News Index
Governance Workshop February 4 and MAC meetings updates
You are invited to attend an in-person Community Workshop to provide feedback on the Lower Russian River Governance Study on Saturday, February 4th, from 10:30 am to 12:30 pm at Guerneville School Multi Purpose Room at 14630 Armstrong Woods Road.Help identify what government services should be improved, expanded, or newly provided to improve the overall quality of life in the Lower Russian River region. Coffee, food, childcare, and Spanish interpretation will be provided. Read full story
Reintroducing Sea Otters along the Pacific Coast
U.S. Fish & Wildlife recently determined sea otter reintroduction was feasible in a variety of areas along the Pacific Coast of the United States, including the San Francisco Bay Area, a former habitat range for sea otters. Reintroducing sea otters has a range of benefits from carbon sequestration to ecosystem resilience, and we invite further exploration of the Sonoma County coast as a potential reintroduction site. Read full story
STORM & RECOVERY UPDATE 1.14.23, 7:30PM
It’s another round of good news: we’ve avoided major flooding along the lower Russian River! NOAA is currently projecting that the Russian River will crest at 30 feet, two feet shy of flood stage, Sunday morning. Also, the County is launching a pilot program to open two Recovery Support Centers! Residents who were impacted by power outages, floods, evacuations, and tree falls need immediate assistance and it is too early to know whether FEMA funding will be available. This local funding is accessed by calling 2-1-1. Operators will pre-screen residents and then refer them to local community-based organizations to determine eligibility and receive direct financial assistance when they need it most. I am acutely aware of the geographic isolation of North Coast residents, and the severe windstorm impacts born by that area. We recognize the challenges North Coast residents would have in accessing services at the Recovery Support Centers. Direct outreach to impacted North Coast individuals and families will be taking place through the local school system and affordable housing providers. North Coast residents in need are encouraged to call 2-1-1. Read full story
USACE ANNOUNCES RELEASE AT COYOTE VALLEY DAM
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers San Francisco District (USACE) will begin a series of high-flow releases from Coyote Valley Dam at Lake Mendocino starting mid-day on Monday, Jan. 16, in response to reservoir levels and improving downstream conditions on the Russian River. No increased releases will occur at Warm Springs Dam at Lake Sonoma during this time. Read full story
January 13 Storm Update - 12:30 PM
Well, there’s some good news: around January 20 or 21, meteorologists are predicting that California will have a chance to dry out! (For the glass-half-empty portion of the crowd, yes, this means that we still have another week of wet, windy, and wild weather — so batten down the hatches, we’re still in this thing.) Read full story
Lynda Hopkins speaks with NPR regarding heavy rain and high winds - January 11, 2023
California's Sonoma County, north of San Francisco, is experiencing continuing episodes of heavy rain and high winds from a series of atmospheric rivers. Robin Young of NPR's Here & Now speaks with Supervisor Lynda Hopkins. Read full story
January 10 Storm Update - 3:30 PM
NOAA's afternoon forecast indicates that the River will crest again on Thursday evening at 32.4' so we are back in possible-flood mode, albeit minor-flood mode. Here’s what we know about PG&E’s service restoration efforts:PG&E currently has more than four dozen crews active in Sonoma County, including mutual aid crews from Idaho and Washington. As of yesterday afternoon there were over 160 separate storm-related outage incidents. Crews have repaired equipment and restored electric power associated with over 120 outages since Thursday, but new and additional outages have occurred which each subsequent storm. Community support center services are ongoing in Occidental, Guerneville, Bodega Bay, and Fort Ross. While we cannot turn your lights back on, we will continue to respond to your needs as best we can. Please email our awesome team at District5@sonoma-county.org if there’s anything we can do to help you. Read full story
January 9 Storm Update - 4:45 PM
According to the 3PM NOAA Forecast, the Russian River is expected to crest at 32.1’ in Guerneville at 1AM Tuesday. It is good news that the rain came in below predictions, and that the River will barely reach flood stage with this storm series. Even better, the lights have come back on in many Lower Russian River communities! Mutual aid crews from Idaho and Washington states helped bring electrical service back to Guerneville, Rio Nido, and parts of Monte Rio today. Read on for more information about community support centers for charging and water; shelter at the Sonoma County Fairgrounds; evacuation resources for pets & livestock; and transportation services between Guerneville, Monte Rio, Forestville and the emergency shelter at the Fairgrounds. Read full story
January 8 Storm Update – 4:30 PM
There is a High Wind Warning in effect tonight through tomorrow morning. Stay home and off the roads if at all possible. We will likely see additional trees down, with impacts to our road system and electrical infrastructure. Gusts could hit 80mph in the Coastal Range. Currently, NOAA projects that the River will enter flood stage (32’) in Guerneville on Monday evening and 34.7’ on Tuesday morning. The River is expected to subside below flood stage Wednesday morning. Read full story
7:15 PM Thursday Storm Update - January 5, 2022
The winds have died down tonight and the River isn’t flooding. It’s looking like we have a couple of days to breathe, take stock, and prepare before the River starts to rise again. I want to take the break in the storm as an opportunity to share a little of the behind-the-scenes work that goes on during a disaster. In my six years on this job, I don’t think I’ve ever witnessed the level of collaboration I’m seeing come together in this storm event. Read full story