Certain sections of Foss Creek are definitely drying up, said Russian Riverkeeper Executive Director Don McEnhill.
“Where the creek bed rises and falls and the grade comes up, that’s where we’re seeing it dry,” McEnhill said.
Creeks in rural areas are drying up, and it’s generally due to the drought and successful efforts in water conservation, McEnhill said.
“This is because of the drought, and hopefully when there is rain we will have percolation,” McEnhill said. “It’s also a sign we’re doing a good job conserving water, because there isn’t stray water running into the gutters.”
Foss Creek serves a vital function by conveying runoff out of the city and alleviating flooding during heavy rainstorms.
Hopefully once it rains, Foss creek will be up and running again, and the groundwater will also experience a recharge, McEnhill said.
Foss Creek’s natural habitat will not be drastically affected by the dryness.
“Just a little bit downstream there should be some decent water, so we hope the aquatic species will move there,” McEnhill said.
Most of the fish in the creek are species of minnows.
“We’ll lose a few pockets of minnows, but there will be enough residual pools to keep them alive,” McEnhill said.
McEnhill noted that there are a couple of muskrat that are going to have a harder time finding crayfish in the creek.
Foss Creek is the largest waterway in the city, aside from the Russian River. The creek starts in north Healdsburg near Passalacqua Road and winds its way south, through the city to its confluence with Dry Creek near the Central Healdsburg offramp.
In recent years, the community has stepped up to keep the creek clean of debris during annual cleanup efforts and Russian Riverkeeper volunteers work to restore the creek’s native plant habitat. The city has also created a pathway along the creek lined with public art and landscaping.
