Sonoma Water begins inflation of Russian River rubber dam to support regional water supply

The Sonoma County Water Agency began inflating its rubber dam in the Russian River near Forestville, kicking off a multi-day process critical to providing clean drinking water to more than 600,000 residents in Sonoma and Marin counties, officials announced. 

The inflation began Thursday and depending on river flow conditions, the dam can take four to 14 days to fully inflate, officials said.