Welcome to the State Water Resources Control Board - North Coast Welcome to the California Environmental Protection Agency

Bacterial Water Quality Sampling - Russian River

Sampling Start | Santa Rosa Creek

How often and when are water samples collected?

Regional Water Board staff typically collect weekly samples between Memorial Day and Labor Day.

Where are the samples collected?

Bacterial water quality monitoring is conducted at seven summer recreational areas along the Russian River: Camp Rose (Fitch Mountain area of Healdsburg), Healdsburg Memorial Beach, Steelhead Beach, Oddfellows Park Road bridge, Johnson's Beach, and Monte Rio Beach. In 2007, sampling ceased at Oddfellows Park Road bridge and was replaced with sampling at Forestville Access Beach (upstream of Hacienda Bridge).

What are you testing for?

We measure dissolved oxygen content, pH (hydrogen ion activity), conductivity (ionized or dissolved minerals in the water), and turbidity (clarity) in the field.  We also send water samples to an analytical laboratory to determine levels of total and fecal coliform, E. coli, and Enterococcus bacteria. During the sampling years of 1996 to 2001, only fecal coliform was analyzed.

How are the data presented?

All data are presented as a table and corresponding graphs of the single sample values and 30 day log mean values. Maps showing the locations of the current sampling sites are available below.

The locations on the graphs are often abbreviated.  Camp Rose = CR, Healdsburg Memorial Beach = HMB, Steelhead Beach = SB, Oddfellow’s Bridge = OF, Forestville Access Beach = FAB, Johnson's Beach = JB, and Monte Rio = MR.
Maps showing the locations of the sampling sites are also available.

Who should I contact if I have questions?

For additional information contact Regional Water Board staff member Cathy Goodwin at (707) 576-2687, or John Short at (707) 576-2065, or Sonoma County Environmental Health Department staff member Jerry Meshulam at (707) 565-6540.

Russian River Bacteria Data (pdf files)

Attachments:

Special Russian River Sampling Effort - June 24-26, 2002