SACRAMENTO – Senate President pro Tempore Mike McGuire (D-North Coast) recognized Don McEnhill on the Senate floor Monday for his accomplishments as Executive Director of Russian Riverkeeper. McEnhill, of Sonoma County, recently retired after nearly a quarter century of spearheading efforts to restore, enhance, and protect the Russian River watershed.

“Don McEnhill is one-of-a-kind. He has dedicated his life to protecting the Russian River, which is the source of life for the North Bay and one of our most precious natural resources,” Pro Tem McGuire said. “Thanks to his tenacious leadership, his ability to build bridges between communities, and downright grit, we can honestly say the Russian River is healthier now than it was 25 years ago. We owe Don a heartfelt thank you for his unwavering commitment to the people of the North Bay and for always standing strong for this watershed we all love.”

Since taking the helm at Russian Riverkeeper in 2001, McEnhill has worked tirelessly toward the vision of restoring a river that is healthy, swimmable, fishable, and protected for generations to come. His work has led to significant victories, including winning the battle against destructive gravel mining operations, reintroducing coho salmon to the river, advancing some of the largest habitat restoration projects in modern history, and ensuring the Russian River is protected in perpetuity. McEnhill has also proven to be a successful advocate, influencing environmental policy decisions at the local and state level.

“If you grew up in Sonoma County, you’ve probably spent many hot summer days on the Russian River, like I did,” Don McEnhill said. “The river is central to our cultural and economic development, and it’s vital to our quality of life. The Russian River is always worth fighting for and I’m grateful to have had this opportunity to work with such an amazing team over the years, along with thousands of dedicated volunteers. I’m grateful to call Senator McGuire a friend, he’s stepped up time and again over the years.” 

Under his leadership at Russian Riverkeeper, McEnhill engaged thousands of volunteers, fostering a culture of environmental stewardship throughout the watershed. Since stepping down as Executive Director, McEnhill has been helping the nonprofit through the transition and serving as Deputy Director. One thing is for sure, Don will always be there for us and the Russian River.

###

Mike McGuire is President pro Tempore of the California Senate. He represents the North Coast of California, which stretches from the Golden Gate Bridge to the Oregon border, including Del Norte, Trinity, Humboldt, Lake, Mendocino, Sonoma, and Marin Counties. Website of Senate Leader McGuire: https://sd02.senate.ca.gov/