Pickerelweed Plants Threaten Dredging Plan

A $2.5-million plan to dredge the Petaluma River is threatened by federal concerns over wiping out pickerelweed plants that shelter an endangered species of mouse.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service said a solution will be found to allow dredging to begin on time by month’s end. But if they’re wrong, the Army Corps of Engineers will lose its congressional authorization to spend the money to dredge the river.

The portion of the river between the downtown turning basin and Schollenberger Park hasn’t been dredged in six years.

Corps of Engineers’ standards call for dredging every four years, said Mike Ban, interim director of Petaluma’s Department of Water Resources and Conservation.