Landowner Groups & Associations
Since the 1990s, community-based environmental conservation groups across the United States have defined their scope in terms of watersheds. Most watershed groups consist of people who live and work within each watershed collaborating with local, state, and federal governments. These groups have wrought improvements in water quality, fisheries enhancement, wildlife habitat, and overall quality of life throughout the nation.
Although some watershed groups are composed of like-minded members, many more watershed groups are diverse and encourage people with different viewpoints to openly engage in dialogue about the many ways one can view and use our natural resources. As a philosophy, a “watershed approach” requires inclusive community planning for sustainable land stewardship. Watershed groups have therefore become a powerful mechanism for collaboration and community based stewardship.
Community members gather to celebrate the educational
and restoration achievements of local high school students.
This type of whole systems approach is perhaps the best alternative for people seeking to integrate environmental, public and economic health. This way, solutions may be developed that preserve natural resources while also protecting a community's character, history, and livelihood. By working at the watershed level - in our veritable “backyard” - we have the opportunity to engage in the long-term stewardship of our land and our community.
Listed below is a partial list of some of the community-based groups at work in the Russian River watershed.
California Native Plant Society, Dorothy King Young Chapter
California Native Plant Society, Milo Baker Chapter
Community Alliance with Family Farmers
Community Clean Water Institute
Dutch Bill Creek Watershed Group
Environmental Center of Sonoma County
Laguna de Santa Rosa Foundation
Mendocino Coast Audubon Society
Mendocino Coast Chamber of Commerce
Mendocino Environmental Center
Mendocino Winegrowers Alliance
Occidental Arts and Ecology Center
Russian River Chamber of Commerce
Russian River Environmental Forum
Russian River Valley Wine Growers Association
Russian River Watershed Council
Russian River Watershed Protection Committee
Salmon Creek Watershed Council
Sierra Club Redwood Chapter, Mendocino Group
Sierra Club Redwood Chapter, Sonoma Group
Sonoma County Conservation Council
Sonoma County Grape Growers Association
Sonoma County Transportation and Land Use Coalition
