The Gold Ridge RCD, with assistance from the Sonoma RCD, will work to assume the lead role among a collaboration of state and county entities in community outreach efforts regarding the highly contentious water quality threat of failing septic systems in the Severely Economically
Disadvantaged Communities of the lower Russian River by providing a locally-based, nonregulatory presence to spearhead outreach and promote more open discussion among affected community members. North Coast Resource Partnership funding will allow RCD staff to organize and facilitate interagency and community meetings, conduct homeowner outreach, and help to develop funding opportunities to lay the groundwork to begin designing and implementing solutions.