Russian River to undergo water quality testing

The Sonoma County Water Agency has begun testing water quality year-around in 23 locations in the Russian River from Cloverdale to Jenner as part of a federal mandate to do more to protect salmon and steelhead.

The program will cost $100,000 to $200,000 for twice weekly testing in the river during the low-flow periods and twice monthly at other times, according to water agency engineer George Lincoln.

The federal National Marine Fisheries Service is requiring the water agency to lower summertime flows in the Russian River to protect the habitat of chinook salmon and steelhead, which are on the threatened list.

Lincoln said federal regulators also want the testing program to measure whether the lower flows will degrade the quality of the river, which already has occasional problems that can result in summertime health warnings and even beach closings.

The same requirements require the water agency to change how it breaches the sandbar at Jenner and to construct fish habitat in Dry Creek.

- Bob Norberg