Russian River Estuary Management Project (Estuary Project)

The Russian River Estuary Management Project, led by the Sonoma County Water Agency, focuses on the adaptive management of the Russian River Estuary to achieve two primary goals: enhancing rearing habitat for juvenile salmonids, specifically steelhead, and managing water levels to reduce flood hazards. The project is located on sovereign tide and submerged lands in the Russian River and Pacific Ocean at Goat Rock State Beach near Jenner, Sonoma County. This initiative was approved on August 16, 2011, and complies with the California Environmental Quality Act through a certified Environmental Impact Report and a corresponding Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program. The California State Lands Commission, acting as the responsible agency, approved the project on December 16, 2025, by issuing a 20-year General Lease for Public Agency Use. This lease extends the period of performance through January 1, 2044. The project is identified by file reference A4204 and SCH number 2010052024. While the project has been found to have no significant environmental effect, it remains subject to the adopted mitigation measures and a Statement of Overriding Considerations.