Impacts of Sediment Removal Project

In August 2019, Sonoma Water dug tons of sediment out of the Laguna de Santa Rosa where it passes under Stony Point Road in Rohnert Park as part of their Flood Control Maintenance Program. 

This part of the Laguna had become progressively shallower over time as nutrient-rich sediment that had been washed downstream slowed down and settled out. The problem with it being wide, shallow, and sunny is that the invasive weed Ludwigia thrives in those conditions and has completely overgrown the Laguna in this area. As part of the sediment removal project, a narrow, deeper, more shaded side was carved out within the channel.

We have been characterizing five transects at that site before, during, and after the sediment was dug out. Each time, we have measured channel topography, water depth, amount of canopy cover, and percentage of Ludwigia in order to determine if the new deeper channel design is effective at discouraging Ludwigia growth.

Co-presenters: Alexa Ancheta, Carlos Barragan-Franco, Jordyn Bauer, Katlyn Bowling, Ellyse Cappellano, Allyson Carter, Zach Duke, Ian Ellingboe, Hailey Elson, Emma Gaughran, David Hallford, Natalie Hoover, Trent Jackson, Zach Landau, Jeremy Lillis, Celine Mason, Jedidiah Mcjunkins, Josh Meininger, Jocelyne Moquin, Jordan Nielsen, Michaela O'Brien, Evelina Perez, Andrew Peters, Leslie Ramirez Padilla, William Santos, Manon Schlemer, William-Thomas Scott, Dexter Simonds, Camden Taylor Avery Wilson