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Alexander Valley Gravel Mining Sites

Alexander Valley Chinook Salmon spawning redds 2002 - 2007 Geyserville

Syar Gravel Mining Project Lawsuit Press Release

From

"A History of the Decline of Salmonids in the Russian River"

    Changes in the flow regime and sediment transport have dramatically transformed the Russian River and its tributaries. Loss of sediment load is attributable to retention behind the basin's large and small dams, and to gravel extraction in excess of replenishment. The response of the mainstem to a decreased sediment load has been to scour and to downcut which in turn increased bank erosion, created vertical banks, led to tributary downcutting, lowered the water table, and isolated flood plains. Loss of riparian vegetation, either through erosion, removal, or separation from the water table results in further erosion and vertical bank formation. Vertical banks prevent the natural
succession that provides replacement for mature vegetation. Prolonged post-storm flood control releases from Coyote Dam exacerbate the failure of these vertical, erodable banks. Landowner stabilization measures in response to erosion tend to channelize the river and further disrupt the natural processes.
     

     The result of these interlinked morphological changes, on-going today, is a simplified river system lacking the substrate, structure, cover and water quality necessary for salmonid habitat. In addition, channel degradation, often in combination with the presence of man-made structures, has created fish passage impediments in the mainstem and tributaries. Continued survival of salmonids requires reversal of the current trends in total erosion control, gravel extraction and maintenance of sustained flows.