RRWC Proposal

News of the RRWC

The 3/10/99 meeting of the RRWC Environmental Caucus (which included members of the Public Caucus also) learned of the imminent resignation of Trout, Unlimited, from the Russian River Watershed Council, on the grounds that lack of forward motion in the Council was impeding more significant environmental aims. This news and other concerns about the Council produced at the 3/10 meeting the following resolve to be urged at the next RRWC meeting:

(a) Immediately seat the permanent Council: this in response to the growing certainty that the council will be able to best manage achieving its mission once it has substance and autonomy, and in response to the current lack of direction of the Council.

(b) Adopt the Mission Statement (see below) produced by the Interim Council's own working group: this adds the shape of purpose and impetus of direction to the body established by step one.

(c) Enable a working group charged with investigating and reporting out the most desirable and efficacious legal framework for the council, and direct the urgent creation of a steering committee for the Council. It is our intent to have that working group report back to the Council's next meeting with a structure for the steering committee and officers. At the same meeting nominations would be taken for the steering committee and officers.

Achieving these goals will, the Caucus agreed, go a long way toward energizing the community-based organ we have been working to create.

RRWC Mission Committee Recommendation (2/22/99): Mission Statement

The mission of the Russian River Watershed Council is to protect, restore, and enhance the biological health of the Russian River and its watershed through an open, community-based process which facilitates communication and collaboration among all interested parties.

Our primary goals are:

1) Recovery of the Russian River and its watershed to a condition such that the native wild anadromous fishery recovers to healthy and sustainable levels.

2) To encourage a robust and healthy economy in the Russian River watershed.

3) To promote stewardship of the Russian River and its watershed by developing an informed and engaged citizenry.

We agree to the following operating principle:

That nothing done to implement the mission and goals of the Watershed
Council shall be done at the expense of other watersheds

On Saturday in Cloverdale, May 22, the Interim Russian River Watershed Council voted to constitute itself as the permanent council, and accepted the recommendations of its workgroup on forming a Steering Committee. The Council is constituted by four groups: a group of public agencies and elected officials, an Environmental Caucus (which includes RRRAUL), a Public Caucus, and an Economic Caucus. Each group has 18 members, and participation is divided between Mendocino and Sonoma counties. The Mission Statement of the Council (accepted at a previous meeting) reads in part: “Our primary goals [include] recovery of the Russian River and its watershed to a condition such that the native wild anadromous fishery recovers to healthy and sustainable levels.”

(5/25/99)

Jay Halcomb, Environmental Caucus Liason, RRWC