Russian River Beaches Water Quality Test Results. Beach is open. Health risk is low for water contact.
People Also Ask
In recent years, attention has been drawn to the presence of Blue-Green Algae, or Cyanobacteria, at unsafe, high levels in the Russian River waters in late summer.
One of the greatest threats to water quality in the Russian River and most of the United States is polluted urban run-off. Urban areas have high amounts of what we call impervious surfaces such as driveways, parking lots, roads, rooftops that are hardened and do not absorb water.
Swimming in rivers can be dangerous for a few reasons. Rivers can be very deep and have strong currents, which can make it difficult to stay afloat. Rivers can also be filled with debris such as branches, rocks, and even snakes, which can cause injuries.
Stay out of the water ifCloudy water can be a warning that there are more germs in the water than normal. Discolored or smelly water could mean there is a harmful algal bloom (HAB) in the water.
Brown and black bears sometimes appear on the river to scoop salmon from the water. The two-mile, wheelchair-accessible trail to the falls and viewing decks traverses mixed spruce-birch woods filled with forest birds.
Algae, including blue-green algae (aka cyanobacteria), can be normally found in many water environments, such as the Russian River. When high temperatures and increased nutrient levels in the water occur, algae can grow more rapidly than normal.