Sacramento, California - Drought impacts to the Russian River and the role of agriculture in conservation efforts will be the topics of discussion at the next California State Board of Food and Agriculture meeting on Tuesday, September 1st, 2015. The meeting will be held from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the California Department of Food and Agriculture, 1220 ‘N’ Street - Main Auditorium, Sacramento.

The Russian River watershed has experienced water supply reductions due to the current four-year drought plaguing California. Several fish species have been threatened by rising temperature levels in the Russian River and its tributaries as a result of lower inflow levels amid dry conditions. Earlier this summer the state implemented emergency regulations to provide additional water to four Russian River tributaries to protect threatened species. Water users in the region including agricultural producers were affected.

Invited speakers include: Charlton Bonham – California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Grant Davis – Sonoma County Water Agency, Carolyn Wasem – Kendall-Jackson Wine Estate & Gardens, Kara Heckert – Sonoma Resource Conservation District, Fred Euphrat – Forest, Soil & Water, Inc., Gregory Giusti – University of California Cooperative Extension, John Hunt – Northern California Regional Land Trust and Jeremy Kobor – O’Connor Environmental, Inc.

“There are innumerable ways agriculture can contribute to protecting and preserving our precious natural resources,” said Craig McNamara, president of the California State Board of Food and Agriculture. “These speakers will be able to provide insight and direction for the agricultural community to complement ongoing efforts and practice environmental stewardship.”

The California State Board of Food and Agriculture advises the governor and the CDFA secretary on agricultural issues and consumer needs. The state board conducts forums that bring together local, state and federal government officials, agricultural representatives and citizens to discuss current issues of concern to California agriculture.

This meeting will be streamed online at: http://www.cdfa.ca.gov/LiveMediaStream.html