RRWA and its member agencies have spent the last 20+ years creating beneficial watershed-wide outreach programs, including Russian River-Friendly Landscaping, safe and free disposal of medicines and sharps, hosting the regional high school video contest, and more.
Rising Waters
Rising Waters is a collaboration with Sonoma State University (SSU), RRWA, Sonoma Water, and the City of Santa Rosa that aims to connect watershed sustainability practitioners with academic research.
Russian River-Friendly Landscaping
Landscaping directly impacts the ecosystem of Russian River watershed. RRWA developed seven landscaping principles to help landscape professionals design, create and maintain landscapes that support the integrity of the waterways.
Streets to Creeks
Communities can unknowingly impact local waterways through everyday activities. It’s simple really, the Storm Drains you see in our streets, yards, and parking lots, flow untreated directly to local creeks, rivers, bays and the Pacific Ocean. Any material left outside can be transported by storm water runoff, locally supplied water (i.e. sprinklers), or wind.
Operators’ Forum
This event was designed to give wastewater operators, who are the essential workers that treat our wastewater, an opportunity to network with their peers and tour another facility. This gives wastewater operators a forum to share information and collaborate with each other on new regulations, new technology, emerging pollutants, and more
Our Water, Our World
Our Water, Our World (OWOW) is a Bay Area-wide outreach program that was developed to raise awareness about pesticides and water quality. OWOW partners with retail gardening and hardware stores educating and mentoring team members and providing information to customers about Integrated Pest Management, and choosing less toxic alternatives for gardening. RRWA administers the OWOW program at sixteen stores throughout the watershed.
Student Video Contest
Talented high school students help spread the word about water awareness. RRWA and the Sonoma County Water Agency coordinate a video contest and award prizes for winning videos each year.
Advocacy
Federal, state, and local laws and regulations impact water management in the Russian River watershed. RRWA is proud to submit comment letters on relevant legislation to represent the collective voice of the Member Agencies.
Regional Water Quality Monitoring
The Russian River Regional Monitoring (R3MP)’s goal is to develop a coordinated, standardized, cost effective monitoring program that collects data and communicates information about surface water quality in the Russian River Watershed for the purpose of addressing management questions driven by regulatory goals and objectives.
Safe Medicine Disposal
Medicines in wastewater or landfills can impact local creeks and groundwater. RRWA partners with local agencies to provide secure, confidential, and free medicine collection bins throughout the watershed.
Storm Water Resource Plan
On June 30, 2016, the Russian River Watershed Association was awarded a $500,000 storm water planning grant from the State Water Resources Control Board. RRWA Staff, member agencies, and collaborators are now working together to collectively develop a Storm Water Resource Plan (SWRP) for the Russian River watershed!
