FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
For More Information, Contact: 

Russian River Recreation and Parks District
PO Box 195, Guerneville, CA 95446
Email: info@rrrpd.org
russianriverrecpark.org

UPDATE Russian River, CA - June 4th, 2025

Firstly, we want to thank everyone in our wonderful community for the continued support and interest in the dam at Vacation Beach.

We are committed to ensuring the dam gets installed safely and in accordance with the appropriate regulations. We have obtained schematics for the necessary repairs and have filed them with the Division of Dam Safety. When the plans are approved, we will begin working with the assigned team to execute the necessary repairs. It is likely repairs will include replacing the upright metal supports and boards currently impounded on the Nealy Rd side of the river. This will include the careful movement of decades of river deposit and the use of heavy equipment near and possibly within the river channel. We are so grateful for the community support and understanding how careful and deliberate we must be with these actions.

There will be another update after the June 18th Board meeting. Stay Tuned!

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UPDATE Russian River, CA - 4/20/25 We are following all necessary steps to repair the flash board dam at Vacation Beach. Engineering plans are in hand and the initial applications have been filed with regulatory agencies. There are many permits and sign-offs needed in order for the work to be completed, and we do not yet know when we will be able to begin work at the Vacation Beach site.

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Russian River, CA– 3/20/25 The Russian River Recreation and Park District (RRRPD) would like to inform the public of a potential delay in installing the Vacation Beach Dam, initially scheduled for mid-June 2025. Updates regarding the design, planning, construction, and inspection progress will be provided regularly.

On August 29, 2024, an uncontrolled release of the Vacation Beach Dam occurred, necessitating the early removal of the dam. Following this event, RRRPD notified the Department of Water Resources (DWR), and a Division of Safety of Dams (DSOD) Field Engineer inspected the dam on September 25, 2024. Subsequently,  the DSOD sent a letter  in January 2025, stating:

In response, RRRPD immediately engaged a structural engineer and soils engineer to work on the required documentation to comply with DSOD requirements.

The Department of Water Resources typically takes 30 to 60 days to review and respond to each submittal, and the approval process generally requires two to three submittals. Once the approved plans are received, RRRPD can put the project out for bid and establish a more precise construction timeline. Based on previous permits, work can begin in the Russian River as early as May 15, provided the river flow is low enough to permit construction. However, construction cannot proceed until the plans have been approved.

RRRPD is communicating with the Sonoma County Building Department and the Division of Safety of Dams to explore ways to expedite the applications, as this repair is considered minor. So far, the feedback is positive, and the situation remains hopeful that it can move forward as efficiently as possible.

The Russian River Recreation and Park District is responsible for constructing and maintaining eight parks within our boundaries, including the Vacation Beach and Johnson’s Beach dams. However, it is important to note that the County of Sonoma is responsible for the Vacation Beach summer crossing. Any inquiries regarding the timing and installation of the summer crossing should be directed to Sonoma Public Infrastructure.

RRRPD will continue to provide updates as new information becomes available through a new newsletter to inform the public of progress. To receive updates directly, please visit the RRRPD newsletter sign-up page (https://www.russianriverrecpark.org/rrrpd-newsletter). For additional information about Russian River Recreation and park services, please visit  russianriverrecpark.org.

At this time, there are no delays in the mid-June installation date of the Johnson’s Beach Dam.

Thank you for your patience and support in restoring the Vacation Beach Dam safely and efficiently.

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