Despite earlier state orders preventing hundreds of water rights holders from drawing from the Russian River, the water level in Lake Mendocino fell below 20,000 acre feet last week.

Officials with the Sonoma County Water Agency said Friday that they had hoped the water level would stay above 20,000 acre feet until at least Oct. 1, the start of the fall-winter rain season.

Continue reading for free

Sign in to read this story and receive the weekly roundup in your inbox.

Or

Terms & Conditions

Success! Your account was created and you’re signed in.
Please visit My Account to manage your account.

Kiley Russell writes primarily for Local News Matters on issues related to equity and the environment. A Bay Area native, he has lived most of his life in Oakland. He studied journalism at San Francisco State University, worked for the Associated Press and the former Contra Costa Times, among other outlets. He has covered everything from state legislatures, local governments, federal and state courts, crime, growth and development, political campaigns of various stripes, wildfires and the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.