The process that will lead to the seasonal use of the Russian River Dam will start today. Crews with Sonoma Water will start inflating a rubber dam in the river near Forestville, downstream from the Wohler Bridge. The annual process takes anywhere from four to 14 days to complete. The dam will create pooling water, which will be used to recharge groundwater supplies. That groundwater is used as drinking water by more than 600-thousand residents of Sonoma and Marin Counties. The process is starting later this year because of the above normal rainfall totals. Last year, it started in March.
