Laguna Watershed Knowledgebase

Draining 254 square miles, the Laguna de Santa Rosa is the second largest freshwater wetland in coastal northern California and is the largest tributary to the Russian River. It is also the river’s most densely populated sub-basin, a factor that has led to significant environmental pollution. One of the manifestations of this pollution and accompanying changes to the Laguna’s physical structure is a massive invasion by the non-native aquatic plant Ludwigia spp. The Laguna de Santa Rosa Foundation recently completed a three year effort to control the plant in two key locations slated for restoration.