Russian River TMDLs

Russian River Watershed

The Russian River drains a 1,485 square mile watershed in Mendocino and Sonoma counties, California. Major tributaries to the Russian River include Forsythe Creek, Big Sulphur Creek, Dry Creek, Laguna de Santa Rosa, and Austin Creek. There are two major dams in the watershed, creating Lake Mendocino and Lake Sonoma.

To receive notices and information on the Russian River via e-mail, please go here to subscribe to the listserve and click on “Russian River TMDL.”

Impairments

Water bodies in the Russian River watershed are listed under the Clean Water Act Section 303(d) (per the 2008-2010 List) due to impairments to water quality by several pollutants.

• A map of the impairment listings in the Russian River watershed is available here.

The entire Russian River watershed is impaired for sediment and temperature. Impairments for pathogenic indicator bacteria apply to two segments of the Russian River, an un-named tributary on Fitch Mountain, Santa Rosa Creek, the Laguna de Santa Rosa, and Green Valley Creek. Green Valley Creek is also listed as impaired for dissolved oxygen. Big Sulphur Creek is impaired for specific conductivity. Lake Sonoma and Lake Mendocino are impaired for mercury in fish tissue. The Laguna de Santa Rosa is also impaired for nitrogen, phosphorus, dissolved oxygen, and mercury in addition to the watershed-wide sediment and temperature impairments (please see the Laguna TMDL webpage for additional information).

Several projects are underway to clean up 303(d) listed waterbodies via the establishment of total maximum daily loads (TMDLs).

Pathogen / Indicator Bacteria TMDL

The North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board is developing a cleanup plan for the river. Over the next few years a TMDL project will determine levels of pathogens that are safe, determine sources, and identify measures residents and businesses can take to reduce contamination to those levels.

Where is the pathogen problem in the Russian River watershed?

The map at right shows sections of the river that are listed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency as “impaired” by pathogens.

The impaired sections include the Russian River from Fife Creek in Guerneville to Dutch Bill Creek in Monte Rio, the Russian River near Healdsburg Memorial Beach, an unnamed stream on Fitch Mountain in Healdsburg, the mainstem Laguna de Santa Rosa, Santa Rosa Creek, and Green Valley Creek.

In addition to these reaches, the Water Board suspects contamination, and is monitoring water quality, from above Alexander Valley to the mouth of the Russian River.

Is the river safe for swimming?

Every week during the summer the Water Board, in collaboration with the Sonoma County Department of Health Services, monitors water quality at swimming beaches along the river. When pathogen levels are high enough to endanger human health, signs are posted at the beach.

To see current and past monitoring results, and to learn more about the monitoring program, go here.

What are the causes of pathogen pollution?

Pathogens can come from both human and animal waste. Common sources include leaking or failing septic systems, pet waste, waste from agricultural operations, human waste during recreational use, and homeless encampments. The Water Board’s monitoring program is designed to determine how much of the problem is caused by human waste, and how much by animal waste, and to determine the sources of pathogens.

What can area residents do to help the problem?

• If you have a septic system, have it checked and cleaned. If it needs repair, fix it!
• When you’re enjoying the river, use a portable toilet or other restroom facilities.
• Make sure dirty diapers are put in a garbage can and not left on the ground
• Pick up pet waste.
• If you keep large animals, clean up their waste – and make sure contaminated runoff does not reach your local creek or the river.

Updates:

NEW - Regional Water Board staff gave a presentation to the Board on November 3, 2011, to provide an update of early TMDL implementation efforts and monitoring efforts. The presentation is available here.

NEW - To receive notices and information on the Russian River via e-mail, please go here to subscribe to the listserve and click on “Russian River TMDL.”

Regional Water Board staff gave a presentation to the Board with an overview of regulatory and TMDL efforts in the Russian River on January 27, 2011.  The presentation is available here.

The Russian River-Friendly Landscape Guidelines are now available through the Russian River Watershed Association.

Pathogen Pilot Study:

To support TMDL development, a pilot study was conducted in collaboration with UC Davis Aquatic Ecosystems Analysis Laboratory. UC Davis researchers reviewed existing methods for examining pathogen contamination in the environment, all existing data on pathogen indicator bacteria in the Russian River watershed, and investigated potential methods for identification of the source of pathogenic indicator bacteria. Methods evaluated included the use of real time quantitative polymerase chain reaction, coupled with stable isotope analysis of nitrate, traditional pathogen indicator bacteria, and spatial land use analyses. The study made several recommendations for monitoring in support of TMDL development. Regional Water Board staff used the recommendations to develop a monitoring plan to assess the spatial and temporal extent of indicator pathogen bacteria.

A Fact Sheet summarizing the Russian River Pathogen Pilot Study is available.  This Fact Sheet was written by Regional Water Board staff.

Two reports are available:

• Russian River Pathogen TMDL Monitoring Pilot Project: A Summary Report to the North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board
• Russian River Pathogen TMDL Monitoring Design: A Technical Report to the North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board

Additional information on pathogen contamination and the work associated with development of the TMDLs can be found at the
U.C. Davis Russian River Pathogen Project website.

Contact Information:

Charles Reed, Project Manager
707-576-2752
creed@waterboards.ca.gov

Rebecca Fitzgerald
TMDL Unit Supervisor
707-576-2650
rfitzgerald@waterboards.ca.gov

Sediment TMDL

As part of our efforts to control sediment waste discharges and restore sediment impaired water bodies like the Russian River, the Regional Water Board adopted the Total Maximum Daily Load Implementation Policy Statement for Sediment Impaired Receiving Waters in the North Coast Region, which is also known as the Sediment TMDL Implementation Policy, on November 29, 2004.  The Sediment TMDL Implementation Policy states that Regional Water Board staff shall control sediment pollution by using existing permitting and enforcement tools. 
Specific sediment control measures that Regional Water Board staff are taking or plan to take in the Russian River watershed are described in the
Regional Water Board Staff Work Plan to Control Excess Sediment in Sediment-Impaired Watersheds.

Temperature TMDL

Regional Water Board staff are proposing to address the Russian River temperature impairment in part through the development of a region-wide temperature TMDL implementation policy.

Mercury TMDLs

Lake Mendocino and Lake Sonoma in the Russian River have been listed under Section 303(d) of the Clean Water Act for mercury pollution measured in fish tissue.  Mercury, also called quicksilver, is a heavy metal and potent neurotoxin that is harmful to humans and wildlife. Mercury builds up in the bodies of fish and also in people who eat contaminated fish. Possible mercury sources include mercury and gold mines, soil erosion due to human activities such as logging and road construction, and airborne sources from North America and Asia. 

A statewide effort to develop mercury TMDLs for at least 75 lakes and reservoirs is under development. Lake Sonoma and Lake Mendocino are part of the statewide effort.

Laguna de Santa Rosa, the largest tributary to the Russian River, has also been placed on the Section 303(d) for mercury pollution measured in fish tissue. The development of the Laguna de Santa Rosa TMDL for mercury contamination is not yet scheduled.

Specific Conductivity TMDL

The development of the Big Sulphur Creek TMDL for specific conductivity is not yet scheduled.

Contact Information

Rebecca Fitzgerald,
TMDL Unit Supervisor
707-576-2650
rfitzgerald@waterboards.ca.gov

(Updated April 13, 2012)