New Mini-Series on KRCB Spotlights Local Waterways

"Our Watershed Stories," a series of ten video chapters profiling the rivers, creeks and lagoons of the Sonoma area, is airing now on KRCB-TV (Channel 22).

The videos, each about 90 seconds long, run between programs such as PBS's "NOVA" and "Natural Heroes," the latter a locally-produced half-hour show also from KRCB.  

"Our Watershed Stories" is the culmination of a year-long partnership between KRCB North Bay Public Media and the Sonoma County Water Agency, North Bay Watershed Association and Russian River Watershed Association, who have underwritten production of the series.

The overarching question of the series is, "Do you live in a watershed?" And the answer is always, yes.

 “This series is a must see for the summer," said Rohnert Park Mayor Jake Mackenzie, who is also Russian River Watershed Chairman.

"The brief, informative segments will take you on a journey through time that will inform you how our watersheds have evolved and how we can all work together to protect them," he said.

Using a documentary approach, each segment focuses on a specifically identified watershed area and a designated theme that the particular watershed exemplifies.

One of the programs, about 22-mile wetlands complex Laguna de Santa Rosa, covers ground not too far from Rohnert Park. We've included the video with this story; you can view all 10 of the video chapters on the project website at www.ourwatershedstories.com.   

The varied stories (from rural to urban, from rainwater to wastewater, etc.) are framed in order to underscore how local watershed issues affect the larger system. No matter where a North Bay viewer may reside, each chapter helps answer this fundamental question: "How am I connected to the watershed, and how is it connected to me?"

As Mackenzie said, "No matter what watershed you live in, we all have a role in protecting and preserving them.” 

The full list of "Our Watershed Stories" includes the following:

• Chapter 1: The Russian River (Healdsburg)
• Chapter 2:  Dry Creek (Healdsburg)
• Chapter 3:  Santa Rosa Creek (Santa Rosa)
• Chapter 4: Laguna de Santa Rosa (Rohnert Park-Sebastopol)
• Chapter 5:  Novato Creek (Novato)
• Chapter 6:  Petaluma River (Petaluma)
• Chapter 7:  Napa River (Napa)
• Chapter 8:  Sonoma Creek (Sonoma)
• Chapter 9:  Dutch Bill Creek (Occidental)
• Chapter 10: Answers the general question "What is a Watershed?"