywater.org and
click the “Russian River Instream Flow and Restoration” button
or call Ann DuBay, public information officer, at 707.524-8378.

BACKGROUND:
On Wednesday, October 1, a public meeting wase held in Santa Rosa to discuss a 15-year plan, called a Biological Opinion, aimed at helping restore endangered coho salmon, Chinook salmon and steelhead in the Russian River and Dry Creek. The Biological Opinion, which was released by National Marine Fisheries Service on Friday, September 26, mandates sweeping changes to the way local and federal agencies operate Russian River water supply and flood control projects.

The Biological Opinion was issued by NMFS and received by the Sonoma County Water Agency, the United States Army Corps of Engineers (Corps), the California Department of Fish and Game and the Mendocino County Russian River Flood Control and Water Conservation Improvement District. The process leading up to the Biological Opinion – known as a “Section 7 consultation” – began in 1998 after the three fish species were listed on state and federal endangered species lists.

“We began this long process to help save salmon and steelhead and to guarantee our current water supply,” said Water Agency Director Tim Smith, who also serves as chairman of the PPFC.

“While the Biological Opinion is ultimately a federal mandate on local operations, we believe it will help us meet both these goals.”

“We believe the measures will allow us to continue ensuring public safety while enhancing the environment,” said Lt. Col. Laurence Farrell, who is commander of the San Francisco district. “The Corps is committed to meeting the conditions spelled out in the Biological Opinion.”
In issuing the Biological Opinion, NMFS found that some water supply and flood control activities jeopardize threatened fish. The Biological Opinion calls on the Water Agency and the Corps to eliminate or reduce these impacts through a set of measures called “reasonable and prudent alternatives,” including:

• Extensive monitoring of both habitat and fish in Dry Creek, the estuary and the river;

• Eliminating impediments to fish migration and improving habitat on several streams;

• Enhancing the existing coho recovery hatchery program at Warm Springs Dam.

• Restoring up to six miles of habitat in Dry Creek;

• Requesting the States Water Resources Control Board to reduce summertime flows in the river, beginning in 2010;

• Creating a freshwater lagoon in the estuary at the mouth of the Russian River during the summer months.

In winter, the Corps manages releases of water from Warm Springs Dam (at Lake Sonoma) into Dry Creek to reduce risk of flooding in the lower river near Guerneville and Monte Rio. In summer, the Water Agency releases water into the creek to meet water supply needs of 600,000 people.

Although the water released from the dam is cold and clean, the Biological Opinion finds that summertime flows are too high for the juvenile steelhead and salmon that live in the creek. Juvenile salmon and steelhead spend one to two years in freshwater before heading downstream to the ocean. Slowing the speed of the water in the stream will improve their growth and survival. Habitat restoration projects in Dry Creek specified in the Biological Opinion would create slow-moving pools during summer and quiet water areas where fish can escape high winter flows.

The Biological Opinion requires the Water Agency to ask the State Water Resources Control Board to lower minimum summertime flows in Dry Creek and the Russian River, beginning with a request for temporary changes in flow requirements in 2010. The reduction in flows require extensive environmental documentation and public input – a process that could take several years.

“In many ways the Russian River defines the region,” Smith said. “In addition to being critical for the fishery, it’s critical for recreation, for agriculture and it’s an incredible natural resource.
All these things will be taken into account in the environmental documentation that the water Agency will provide to the state water board.”

The Biological Opinion acknowledges a need for balance and flexibility by noting that “SCWA may find alternative minimum flow requirements that meet the goals of restoring functional salmonid rearing habitat . . .while promoting water conservation and limiting adverse effects on other in-stream resources.”

NMFS biologists believe that lower flows create a better environment for juvenile salmon and steelhead. Current minimum summer flows are based on weather conditions, and range from 125 cubic feet per second (during a normal year, as measured at Hacienda Bridge in Guerneville) to 85 cfs (dry year). Under the terms of the Biological Opinion, minimum flows would be dropped to 70 cfs (with an additional 15 cfs to maintain system flexibility for a total flow of 85 cfs) in both normal and dry years. In the upper Russian River, current flow requirements range from 185 cfs (between June 1 and August 31) to 150 cfs between September 1 and October 31. Under the terms of the Biological Opinion, minimum flows would be dropped to 125 cfs from June 1 through October 31.

The complete text of the Biological Opinion can be downloaded form the Sonoma County Water Agency website. Please educate yourselves before attending these meetings.

http://www.sonomacountywater.org/projects/

Read article »

Sonoma County Court Overturns Water Ruling

SONOMA COUNTY SUPERIOR COURT OVERTURNS SONOMA COUNTY WATER AGENCY MANAGEMENT PLAN

Santa Rosa - Today a broad coalition of community organizations representing conservationists, farmers, ranchers, fishermen and recreationists announced that Sonoma County Superior Court Judge Gary Nadler has ruled in their favor and struck down the Sonoma County Water Agency's (SCWA's) recently-adopted Urban Water Management Plan (UWMP).

Judge Nadler agreed with the Water Coalition that the Water Agency's UWMP was deficient in five fundamental respects. California's Urban Water Management Planning Act (UWMPA) requires major urban water purveyors such as SCWA to prepare a UWMP every five years to assess available ground and surface water supplies and determine whether they are sufficient to meet projected water demands. The Act declares that "[a] long term, reliable supply of water is essential to protect the productivity of California's business and economic climate" as well as its environmental quality. SCWA's most recent UWMP claims that Sonoma County has adequate ground and surface water supplies for substantial urban growth.

Judge Nadler rejected SCWA's claim, pointing out that SCWA's proposal to increase diversions from the Russian River potentially conflicts with protection of this river for fish and wildlife, recreation, and existing agricultural and domestic uses. The superior court therefore set aside SCWA's UWMP, and directed SCWA to acknowledge and address the potential water shortages facing Sonoma County before unsustainable urban growth deprives existing and future agricultural, urban, and recreational uses of essential water supplies.

Judge Nadler ruled that SCWA's UWMP ignores or understates many severe constraints on future water supply, and that SCWA violated the UWMPA in the following respects:

(1) The SCWA failed to coordinate with relevant agencies as required by the Act;
(2) The Plan fails to include the degree of specificity required by the Act;
(3) The Plan fails to adequately consider environmental factors, specifically, the effect of changed water flows during period of water shortfalls on the salmonids, and other potential implications of the Endangered Species Act;
(4) The Plan fails to adequately address the effect of recycled groundwater on the availability of water supply in the future; and
(5) The Plan fails to quantify with reasonable specificity the scope of water demand management measures which are relied upon to address the anticipated water shortfalls.

The lawsuit was brought by fourteen community organizations including the Sonoma County Water Coalition, the Russian River Watershed Protection Committee, the Community Alliance with Family Farmers, the Westside Association to Save Agriculture, the Coast Action Group, the O.W.L. Foundation, the Sebastopol Water Information Group, and the North Coast Rivers Alliance, among others.

Stephan Volker, attorney for the plaintiffs, praised them for persevering, through two years of challenging litigation, and lauded Judge Nadler for his extraordinary effort in reviewing hundreds of pages of briefs and a 71,000-page court record, preparatory to issuing his detailed and scholarly 46-page ruling. "We are pleased that the Court has vindicated our concerns by ruling in our favor on virtually every issue," stated Mr. Volker. "We look forward to working with Sonoma County Water Agency to develop a sensible and lawful water management plan that assures that water supplies are adequate to protect not only our cities and farmers, but also our fish and wildlife, for now and for future generations," added Mr. Volker.

The Sonoma County Water Coalition (SCWC), founded in 2004, is a forum for more than thirty local groups to share information and concerns about water, and to take action to improve management of this vital resource in Sonoma County. The combined membership of its member groups is more than 25,000 concerned citizens.

The Russian River Watershed Protection Committee (RRWPC), founded in 1980, has 1,400 supporters, and works to protect the health of the Russian River, representing mostly property owners along the lower Russian River and recreationists.

The Community Alliance with Family Farmers (CAFF) is a statewide organization of family farmers that works to develop local community food systems, to create environmentally sustainable farming methods, and to enact state and local policies to support these efforts.

The Westside Association to Save Agriculture (WASA) is an organization of farmers and residents that engages in public education and advocacy to promote the protection and restoration of agricultural lands and uses on the west side of the Middle Reach of the Russian River near Healdsburg.

The O.W.L. Foundation comprises concerned citizens dependent on groundwater resources from the Santa Rosa plain that is dedicated to educating the public and elected officials about the severity of the current water crisis in Sonoma County, and the technical methods available to resolve the crisis.

The Sebastopol Water Information Group (SWiG) is a community organization whose members include experts in the water sciences who monitor groundwater contamination and well water levels, and provide information to well owners.

The North Coast Rivers Alliance (NCRA) is an environmental organization that works to protect the Russian River and other rivers of California's north coast from the adverse effects of excessive water diversions, ill-planned urban development, and harmful resource extraction, pollution, and other forms of degradation.

Friends of the Eel River (FOER) is a regional organization of concerned citizens dedicated to the restoration of both the Eel and Russian Rivers, their watersheds and their fish and wildlife.

For more information:
Sonoma County Water Coalition: Jane Nielson (707) 829-9393, jenielson@comcast.net

Russian River Watershed Protection Committee: Brenda Adelman (707) 869-0410, rrwpc-1@comcast.net

O.W.L. Foundation: H.R. Downs (707) 769-2008, owl@owlfoundation.net

Friends of the Eel River: David Keller (707) 763-9336, dkeller@eelriver.org

Attorney: Stephan Volker (510) 496-0600, svolker@volkerlaw.com

Read article »

West Nile Virus Positive Test in Windsor

Mosquito Sample Collected From Windsor Tests Positive
For West Nile Virus

~Residents urged to protect themselves from mosquitoes

The Marin/Sonoma Mosquito and Vector Control District (District) received confirmation today that a mosquito sample from the Town of Windsor has tested positive for West Nile virus. The mosquito sample was collected near the 8000 block of Windsor Road. District officials will begin scouring the area checking all known sources as well as searching for new mosquito breeding sites.

The District traps and tests adult mosquitoes regularly as a part of their disease surveillance program but will add additional traps in the area where the positive mosquito sample was identified.

“Even though the temperatures have slightly decreased the virus can still be active in infected mosquitoes, just at a lower level” said Nizza Sequeira, public relations director for the Marin/Sonoma Mosquito and Vector Control District. “It is extremely important for residents to continue to protect themselves from mosquitoes and mosquito bites. One bite from a West Nile virus positive mosquito and your infected.” stated Sequeira.

Residents can protect themselves by following these simple tips:

· Be aware that mosquitoes are most active between dusk and dawn.

· When engaging in outdoor activities, wear long-sleeved shirts, long pants, and apply insect repellant according to label instructions. Repellants containing the active ingredient DEET, Picaridin or oil of lemon are most effective.

· Screen all windows and make sure the screens are in good repair.

· Cover septic tanks and screen roof vent pipes.

· Identify and eliminate all sources of standing water around your property.

For more information or to report mosquito problems visit the District’s website at www.msmosquito.com

2008 West Nile virus activity:

Sonoma County: 2 mosquito pool and 6 dead birds have tested positive for West Nile virus. Marin County: 1 dead bird has tested positive for West Nile virus.

2007 West Nile virus activity:

Sonoma County: 2 equine cases, 1 human, 19 dead birds, 0 squirrels, 0 sentinel chickens and 1 mosquito pool tested positive for West Nile virus.

Marin County: 4 dead birds tested positive for West Nile virus.

West Nile virus is spread by the bite of an infected mosquito. Mosquitoes become infected when they feed on an infected bird. Symptoms of WNv include fever, headache, body aches, nausea, stiff neck, restlessness, stupor, delirium, and convulsions. Most cases are mild; however fatalities can occur in extreme cases.

Report all dead birds and squirrels.

Online reporting is preferred at westnile.ca.gov or Call toll free at 1-877-WNV-BIRD

The Marin/Sonoma Mosquito and Vector Control District is a public health agency funded by property taxes and committed to protecting the public from mosquitoes and mosquito-borne disease.

Read article »

Russian River State Parks Web Site Launched

Stewards of the Coast and Redwoods have been instrumental in promoting public awareness, providing resources and information for using our natural wonders, and protecting our parks from environmental hazards as well as budget cuts. This web site will give them more tools for doing the job they do so well.


Stewards is very excited to share with you the wonderful news about the launching of our new website. Before I mention some of the features, I want to express my sincere appreciation to Board member Lisa Bacon who, for weeks, has helped me with design decisions, edited content and written new content. Her editing ability has truly made the website something worth reading.

Equal thank you's to David Defries and the team from Webhelper for their wonderful leadership and professional expertise. They have helped us design a website that is beautiful and functional. Your first glimpse of our new look is this new e-newsletter format.

Our warmest gratitude goes to our website sponsor, Sophie's Cellars. John Haggard will share his outstanding expertise and help you find the right sipping or pairing wine for a dinner or that special event. They have an arrangement to waive corkage fees with many fine local dining establishments. Stop in and chat with John and David. David and John are truly wonderful additions to our community.

Some features that you might like to know about:
A home page with lots of helpful information:
• Interactive map
• News updates
• Upcoming events

An online reservation system for signing up for:
• school and adult tours
• EcoAdventures
• volunteer opportunities and training seminars.
• Our e-newsletter

Coming Soon:
A Private volunteer access page with:
• A calendar showing the days you are signed up to volunteer
• Upcoming tours and programs
• Information for specific program volunteers
• An interactive blog to share inspirational stories with fellow volunteers
• An E-store so you can order some of our best interpretive merchandise for yourself, friends and family. We will ship to them directly and you will be supporting Stewards at the same time.

Your feedback and suggestions are welcome.
We want this site to work for everyone.

UPCOMING EVENTS:

October 25 - Annual Membership Meeting and Picnic
at the Armstrong Redwoods Group Picnic Area
10:00am - Docent-led Cultural History walk with Doris Dickenson. Doris and Carmen Finley have written a wonderful new book about Col. James B. Armstrong and his family's legacy. Meet Doris in the group picnic area.
Noon - Potluck lunch (bring your own reuseable plates and utensils), Stewards will provide beverages.
Special Guest Speaker - Traci Veraldo-Torres, from the California State Parks Foundation, will give us an update on the State Park Access Pass and our efforts to come up with a sustainable funding source for our State Parks.
Followed by: Annual report to the members and door prizes.

November 8 - Whale Watch Orientation
9:00am to 1:30pm with lunch break
Bodega Bay Grange Hall & Bodega Head
Join in the annual celebration of the Pacific gray whale migration along California’s spectacular coastline. Every weekend from January through May hundreds of park visitors are assisted in observing the whales off Bodega Head by knowledgeable docents.
Contact Ruby Herrick for more information and to register.

November 14 to December 3 Online Auction Fundraiser!
Visit our special auction web site for information on how you can donate items for this fabulous new event. This is a great marketing opportunity for businesses who donate to the auction. There are over 84,000 people bidding on this website.

Michele Luna, Executive Director
Stewards of the Coast and Redwoods
P.O. Box 2 · Duncans Mills, CA 96430
17000 Armstrong Woods Road, Guerneville, CA 95446
Tel: (707) 869-9177
E-mail: stewards@mcn.org
http://www.stewardsofthecoastandredwoods.org/

Web Master:
David Defries
http://www.webhelper.com
Webhelper.com
870 Market Street, Suite 900
San Francisco, CA 94102


Sponsor:
John Haggard
Sophies Cellars
20293 Hwy 116
Monte Rio, CA 95462
11am-7pm, Closed Wed.
Tel: 707.865.1122
http://www.sophiescellars.com

Read article »

Santa Rosa Wastwater Discharge Hearings NOW

Please scroll down to previous post Santa Rosa Wastewater Discharge EIR Ready to Read for the full story - here are current updates and the Hearing Schedule:


BPU Certified EIR with Unanimous Vote - October 2, 2008. Many residents and experts on river health came to speak. We tried to convince the BPU Board that the most recent changes in the EIR reagarding the Steelhead Beach discharge site needed more time for study - but the board said no. Sonoma County Regional Parks objected to their park as a discharge site, submitted a letter from Director Mary Burns that both Regional Parks and Fish and Game had not been properly informed nor part of the process, but even that failed to sway the board from certifying the EIR. NEXT: Project selection. Although BPU insists that the Laguna is the preferred discharge site, there still needs to be pressure to protect Steelhead Beach. The most recent plans to bring the pipeline further down River Road before cutting over to the Russian River just upstream from Children's Beach, is still unaccaptable to Russian River advocates. If you have thoughts on this subject - this next meeeting is imporant to attend.

BPU Study Session re: Project Selection - November 6, 2008
BPU has a study session at their regular meeting. They will probably take public comments at this meeting as well, but no decision would be made at this meeting.

SR Council Review Study Session Results - November 18, 2008 (about 5 PM) This discussion with probably have time for the public to speak. No decision would be made here.

BPU Project Selection/Approval - December 4, 2008 This is the meeting where they will select a project. This is the last chance for comments and public testimony.

Seasonal Storage Project:

Final EIR available for Review - October 6, 2008
BPU considers EIR Certification - October 16, 2008

The meetings where certification will be considered are held during Board of Public Utilities (BPU) meetings in the Santa Rosa Council Chamber, 100 Santa Rosa Avenue, Santa Rosa.
All meetings will be at 1:30 PM, *except the October 2nd meeting, which will be at 5 PM. Confirm agenda and schedule at http://www.SRCity.org/BPU.

10/7 UPDATE: Information about the Seasonal Storage Project (SSP) and the availability of
the Final EIR follows below.

The SSP Final EIR is available for review October 6.
Available online at www.SRCity.org/SeasonalStorage under
<http://ci.santa-rosa.ca.us/departments/utilities/irwp/storage/Pages/studies
_reports.aspx> Studies & Reports.

The Board of Public Utilities (BPU) meeting at which certification will be
considered is being held at 5 PM* in the Santa Rosa Council Chamber, 100
Santa Rosa Avenue, Santa Rosa.

(*Note meeting time change to 5 PM) Confirm agenda and schedule at
http://www.SRCity.org/BPU.

Where you can find copies of the SSP FINAL EIR:

The Final SSP EIR (as well as the Discharge Compliance Project EIR) will be
available for review at Sonoma County Branch Libraries in Santa Rosa,
Rohnert Park/Cotati, Sebastopol, and Windsor and on the project Web site at
www.SRCity.org/IRWP.

The Final EIRs, appendices and reference material cited in the Final EIRs
will also be available for review at the Laguna Plant Library, located at
4300 Llano Road, Santa Rosa. Hard copies and CDs of the Final EIRs will be
available for purchase by calling ARC at 707.579.9096.

If you have any questions please call 707.836.0300.


NEW NOTES 9/30/08
Mark Millan called to say he has received some panic concerns and questions from people - this is his summary to allay fears:

The Laguna Site is noted in the EIR as the Environmentally Superior Alternative meaning it has the fewest or least significant effects on the environment. See pages 1-10 and 11 of the EIR. Steelhead Beach (Site D1) would be 20 to 30 times more costly (140 to 174 million) than the Laguna site.

The Russian River would not be closed for any period of time if they chose the Steelhead Beach site (D1) - they would use what is called a Coffer Dam that holds water back from where they are working - forcing the river around the dam - not stopping the flow.

Santa Rosa is in serious budget crisis - like the rest of the world - and simply doesn't have the resources to do a large scale project. But - they have to meet NCRWCB regulations for oxygen and temperature, thus the study and project. Plus CEQA (California Environmental Quality Act) requires they study a range of feasible projects.

Calpine (The Geysers) would like just about every drop of water Santa Rosa creates so discharge would only be necessary in wet years when there is too much water coming through the treatment plant.

Leaky Pipes - they finally heard Brenda - are being fixed at a very slow rate - but have increasingly been recognized as a major source of inflow into the treatment plant.

Moving the Steelhead project site up River Road was intended to reduce the environmental impacts to the area. Steelhead Beach and Osprey Trail. - CEQA requires impacts to be avoided where possible.

Reverse Osmosis, also known as Advanced Membrane Treatment (AMT) facilities were reviewed in the EIR for each proposed discharge site including at the Laguna. Consideration for using AMT as a strategy to meet regulatory compliance is evaluated in the EIR and you can find it in the Draft EIR in Volume 4 of 6; Section 3.3.3., on page 51.

Also see Volume 6 of 6, TM-D10 Advance Membrane Treatment Evaluation, which
goes in to great detail how this type of treatment could be used.

All available on line at:
http://ci.santa-rosa.ca.us/departments/utilities/irwp/discharge/Pages/studies_reports.aspx

Source:
Mark Millan
Public Information Coordinator
www.SRCity.org/IRWP
707.836.0300
EM: millan@DataInstincts.com

COMMENTS from Brenda Adelman 9/30/08

Much of what Mark has written is basically correct and what I have been saying for years. What he doesn’t say is why they want concerned citizens to back off just as the big decision is going to be made. They are feeling the heat from concerned citizens now who have been alerted to their pending decisions.

The City has already removed five options from this proposal and were asked repeatedly to take this one off as well and they refused. They are now working very hard to get people in the community to back off at a critical juncture. Yet, the City has spent six years and about $16 million planning this direct discharge into the Russian River. Does it make sense that they would back off this easily?

Mark is a very nice man, but the City is absolutely not to be trusted in this. They have a long history of spinning and ignoring, etc. things we have been saying for years. Why is it, at this critical point in time, they are all of a sudden agreeing with us? Why are trying to diffuse public interest in the up coming decisions that will have very significant legal implications that will seal our fate on river discharge? It is imperative that the people speak out now and not buy into these empty assurances. Until the meetings/hearings are held and the votes are counted, we have NO assurance that what he says will happen.

Brenda

Read article »

Whole Foods, Sebastopol supports Ceres Project

Ceres Project is a wonderful cooperative effort engaging the efforts of young cooks who prepare nutritious meals for people in need. To learn more about the Project - please visit their web site - link below. To help contribute to this project, please shop at Whole Foods Sebastopol from September 29th through December 28th.

Whole Foods Sebastopol has selected the Ceres Project to be the recipient of the Envirocents Program from September 29 to December 28th. This is a great opportunity for us to raise money, but even more to spread the word about our work.

There will be posters in the store featuring Ceres, and our logo will be on the change boxes at each register.

Folks can choose to put their extra change in the boxes, and all of the bag donations will also come to us.

Whole Foods is also giving us three opportunities to table in front of the stores. We will be there on Sunday, October 19 from 11 - 1, and again on the Sunday before Thanksgiving and again in December.

Here's what you can do:

1. Spread the word among your circles and encourage them to take their bags to Whole Foods and to donate their change to us via the change boxes.

2. Put notices up on WACCO and in other newsletters you have access to.

3. Shop at Whole Foods often, take your own bags with you, and donate that $0.05 to Ceres.

4. Help out by volunteering to table October 19, November 23, or pick a date in December.

Thanks for helping to spread the word!

And here's the complete story:

Whole Foods Envirocents Program Helps Get Meals to Local Cancer Survivors

Grab your reusable grocery bag and head to Whole Foods in Sebastopol to help a local non-profit that’s touching a lot of lives with the healing power of food. From now through the end of December, The Ceres Community Project will be the beneficiary of Whole Foods-Sebastopol’s Envirocents Program.

Envirocents gives Whole Foods shoppers the option to donate five cents for every bag they bring in to a local non-profit organization. Change boxes at each register are designed to collect additional donations. Local non-profits get visibility as well as funds to support their work.

The Ceres Community Project, founded in March 2007, provides organic, nutrient-dense meals to families dealing with serious illness while training young chefs in the art of healthy cooking and eating. This year, Ceres will deliver more than 15,000 meals to individuals throughout Sonoma County. More than 100 teens from ten area high schools have worked as chefs in the project’s kitchen.

The majority of the project’s clients are dealing with cancer and the debilitating effects of chemotherapy and radiation treatment. Here’s what one of those clients had to say about the difference that The Ceres Community Project made for her and her family.

“I don't know how to fully express what a lifesaver the Ceres Project food was for me during my chemo. Having food already prepared, tasty food which I knew was good for me and helping me fight the cancer, made my life so much easier during an extremely difficult time. As it came to the end of the treatment, I grew more and more fatigued but there were things I really wanted to be able to do. It was important to me to help with my daughter's 8th grade play and graduation. After nine years of being an active volunteer in her school, especially with the plays, it would have been a shame to not be able to work on her last play. If I hadn't had the Ceres food waiting for me, I wouldn't have been able to handle it.”

Each Wednesday and Thursday afternoon, teen volunteers gather at The Community Church of Sebastopol’s commercial kitchen to chop, sauté, whisk, bake and roast their way through cases of mostly donated local organic food. The teens learn first hand about the relationship between the food we eat and our health, develop their culinary skills and discover how simple it is to make a difference in their world.

If you’d like to learn more about The Ceres Community Project visit their website, www.ceresproject.org . If you know someone who needs food support, call Cherie at 823-2529. If you are a teen or adult who would like to volunteer, call Judi at 829-8295. And from now until the end of December, visit Whole Foods Sebastopol with your reusable bag in hand. Donate that five cents – and whatever change you have – to The Ceres Community Project. If each of us gives a little, we can make a big difference for our neighbors who are struggling with illness, and for the young people who are becoming the leaders of the future.


Cathryn Couch
707-799-7489
www.kitchencosmology.com
"Humans are tuned for relationship. The eyes, the skin, the tongue, ears, nostrils -- all are gates where our body receives the nourishment of otherness." - David Abrams, The Spell of the Sensuous

Read article »

Former 5th District Candidate Jim Maresca Endorses Rue Furch

Jim Maresca, former candidate for the 5th District Supervisor position, has officially endorsed Rue Furch. His statement follow:


After a great deal of thought I have decided to support Rue Furch for Fifth District Supervisor. We are all familiar with Rue’s environmental credentials. In addition, I have had in-depth discussions with Rue about the county’s financial situation and am now convinced that she both understands it and is prepared to take the necessary actions to fix the problems.

But that is only part of the reason for my decision.

It is not only important that Rue wins, it is important that the people behind Efren Carrillo be taught that they cannot sell us a Trojan horse. Efren is an intelligent, charming, and articulate young man. But his support comes primarily from the coalition of large home developers, gravel miners, and corporate agriculture that has, for decades, demonstrated their willingness to put their own economic gain above of the good of the county as a whole. The idea that an inexperienced 27 year old could accept more than $100,000 in support of these interests and then not be beholden to them after he is in office is just too much of a stretch to accept. Electing Efren would be like asking the fox to guard the henhouse.

Some of my supporters, disappointed in the outcome of the primary, have told me they would either write my name in or refrain from voting in the supervisor election. I ask them, please not to do either. The stakes are too high to allow for symbolic gestures.

Vote for Rue Furch for 5th District Supervisor.
http://www.ruefurchforsupervisor.com/

Jim Maresca

Read article »

Blood Bank LOW on Blood and Platelets - Please Donate

My friend Mary Mount recently encouraged me to come by to Bank of the Redwoods while she donates platelets for cancer patients - get the story and tell our readers how much blood is needed. While I was there I met with Kent Corley the PR manager, and he gave me a good impression of our dire need for blood and platelets, especially with blood needed for Hurricane Ike victims and people injured by the train wreck in Los Angeles. The blood bank always takes care of local patients first and if it has excess inventory it can help those in need outside our community. Below is more information on how you can help - and who is eligible. I was amazed to learn that a mere 37% of the population can give blood. That makes keeping blood supplies full and available much more challenging. The information below comes from their web site - more later - V


Blood Brothers and Sisters
The common bond of blood unites us all. No matter who we are blood sustains us. Since it cannot be manufactured we rely on caring citizens to donate, forever connecting and changing lives with this simple act.

Every 15 minutes someone in our community requires lifesaving blood for a variety of reasons - traumatic accidents, surgery, and cancer treatments. Depending on the injury or form of illness, specific types of blood components are used. For instance, many cancer patients require platelet transfusions as part of their treatment. Platelets must be transfused within five days of donation, which means constant replenishment from dedicated donors is required.

The number of individuals in the U.S. who are eligible to donate blood is far smaller than previously believed - approximately 60 million fewer people. The new figures suggest that only 37 percent of the U.S. population is currently eligible to donate blood, and with anticipated demographic changes, that percentage is likely to drop.

"In the nearly sixty years of continuous operation in Sonoma County never has blood collection been more challenging than it is today," commented Public Relations Manager, Kent Corley. "The industry had the shared belief that 60% of the population was eligible to donate blood. With this new statistic, it makes a little more sense to me why we have had a hard time keeping up with demand. Add to that the huge number of layoffs we've seen over the past seven years in the local manufacturing sector and more in the mortgage industry just this week, you can easily see that we are fishing in a smaller and smaller pool."

As additional donor restrictions are implemented and the population ages, the country could lose more and more willing donors, which could pose an even greater threat to our national blood supply," said Karen Shoos Lipton, chief executive officer of AABB (formerly known as American Association of Blood Banks). "Ensuring an adequate supply of blood is increasingly more challenging, and these new data suggest it is extremely important that eligible donors give blood more frequently."

"Thank goodness for the people who donate on a regular basis," said Ryan Benjamin, Recruitment and Donor Services Manager. "We keep asking our existing donors to give more and they are tired of carrying the load.

Only 5% of our local population donates and that is unacceptable from a community that is so giving in other ways. I think there is a false sense of security out there - that someone else will donate. We need every person over the age of 17 (16 with parental and doctor's consent) to visit a blood drive to see if they are eligible. Some people know they are not eligible and that's fine. If you're not sure, please visit http://www.bbr.org/ and find a drive near you."

Blood Bank of the Redwoods
2324 Bethards Drive, Santa Rosa, CA 95405
(707) 527-5617

Here is the web page schedule - please visit it often as it is updated:
http://www.bbr.org/upcoming.aspx

09/25/08	Petaluma	Plaza North Shopping Center	3:00 PM	6:00 PM	259 B North McDowell Blvd	Parking Lot
09/26/08	Petaluma	Redwood Business Park	8:15 AM	11:15 AM	1310 Redwood Way	Parking Lot
09/26/08	Healdsburg	Grove Street Plaza	9:00 AM	11:00 AM	511 Grove St.	Parking Lot
09/27/08	Santa Rosa	Kawana Elementary Health Fair	3:00 PM	7:00 PM	2121 Moraga Dr.	Parking Lot
09/29/08	Santa Rosa	Friedman's Home Improvement Ct	4:00 PM	6:00 PM	4055 Santa Rosa Ave.	Parking Lot
09/30/08	Petaluma	Lucky - Lakeville	4:00 PM	7:00 PM	939 Lakeville Highway	Parking Lot
09/30/08	Sonoma	Maxwell Village Shopping Ctr	3:00 PM	6:30 PM	19111 Sonoma Highway	Parking Lot
10/01/08	Healdsburg	Latter-Day Saints Church	3:00 PM	6:30 PM	310 Powell Ave	Cultural Hall
10/01/08	Cloverdale	Cloverdale Fairgrounds	3:00 PM	6:00 PM	1 Citrus Fair Dr	Tea Room
10/01/08	Rohnert Park	TCBY	2:30 PM	6:30 PM	7285 Snyder Ln	Parking Lot
10/01/08	Graton	Graton Fire Protection Dist	3:30 PM	6:30 PM	North Main & Ross Rd.	Parking Lot
10/02/08	Petaluma	G & G Market	3:00 PM	6:30 PM	701 Sonoma Mountain Pkwy	Parking Lot
10/02/08	Sebastopol	O'Reilly Media	9:30 AM	12:30 PM	1005 Gravenstein Hwy N	Parking Lot
10/02/08	Santa Rosa	Marmot	11:00 AM	2:00 PM	2321 Circadian Wy	Parking Lot
10/04/08	Petaluma	Petaluma Theater District	12:00 PM	3:00 PM	Suite 109 C Street	Corner of 1st & C
10/05/08	Petaluma	New Life Christian Fellowship	10:30 AM	1:30 PM	1310 Clegg St.	Secondary Room
10/05/08	Healdsburg	Healdsburg District Hospital	11:00 AM	3:00 PM	1375 University Ave	South Side of Main Entrance
10/06/08	Windsor	Windsor Regional Library	3:00 PM	6:00 PM	9291 Old Redwood Hwy	Conference Room
10/07/08	Petaluma	Washington Square Shopping Ctr	3:00 PM	6:00 PM	373 South McDowell Blvd	Parking Lot
10/07/08	Santa Rosa	Sonoma County Water Agaency	7:30 AM	10:30 AM	2060 West College Ave	Finely Ctr Parking Lot
10/08/08	Rohnert Park	Longs Drugs	3:00 PM	6:00 PM	6378 Commerce Blvd	Parking Lot
10/08/08	Forestville	Forestville Fire Dept	4:00 PM	7:00 PM	6554 Mirabel Rd.	Fire Station
10/08/08	Santa Rosa	S.C.O.E.	8:00 AM	11:00 AM	5340 Skylane Blvd	Parking Lot
10/09/08	Santa Rosa	Kaiser	3:00 PM	7:00 PM	401 Bicentennial Wy	Parking Lot
10/11/08	Cotati	Oliver's Market	10:30 AM	2:00 PM	546 E. Cotati Ave	Parking Lot
10/11/08	Windsor	Johnson Pool & Spa	11:00 AM	2:30 PM	9650 Old Redwood Hwy	Parking Lot
10/12/08	Sebastopol	Safeway	10:00 AM	2:30 PM	406 North Main St	Parking Lot
10/12/08	Sonoma	Safeway	10:00 AM	2:30 PM	477 W Napa	Parking Lot
10/14/08	Santa Rosa	Santa Rosa Marketplace	3:00 PM	6:00 PM	1960 Santa Rosa Ave	Parking Lot near Applebee's
10/15/08	Petaluma	Long's Drugs - E Washington	2:00 PM	6:30 PM	365 East Washington St.	Parking Lot
10/16/08	Petaluma	Petaluma Business Expo	4:00 PM	7:00 PM	320 McDowell Blvd	Parking Lot
10/17/08	Santa Rosa	Raley's	3:30 PM	6:30 PM	1407 Fulton Rd.	Parking Lot
10/18/08	Rohnert Park	Pacific Market	11:00 AM	4:00 PM	901 Golf Course Dr.	Parking Lot
10/19/08	Petaluma	Catholic Church of St. James	8:45 AM	12:15 PM	125 Sonoma Mtn Pkwy	Room 9
10/20/08	Petaluma	Kaiser	2:30 PM	5:30 PM	3900 Lakeville Hwy	Parking Lot C

Read article »

Homeless Girl grows up to become Outstanding Woman

Constance Bravos earns Hearst Award

I find stories of personal achievement great inspiration for people - especially young people who are bored or lack direction. Some times a few words of encouragement, a goal accomplished or an example of someone else who has risen above obstacles are all it takes to succeed. Constance Bravos is an example of a young woman whose personal strength, attitude and intelligence earned her the William Randolph Hearst/CSU Trustees Award for Outstanding Achievement. She's a rising star at 20 and an excellent example for others to follow - V

Once Homeless, Constance Bravos earns Hearst Award and Aims to Help Troubled Youth

She was an adopted child who not only faced financial problems and but was once homeless, living in a shelter.

Now, Sonoma State University junior Constance Bravos has a 3.61 grade average and won the William Randolph Hearst / CSU Trustees Award for Outstanding Achievement, picking
up the $3,000 scholarship that comes with it. Recipients of the award have overcome challenging odds, to pursue a college degree.

"Asthma has proven to be one of my most prominent and consistent struggles throughout my life. It made my lungs collapse when I was six," says Bravos, 20, who is from Martinez but now lives in Rohnert Park while she attends school.

Bravos lost her home when she was ten, and says it took five years to find a home and see her life get back on track. "You could say it was because my parents didn't graduate to go on to college in order to make a better living wage and not have to rely on their parents to help them with a house," Bravos says.

"But really, I just remember being ten and receiving the two weeks notice and coming to the realization that my life was going to be different and difficult."

During school Bravos feared being teased because she was homeless and so she had only a few select friends that did not know her past.

"Instead of focusing on my peers and my struggles, I began to expedite my energy toward school and my future," Bravos says.

Bravos is a psychology major looking forward to graduating in 2010. Because of her own hardships, she wants to make a difference as a psychologist for Martinez's Juvenile Hall after
completing her degree at UC Berkley where she plans to study counseling and psychology.

She already has worked toward this goal by being a peer mentor and a teaching assistant at SSU, helping the freshman class become more aware of college opportunities. She is involved in
the Educational Opportunity Program, Future Scholars, among others.

Bravos feels blessed by the award.

"I feel honored in knowing that my life and goals are being recognized for their true worth. It's an indescribable feeling to come from a history of being a part of one of the most forgotten populations - the homeless - to end up becoming someone who is not only remembered, but awarded for my efforts," she says.

Read article »

Santa Rosa Wastewater Discharge EIR Ready to Read

Santa Rosa is Seeking Wastewater Solution

Please see NEW NOTES and INFO on this subject below. 9/30/08

The City of Santa Rosa, California, is looking for another way to dispose of the wastewater they generate every day. At this point the water is treated to Tertiary level, and although very clean, it still contains elements like heavy metals and pharmaceuticals that can harm waterways, fish and the environment. The challenge is to dispose of the water in a way that is the least harmful. The Geysers Pipeline project takes treated wastewater up Pine Flat Road to geothermal wells managed by Calpine to recharge the steam fields and generate electricity for the Bay Area’s grid. But in very wet years the system generates more recycled water than that project alone can handle. This EIR is the study of alternatives for solving the problem into the future as Santa Rosa grows. Please see the link to view the EIR in this story.

The City of Santa Rosa Final Environmental Impact Report (Final EIR) for the Incremental Recycled Water Program's (IRWP) Discharge Compliance Project (DCP) is ready for public review. http://ci.santa-rosa.ca.us/departments/utilities/irwp/discharge/Pages/studies_reports.aspx

Compliance Project (DCP) is now available for review.
(http://www.SRCity.org/DischargeCompliance)
Please note time change: The BPU will consider EIR certification on October 2 at 5:00 PM instead of 1:30 PM.

In addition, on October 6th the Seasonal Storage Project (SSP) Final EIR will be made available.
http://ci.santa-rosa.ca.us/departments/utilities/irwp/storage/Pages/studies_reports.aspx

Information about the DCP and SSP, and the availability of their Final EIRs follows below. These documents are being provided within a close time frame to allow for the opportunity to cross reference them, in response to input we have received from the public.

Upcoming Activities

Discharge Compliance Project:

Final EIR available for Review - September 22, 2008

BPU considers EIR Certification - October 2, 2008* (Starts at 5PM and will be televised) BPU will probably certify the EIR. This is NOT a hearing but people will be given the opportunity to speak. There is no legal requirement for the BPU to consider anything that is said at that meeting. It is unlikely that they would make any changes to the EIR at that point before they certify.

BPU Study Session re: Project Selection - November 6, 2008
BPU has a study session at their regular meeting. They will probably take public comments at this meeting as well, but no decision would be made at this meeting.

SR Council Review Study Session Results - November 18, 2008 (about 5 PM) This discussion with probably have time for the public to speak. No decision would be made here.

BPU Project Selection/Approval - December 4, 2008 This is the meeting where they will select a project. This is the last chance for comments and public testimony.

Seasonal Storage Project:

Final EIR available for Review - October 6, 2008
BPU considers EIR Certification - October 16, 2008

The meetings where certification will be considered are held during Board of Public Utilities (BPU) meetings in the Santa Rosa Council Chamber, 100 Santa Rosa Avenue, Santa Rosa.
All meetings will be at 1:30 PM, *except the October 2nd meeting, which will be at 5 PM. Confirm agenda and schedule at http://www.SRCity.org/BPU.


WHERE TO FIND COPIES OF THE DCP and SSP FINAL EIRs

Both Final EIRs will be available for review at Sonoma County Branch Libraries in Santa Rosa, Rohnert Park/Cotati, Sebastopol, and Windsor and on the project Web site at www.SRCity.org/IRWP.

The DCP Final EIR will also be available at the libraries in Cloverdale, Guerneville, Healdsburg, Occidental, Petaluma, Forestville and Lakeport. The Final EIRs, appendices and reference material cited in the Final EIRs will also be available for review at the Laguna Plant Library, located at 4300 Llano Road, Santa Rosa. Hard copies and CDs of the Final EIRs will be available for purchase by calling ARC at 707-579-9096. (Prices at ARC are as follows: $100 per set of
2 volumes, $10 per CD and $8 per Executive Summary)

Please contact our office if you have any questions.

Other helpful site addresses are available at:
http://www.SRCity.org/DischargeCompliance
http://www.SRCity.org/SeasonalStorage
http://www.SRCity.org/BPU
http://www.SRCity.org/IRWP


NEW NOTES 9/30/08
Mark Millan called to say he has received some panic concerns and questions from people - this is his summary to allay fears:

The Laguna Site is noted in the EIR as the Environmentally Superior Alternative meaning it has the fewest or least significant effects on the environment. See pages 1-10 and 11 of the EIR. Steelhead Beach (Site D1) would be 20 to 30 times more costly (140 to 174 million) than the Laguna site.

The Russian River would not be closed for any period of time if they chose the Steelhead Beach site (D1) - they would use what is called a Coffer Dam that holds water back from where they are working - forcing the river around the dam - not stopping the flow.

Santa Rosa is in serious budget crisis - like the rest of the world - and simply doesn't have the resources to do a large scale project. But - they have to meet NCRWCB regulations for oxygen and temperature, thus the study and project. Plus CEQA (California Environmental Quality Act) requires they study a range of feasible projects.

Calpine (The Geysers) would like just about every drop of water Santa Rosa creates so discharge would only be necessary in wet years when there is too much water coming through the treatment plant.

Leaky Pipes - they finally heard Brenda - are being fixed at a very slow rate - but have increasingly been recognized as a major source of inflow into the treatment plant.

Moving the Steelhead project site up River Road was intended to reduce the environmental impacts to the area. Steelhead Beach and Osprey Trail. - CEQA requires impacts to be avoided where possible.

Reverse Osmosis, also known as Advanced Membrane Treatment (AMT) facilities were reviewed in the EIR for each proposed discharge site including at the Laguna. Consideration for using AMT as a strategy to meet regulatory compliance is evaluated in the EIR and you can find it in the Draft EIR in Volume 4 of 6; Section 3.3.3., on page 51.

Also see Volume 6 of 6, TM-D10 Advance Membrane Treatment Evaluation, which
goes in to great detail how this type of treatment could be used.

All available on line at:
http://ci.santa-rosa.ca.us/departments/utilities/irwp/discharge/Pages/studies_reports.aspx

Source:
Mark Millan
Public Information Coordinator
www.SRCity.org/IRWP
707.836.0300
EM: millan@DataInstincts.com

COMMENTS from Brenda Adelman 9/30/08

Much of what Mark has written is basically correct and what I have been saying for years. What he doesn’t say is why they want concerned citizens to back off just as the big decision is going to be made. They are feeling the heat from concerned citizens now who have been alerted to their pending decisions.

The City has already removed five options from this proposal and were asked repeatedly to take this one off as well and they refused. They are now working very hard to get people in the community to back off at a critical juncture. Yet, the City has spent six years and about $16 million planning this direct discharge into the Russian River. Does it make sense that they would back off this easily?

Mark is a very nice man, but the City is absolutely not to be trusted in this. They have a long history of spinning and ignoring, etc. things we have been saying for years. Why is it, at this critical point in time, they are all of a sudden agreeing with us? Why are trying to diffuse public interest in the up coming decisions that will have very significant legal implications that will seal our fate on river discharge? It is imperative that the people speak out now and not buy into these empty assurances. Until the meetings/hearings are held and the votes are counted, we have NO assurance that what he says will happen.

Brenda

Read article »

Sonoma State University Saving California Turtles

“HEAD START”
SSU Head Start Program for turtles sees first hatchlings effort to halt shocking decline of reptiles in California - Slow and steady is not winning the race.

Rapidly shrinking numbers of California’s only native aquatic turtle species - the Western Pond Turtle - has sparked the development of a pioneering partnership between Sonoma State University and two Bay Area zoos to save the reptile from extinction in California.

Sonoma State Biology professor Nick Geist successfully hatched the first six young turtles last Friday from 57 eggs collected this summer from an undisclosed Lake County location. Geist and his graduate students, and Oakland Zoo staffers, spent the summer monitoring a Lake County site for mother turtles and followed them to the nests where they collected their eggs.

PHOTO: Students working form a ‘‘blind’’ to watch the turtles

The eggs were placed in five incubators in his lab at the Rohnert Park campus. Young turtles began to emerge last Friday. More are hatching daily in the first-of-its-kind breeding program for this species in the state.

“Slow and steady is not winning the race for this species,” says Geist. “The turtles must be saved before the population reaches critically low levels.”

Geist has solicited the support of Bay Area zoos in a captive-breeding program - a “head start” program - to protect the young turtles, who at the size of a quarter at birth often become tender morsels for predators such as bullfrogs, skunks and foxes. These predators, as well as the loss of 90% of its habitat, have contributed to a shocking decline of the species.

This past Friday, the first hatchlings went to the Oakland Zoo for care until they are large enough to be released back to wild. Plans are to send the second batch to the San Francisco Zoo on Friday. The SF Zoo plans to create a public education exhibit about the project at its Koret Animal Research Center.

Geist envisions a network of zoos throughout the state that will raise the hatchlings in captivity for almost a year to facilitate the immediate conservation and ultimate recovery of the Western Pond Turtle in California.

Geist is also using the program to determine at what temperature the sex of the turtle is decided so that better conservation management techniques can be designed.

The Western Pond Turtle (Clemmys marmorata) has declined precipitously, or been eliminated entirely, in so many parts of its former range, that it is now protected by the Department of Fish and Game as a California Special Concern species.

Originally, the pond turtle ranged from Mexico to the Canadian border in a narrow strip along the coast. It lives to be 60 years old and its shell gets as large as 12 inches in length.
Once estimated to have populations in the millions, it has virtually disappeared from urban areas of southern and northern California and most of the Central Valley.

For further information, contact:
Dr. Nicholas R. Geist, Associate Professor of Biology,
(707) 664-3056, nick.geist@sonoma.edu
Nancy Filippi, Director of Marketing, Oakland Zoo,
(510) 632-9525, ext. 132, nancy@oaklandzoo.org
Gwendolyn Tornatore, Public Relations Manager,
San Francisco Zoo, (415) 753-7174, GwendolynT@sfzoo.org

Read article »

Sonoma County's EcoRing Web Site

EcoRing was started several years ago to promote ecologically based travel and entertainment for tourists as well as locals. By giving people options that show the beauty of Sonoma County while preserving and promoting our environment, we not only teach respect for nature, we bring year-round opportunities to enjoy what Sonoma County has to offer.

EcoRing is pleased to announce the launch of its new website www.ecoring.org, and we welcome you to take a look. The website features a Directory of Green Businesses, Best Practices Guides, Maps, Events, and a Kids Corner.

We hope you will find this information useful and will forward it on to others who might be interested. If you have any comments, please fill out the contact information section on the website. www.ecoring.org

Read article »