Russian River Coho Water Resources Partnership

The WATER Institute is a founding steering committee member of this partnership that is developing a systematic approach to improve streamflow and water supply reliability in five Russian River tributaries critical to the recovery of endangered coho salmon. Visit their website at www.cohopartnership.org.

		The Partnership is funded by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation with additional support provided by the Sonoma County Water Agency and includes
Center for Ecosystem Management and Restoration Gold Ridge Resource Conservation District Sotoyome Resource Conservation District Occidental Arts and Ecology Center WATER Institute Trout Unlimited University of California (UC) Research and Extension Center's Hopland GIS Lab and UC Cooperative Extension.

The long-term goals of the Partnership are to

• Restore a more natural flow regime during the dry season;
• Increase viability, and ultimately numbers, of coho salmon in the Russian River watershed;
• Increase water reliability for water users in each watershed;
• Develop governance mechanisms to carry out these efforts;
• Develop tools and methods for others to use.

Photo credit: Trout Unlimited

To meet the needs of the landowners, the regulatory agencies, and fish and other natural resources, we will employ a science-based approach to identify the areas that have the greatest opportunity for implementing alternative water management strategies and work with landowners to identify, study, permit and finance solutions that improve streamflow.

To learn more go to www.cohopartnership.org