Russian River flows have ripple effect

<p>Low flows in the Russian River could leave canoe companies and other businesses high and dry this summer.</p><!-- Nothing to do. The paragraph has already been output --><p>“We’ll be lucky if we get through mid-June,” said Lollie Mercer, owner of River’s Edge Kayak and Canoe Trips in Healdsburg. The business, formerly Trowbridge Canoes, has operated on the river for half a century.</p><p>Mercer, who has owned the company for three years, said she is preparing to cut her staff by half this summer and may move her operation far down river or even to other streams. Upwards of 20,000 customers ride her kayaks and canoes each year, she said, and many spend dollars at the county’s motels, restaurants and shops.</p><p>Business people, farmers and city water officials are awaiting the outcome of Wednesday’s state Water Resources Control Board meeting on Russian River flows and conservation rules. The outcome could determine whether city dwellers from Windsor to San Rafael face mandatory water rationing, even as river-area business people worry about a summer with less water to attract tourists.</p><p>The hearing comes as the region suffers through another year of too little rain and too little water stored behind Lake Mendocino near Ukiah. This weekend’s rains were too little to make a difference.</p><p>To hold back enough lake water for municipal use and a fall salmon run, state water officials last month agreed to Sonoma County’s request to cut river flows this spring and summer.</p><p>Depending on spring rainfall and other factors, the flow in the river above Dry Creek near Healdsburg will range between 25 and 75 cubic feet per second by July, said Brad Sherwood of the county Water Agency.</p><p>The lower flow amount hasn’t occurred since the drought year of 1977. Even the larger number results in too low a flow for canoes in that stretch of river, Mercer said. She said she needs roughly 120 cfs above Healdsburg.</p><p>Canoeing and kayaking still may be possible below Dry Creek where water from Lake Sonoma flows into the Russian River.</p><p>Business people near Guerneville voiced concern that a shrunken river will exacerbate what already may be a difficult year for tourism.</p><p>“It’s coming at a horrible time,” said Lynn Crescione, owner of Creekside Inn and Resort.</p><p>River business people also questioned whether they are suffering at the expense of other water users in the county. They voiced support for maximum conservation efforts in order to keep more water in the river.</p><p>“I do think we’re getting the short straw,” said Margaret Kennett, president of the Russian River Chamber of Commerce.</p><p>Low flows could keep tourists away from Guerneville and points downriver, Kennett said, and “wipe businesses out, considering what the economy is anyway.”</p><p>But Sherwood said the state order “shares the pain” between agriculture, urban users and river recreation. He said the county is working to win state permission to store more water behind Lake Mendocino in future winters so that all user groups could have more available water.</p><p>The state water board ordered the county’s Water Agency to cut consumption of Russian River water by 25 percent.</p><p>Officials from affected cities and water districts have protested that order. They maintain the conservation limit instead should be set at 20 percent, and the state should drop a ban on irrigating commercial turf this summer.</p><p>Business people like Mercer fear that an increasing demand for water, including from farm wells near the river, could mean less water available for recreation and tourism.</p><p>“When you start dismissing a small industry,” Mercer said, “it’s not long before it’s gone.”</p>