Can vineyard owners and Russian River salmon live in harmony?
By ROBERT DIGITALE THE PRESS DEMOCRAT Russian River grape growers are collecting data to counter a nearing state decision on how to protect endangered fish from the impacts of water pumping for frost protection. The state Water Resources Control Board is contemplating new regulations along the river after federal fish managers declared that water diversions for frost protection have harmed salmon and steelhead. Three environmental groups are pressuring the state to adopt strict rules. Last month the groups formally notified the water board of their intent to sue the state under the federal Endangered Species Act. A spokesman for one of the three environmental groups said the fish will remain at risk of extinction unless the state takes decisive action and rejects the idea of self-regulation by growers. “We don’t really have time to sit around and spend 10 years discussing half measures that may or may not work,” said Jeff Miller of the Center for Biological Diversity. The other two env
