In the summer months, people experiencing homelessness may establish encampments within the riparian zone of the Russian River and inadvertently create a significant source of trash entering our waterways. Over the course of time, thousands of pounds of plastics, needles, and human and pet waste accumulate around their camps. When the first large storm of the wet season rolls in these pollutants are swept downstream, discharge into the river, and eventually make their way to the ocean. Plastics, as we know do not biodegrade but rather continually reduce into microplastics. These microplastics end up in the ecosystem and ultimately create a biomagnification effect within our food chain. Untreated fecal matter entering the river spread harmful bacteria such as E. coli and Enterococcus, and needles present a risk to those looking to safely swim and enjoy the beneficial uses the river provides to the wildlife and our community.

This ongoing problem is not new, as chances are you’ve heard about this issue is one capacity or another. On the bright side, you also may have heard about cleanup programs which aim to solve this problem – at least temporarily. The “Trash Trolls” of Sonoma County, Sally and Keary Sorenson, as well as Chris Brokate of the Clean River Alliance (before his retirement) are examples of volunteers who provide a trash service for people experiencing homelessness along the Russian River.

The idea behind a trash service for homeless individuals is fairly simple. Since many within this population lack the resources or permanent address for a traditional trash service, they are left with not much of a choice other than to litter. I know some residents near the Russian River have bitter feelings towards these individuals because of the littering, but I ask that you put yourself in their shoes for a second. People experiencing homelessness often don’t have a means of transporting large amounts of trash to the dump. Not to mention the fees associated with this. Most of us living in houses and apartments don’t think twice about the ease of simply tying a knot on a trash bag, leaving it in a can, and it disappearing once a week. Homeless trash services aim to bring that convenience to those living along the river and alleviate the environmental concerns associated with these communities.

You may still have your doubts about the effectiveness of a trash service for the homeless population, many of whom suffer from mental health and substance abuse issues. However, I remember when I volunteered with Chris Brokate in 2019 for a school project, he told me that the majority of homeless people when given easy access to trash bags, sharps containers, and a reliable location to leave their trash were happy to bag their own garbage. I saw with my own eyes that once word got out there was a way to dispose of their trash for free, Chris’s signature orange trash bags started showing up at the locations he selected and the trash service’s proof of concept in Ukiah was successful. Often, people want to do the right thing and it is simply a matter of finding a way to make that path as easy as possible for them.

With that said, the noble efforts of Chris Brokate, Sally Sorenson, and Keary Sorenson as well as all other volunteers doing similar duties are not enough. Their work is underfunded and most of the time relies on donations, rarely from grants. Even with all the funding in the world their work still lacks structural support from local governments, and without their constant upkeep the trash services would fizzle out. Local government along the Russian River need to see the pollution issue not as a vague, hard-to-solve homeless issue and instead as a lack of infrastructure issue. Permanent, regularly serviced dumpsters/trash receptacles should be installed in locations all along the river. Signage indicating the purpose of the receptacles as well as trash bag dispensers and sharps containers would also be helpful. These trash receptacles would not only help the homeless population clean up their encampments, but also those swimming and playing by the river. A substantial portion of the garbage left along the riverbanks comes from recreational use and nearby access to trash receptacles has been shown to significantly decrease the amount of litter in that area. A cleaner Russian River is achievable, but reaching that goal requires investing in infrastructure that extends access to trash services rather than simply pointing the finger and expecting change to happen. 

The good news is there are things you can do to help!  Reach out to your local legislators (City Council or Board of Supervisors) and encourage them to support programs that would provide these services.  Make a tax-deductible donation to the Russian River’s “Trash Trolls” through the West County Community Services at www.westcountyservices.org/donate-to-the-trash-trolls or send a check to PO Box 325 Guerneville, CA 95446 and write “Trash Trolls” on your check so your donation is routed to their purposes.  Bring your family, friends or neighbors out to volunteer and help clean up trash along our waterways by contacting Russian Riverkeeper at info@russianriverkeeper.org or (707) 433-1958.

This article was authored by Hendrik Telfer, Engineering staff, City of Ukiah Public Works, on behalf of RRWA. RRWA is an association of local public agencies in the Russian River Watershed that have come together to coordinate regional programs for clean water, habitat restoration, and watershed enhancement.

Pesticides, including insecticides, herbicides, and fungicides, are chemicals used to kill or deter pests. Pesticides are often used in and around our homes, schools, and businesses. Did you know that these pesticides can make their way into our water supply? Not only can the chemicals be absorbed into our groundwater, but they can also be transported via runoff from irrigation or rainwater, traveling from our yards, down our streets, and into the storm drains.

In most California cities, runoff from the street is collected in storm drains, flowing through storm drain pipes, directly to our creeks and rivers, and eventually to the Pacific Ocean. Commonly used pesticides have been detected in creeks and rivers throughout California, threatening birds, fish, and other aquatic wildlife. In addition, the contaminated water from these waterbodies can make its way to our drinking water sources. Exposure to pesticides can have both short-term and long-term health impacts, especially to infants and young children with developing organs.

Many storm drain inlets throughout California have messages that read, “No Dumping – Drains to Creek”. These messages are used as a reminder to residents that the water flowing in the gutters and streets will flow directly into local creeks and rivers without being treated. Unlike our sanitary sewer system that collects water from indoor pipes and treats it at wastewater treatment plants before being released to our local waterways, storm drain runoff from streets and parking lots is collected by the storm drain system and remains untreated. It is important to be mindful of what enters the storm drain system, because it will affect the water quality of the streams, rivers, and oceans that it will be flowing to.

What can you do to help?

Rather than getting to the root cause of your pest problem, applying pesticides in and around your home will kill and deter all bugs, including those beneficial to your garden, like the ladybugs that feed on harmful insects or the bees that pollinate your plants. Getting rid of these beneficial insects will eliminate the natural solution to the pest problem and lead to a further need for pesticides. One way to keep pests out of your home is by using physical barriers – by making sure windows and doors are properly sealed. You can also reduce the need for pesticides in your yard by choosing plants that are pest-resistant and native to your area and ones that will attract beneficial insects that will feed on pests. Check out the Our Water Our World program for other great integrated pest management solutions to your specific pest problems at https://www.rrwatershed.org/project/our-water-our-world .

If the use of pesticides can’t be avoided, try to use ones that are non-toxic or less-toxic to the environment, and use them sparingly. To reduce the likelihood of runoff into the storm drain system, do not apply pesticides when rain is forecasted.

It is important to always store and dispose of pesticides properly, even when using less-toxic ones. Improper storage and disposal of pesticides can also lead to pesticide residue in our water. Here are some tips for safe storage and disposal:

• If you have pesticides in your home, always keep them in the original container, with the lid tightly sealed, in a locked cabinet out of reach of children and pets.
• In California, the only legal way to dispose of any unused pesticides, is by taking them to a household hazardous waste site. To find your nearest household hazardous waste collection site, visit earth911.com or
  call 1-800-CLEANUP.
• Pesticides should never be dumped down the drain. Wastewater from toilets, sinks, and showers is treated at local wastewater treatment plants, which are not designed to treat pesticides, leaving residue in treated water that flows to our rivers.
• Pesticide containers can only be thrown in the garbage if they are completely empty.

For more information on pesticides and water quality, visit the website for the University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources Statewide Integrated Pest Management Program at http://ipm.ucanr.edu/WATER.

This article was authored by Melis sa Duffy of West Yost Associates, on behalf of RRWA. RRWA is an association of local public agencies in the Russian River Watershed that have come together to coordinate regional programs for clean water, habitat restoration, and watershed enhancement.

As we enter our third consecutive dry summer and water storage levels are well below average it is important to use water wisely. You may want to consider prioritizing water use in your landscape by letting your lawn go dry and instead focus on deep and infrequent watering of your trees. Grasses and shrubs can grow back relatively quickly after periods of no rainfall. However, prolonged drought can cause severe stress to trees which can lead to disease and death.

Trees can take ten years or more to reach maturity and are a vital resource for our community. Trees store carbon dioxide, improve air and water quality, and provide much needed shade in our yards. Since trees are slow growing it is important to take care of them to ensure a healthy and resilient ecosystem.

Tips for maintaining healthy trees during a drought:

• Add mulch around the base of your trees. Mulch will help soil retain moisture and protect roots from extreme temperatures. Maintain a layer of 3-6 inches of mulch around the base of the tree but be sure to keep mulch away from the trunk of the tree. (Image courtesy of Sacramento Tree Foundation.)
• Check the soil moisture. Use a long screwdriver and push it into the soil around the roots below the canopy. If you can push the screwdriver in at least 6 inches and the soil is moist, then no need to water. If the soil is dry or it becomes difficult to probe before 6 inches, then it’s a good time to water.
• Water deeply but infrequently. Apply water through a drip irrigation system or a soaker hose. Apply water at the outer edge of the tree canopy. Be sure to follow your local jurisdiction’s watering restrictions. The best time to water is between 12am-6am to minimize water lost due to evaporation.
• Wait to water until the soil has completely dried out before applying more water. Newly planted tress (0-3 years old) will need more frequent irrigation than established trees.

To learn more about maintaining a low water use landscape, including irrigating trees, check out the Water Smart Gardens Maintenance Manual: https://www.savingwaterpartnership.org/programs_list/water-smart-gardens-maintenance-manual/

Developed by the Sonoma-Marin Saving Water Partnership and Ann Baker Landscape Architecture. The Water Smart Gardens Maintenance Manual provides a step-by-step guide to planting, watering and seasonal maintenance required for low water use landscapes.

This article was authored by Lauren Lum, of Sonoma Water, on behalf of RRWA. RRWA is an association of local public agencies in the Russian River Watershed that have come together to coordinate regional programs for clean water, habitat restoration, and watershed enhancement.

Picture this: you’re standing in the bathroom, watching the faucet gushing water into the bathtub. Suddenly, the bathtub is overflowing, and water is starting to flood your bathroom. Naturally, you turn off the faucet, the water stops flowing, and the floodwater stops rising. Phew! One problem down – but there’s still the issue of your flooded bathroom. Every time you use the bathtub faucet, the flooding will get worse, unless you figure out a way to deal with all that excess water and the problem that created it.

So, what does this have to do with climate change? You may have heard the word “sequestration” before. Sequestration is part of the carbon cycle (here’s a refresher on the carbon cycle) during which plants store carbon atoms in their biomass – their roots, trunks, stems, branches and leaves – as well as in the ground.

Activities that emit carbon – like burning fossil fuels, deforestation and land degradation – are like the faucet flooding our bathroom (the atmosphere) with water (or in this case, carbon dioxide or CO₂). The plants and soil organisms that drive carbon sequestration are like the mop and bucket that can safely remove the excess. With mop in hand, we can get that water back to a manageable level. The Rodale Institute, an early champion of agricultural carbon sequestration, claims, “If we can increase the amount of carbon we have stored in our soils around the world by 0.4% per year, we could absorb all the excess carbon we currently emit.”

Much of the conversation around carbon sequestration involves restoring forests, wetlands, ranchlands, mangrove and kelp forests, and so on. Where does that leave those of us who live and tend landscapes in urban, suburban and semi-rural communities?

Enter carbon gardens. A carbon garden is a landscape that draws down and stores more carbon from the air than it releases into the air. Here is a simple explanation: when you build healthy soil, you’re sequestering carbon, but it also involves the materials you bring into your garden from outside and the way you maintain it. Building healthy soil has immense benefits beyond slowing down climate change, of course. Having more organic matter – that is, more carbon – in soil means healthier soil. Healthier soil means healthier, more productive and disease resistant plants. Healthier plants make for better habitat for wildlife, and for more beautiful gardens. Healthy, carbon-rich soil can store more water, helping to minimize drought impacts. It also needs fewer inputs like harmful synthetic fertilizers, which not only saves you time, money and energy, but also helps to protect the Russian River Watershed!

Okay, on to the big question: how do you grow a carbon garden? Here are 8 easy steps to get you growing…

1. Minimize soil disturbances – there are trillions of soil organisms living in healthy soil. When we disturb them, CO₂ is released. Let them thrive in peace by minimizing tilling and digging
2. Cover your soil – leaving exposed soil allows it to dry out and be eroded by wind and water. Instead, cover it with living plants AND
3. Apply compost and mulch – Mulch and compost protect soil, and they add more organic matter and nutrients to it as they decompose!
4. Plant biodiversity – plants thrive in diverse communities, just like people! You want a diversity of regionally appropriate species, but also of plant types — trees, shrubs, grasses and so on. Here is a flyer for help with selecting Russian River-friendly plants https://www.rrwatershed.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/RRWA_River-Friendly-Plants_FINAL.pdf
5. Plant CA natives – native species have a deep relationship with local soils. Bonus points for native trees, shrubs and woody perennials
6. Water properly – just like us, plants and soil are at their best when properly hydrated. Be sure to use plants that thrive in our climate and group them by water needs to make watering easier and to avoid overwatering.
7. Avoid synthetic chemicals and fertilizers – these inputs will deteriorate your soil’s health and make soils more dependent on their use in the future.  They can also cause pollution of nearby waterways and habitat downstream from your garden during storm events. Garden pests can be controlled through less toxic integrated pest management.  Our Water, Our World is an integrated pest management program available in many local hardware stores and nurseries.
8. Avoid external inputs – ideally, a carbon garden is what we call a closed-loop system. Everything it needs to survive and thrive comes from within! Make your own compost! Use all those fallen leaves and plant trimmings as mulch! Get creative!

This article was authored by Connor DeVane, of Daily Acts, on behalf of RRWA. RRWA is an association of local public agencies in the Russian River Watershed that have come together to coordinate regional programs for clean water, habitat restoration, and watershed enhancement.

There is nothing quite like taking a pleasant stroll and then you look down to see… yuck! A pile of dog doo, or commonly, many piles of dog doo.

Dog waste is a common sight on creeks and trails throughout the Russian River Watershed. Not only is it an eyesore, but it is also a health concern for people and the environment. To protect our water quality and quality of life on trails, please pick up after your dog and dispose the waste in the nearest trash bin on your next walk.

Many dog owners assume dog waste is harmless because it will naturally break down into the soil. However, there are thousands of dogs living within the watershed, which means a lot of dog doo! The Russian River Watershed can’t handle this amount of waste through natural processes. Even though the solids may decompose, harmful pathogens will remain in the soil for months or even years, and the excess nutrients will run off into waterways.

Unfortunately, water quality testing in many populated areas of our watershed reveals elevated levels of fecal bacteria in local creeks and waterways, and dog waste is a primary contributor to these elevated levels. Runoff from rain carries the bacteria and other pathogens found in dog waste, such as salmonella, toxocara, giardia, and tapeworm into these waterways. High concentrations of these harmful bacteria can make waters unhealthy for people and pets who recreate in or near the contaminated streams.

Dog waste is harmful to aquatic life. Nutrient runoff from the waste washes into creeks and rivers and acts like a fertilizer for algae, causing algal blooms. When the algae die, decomposers in the water use oxygen as they eat the algae. If the decomposers use up too much oxygen, fish and other aquatic life suffocate. Excess algae growth also causes the clear waters of the Russian River to turn a murky green, and some of these algal blooms can be harmful to pets and wildlife. For all of these reasons, it is important that you pick up after your dog!

Dog waste is an issue in neighborhoods. Some dog owners leave their dog’s doo on sidewalks or neighbors’ lawns, leaving neighbors to clean up the mess. Remember, if your dog left it behind, it’s your duty to pick up the doo.

The Russian River is the main source of drinking water and a prized natural resource for over 600,000 people in Sonoma, Mendocino, and Marin Counties. The watershed is home to countless wildlife species, including Coho Salmon, river otters, turtles, birds and salamanders. The health of the River is influenced by the health of the creeks feeding into it, and the health of these creeks reflects how we care for the land.

We can prevent this pollution! Please be a good neighbor and community member:

• Carry baggies with you. It’s a great idea to carry a few extra bags for your dog and for fellow dog owners who may have forgotten theirs.
• Pick up your dog’s waste and throw it in the trash, even if you have to walk a little further to carry it to the nearest trash bin.

Remember: if your dog poops, please scoop (even when nobody is watching)!

This article was authored by Cristina Goulart, Town of Windsor Storm Water Quality Program, on behalf of RRWA. RRWA is an association of local public agencies in the Russian River Watershed that have come together to coordinate regional programs for clean water, habitat restoration, and watershed enhancement.