City of Santa Rosa

River Watch vs. City of Santa Rosa

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Background: The City of Santa Rosa violated its permits by illegally discharging raw sewage from its collection system and treated sewage through irrigation overflows into the Laguna de Santa Rosa and the Russian River. The City also consistently exceeded receiving water limitations for coliform, temperature, dissolved oxygen, pH, turbidity, and violated monitoring and reporting requirements.

RW Action and Results: As a result of River Watch's legal actions, the City of Santa Rosa has been forced to comply with all the EPA and Clean Water Act regulations as well as clean-up orders of the Regional Water Quality Control Board.

Northern California River Watch, City of Santa Rosa, and Russian River Watershed Protection Committee are proud to announce the grantees of the Environmental Grant Fund, a $120,000 fund established as a result of a legal settlement between the three entities. The purpose of this grant is to provide funding for environmental or educational projects that contribute to or enhance water quality in the Laguna de Santa Rosa, its tributaries or the Russian River, downstream of its confluence with the Laguna. 26 funding applications were received; 10 were awarded grants as follows. Thank you to our legal counsel Jack Silver:
-- Atascadero Creek and Green Valley Creek Watershed Council, $10,000
-- David Berman and Susan McGovern, $15,000
-- Blucher Creek Watershed Council (2 projects), $30,821
-- Land Partners Through Stewardship (2 projects), $12,400
-- Sotoyome Resource Conservation District, $20,00
-- Stewards of Slavianka, $10,000
-- Peeter Vilms, $12,979
-- West County Watershed Networks, $8,800