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

Potential Delay in Vacation Beach Dam Installation – Regular Updates to Follow

Russian River, CA–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.

###