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Spring
1999 Dear Friends, It's been a long time between newsletters. We have a lot of catching up to do. Here's a reminder of who we are, followed by a snapshot of what weve been doing and an introduction to our newest focus. Friends of the Russian River is a coalition of organizations, businesses, and individuals who share concern for the ecological integrity of the Russian River, its tributaries and watershed in Sonoma and Mendocino Counties. Our mission is to preserve, restore and enhance the natural systems and the economic and public trust values of the River, its riparian corridor and the watershed that sustains it. We do this through public education, citizen action, scientific research and expert advocacy. FORR is the voice of the river, advocating a watershed-based land ethic that fosters natural resource protection and biological health. We have opposed discharges, diversions and digging that degrade the river and its tributaries. We have supported recovery of the wild, anadromous fisheries. Recent highlights include:
We look ahead to a new campaign that focuses on flows. In order for the river to function biologically its flows must be natural or at least mimic nature. Today, the flows of the river are largely dictated by the drinking water needs of 500,000 people in Sonoma and Marin Counties. The Sonoma County Water Agency plans to spend megabucks--millions and millions of dollars--for years to come, on lobbying and lawsuits to defend a water supply system that damages the banks and ecology of the Russian River. FORR says: the River is NOT a trench for delivering drinking water! Why spend millions defending a flawed system that will have to be replaced eventually? Why not invest that money in alternative systems that pipe water directly from existing reservoirs? By focusing on more natural flows, we can encourage options that respect, rather than exploit, our treasured river. (signed) |
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