Russian River Biological Opinion Meeting Postponed

The Public Policy Facilitating Committee (PPFC) annual meeting and tour scheduled for March 12, 2020 at the Healdsburg Community Center have been postponed due to concerns for public health and safety as the result of the COVID-19 novel coronavirus outbreak. The meeting and tour are both postponed. Sonoma Water will notify members of the committee and the public when a new date has been set for the meeting.

This year’s gathering was scheduled as a joint meeting of the PPFC and the Dry Creek Habitat Enhancement Project Community Meeting. A tour of a Dry Creek habitat project site had been planned.

A Biological Opinion was released by National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) in September 2008. This 15-year plan requires Sonoma Water and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) to modify Russian River water supply and flood control operations to prevent harm to endangered coho salmon and threatened steelhead trout. The PPFC – comprised of elected and appointed officials from public agencies throughout the region – meets annually to review implementation of the Russian River Biological Opinion.