at the Russian River and pitched camp sent out, trappers found signs set traps caught beavers..." This historical observer record is consistent with the Southern Pomo, who inhabited the lower half of the Russian River, having a word for beaver ṱ’ek:e and beavers in their "Coyote Stories". In 1881 the Sacramento Daily Union newspaper reported, "Beavers are being trapped near Healdsburg" (placing them again on the Russian River). The Russian River State Marine Reserve and Russian River State Marine Conservation Area protect the Russian River Estuary. Like underwater parks, these marine protected areas help conserve ocean and freshwater wildlife and marine ecosystems. Russian River Valley The river provides groundwater recharge and a water supply for agriculture. The river's floodplain includes many vineyards, and an area of the Russian River Valley was approved as an American Viticultural Area in 1983 and enlarged in 2006. It produces Chardonnay and Pinot noir wines in addition to other wine varietals, and is home to many small and several large commercial wineries. See also Bohemian Grove Floods in California List of rivers in California List of watercourses in the San Francisco Bay Area Russian River State Marine Reserve & Russian River State Marine Conservation Area Sonoma County wine Frog Woman Rock California Wine Country California Fur Rush Monte Rio References External links Russian River Watersheds at Fish Friendly Farming Russian River Chamber of Commerce Google Street View Aug 2015 Category:Rivers of Mendocino County, California Category:Rivers of Sonoma County, California Category:American Viticultural Areas of California Category:Rivers of Northern California