SANTA ROSA – In anticipation of increased river flows, the Sonoma County Water Agency (Sonoma Water) began lowering its rubber dam on the Russian River near Forestville on Nov. 13. Sonoma Water routinely lowers the inflatable dam when flow forecasts indicate the river will exceed 1,600 cubic feet per second to protect the structure from potential damage.
The rubber dam is located just downstream of the Wohler Bridge and is typically raised in the spring or early summer when regional water demands increase. When inflated, the dam creates a pool that supports Sonoma Water’s production wells in the area. A permanent fish ladder provides passage for migrating salmon and steelhead when the dam is raised and allows Sonoma Water to monitor fish migration using an underwater video system. When fully lowered, the dam rests flat on the riverbed…