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Sonoma County Water Agency E-News | September 2017
Water Supply and Russian River Fish Ladder Tours are back! 
The Sonoma County Water Agency invites our community to participate in a free half day tour of the Russian River Water Supply System. Tour participants will visit facilities that divert, pump and treat the water delivered by the Water Agency to more than 600,000 residents in portions of Sonoma and Marin counties. These facilities will include the rubber dam, infiltration ponds and water collector 6 – one of the largest water collectors of its type in the world. This tour will also provide a unique opportunity for participants to view the Russian River fish ladder and viewing gallery , and may even spot migrating fish using this state of the art facility!
Tours will be offered on the following dates from 9:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.:
-         Friday, October 13 th
-         Saturday, October 14 th
-         Friday, October 20 th
-         Friday, October 27 th

Registration is required.

To register or learn more about Water Supply Tours, click "more information" below.
Santa Rosa Creek Tunnel Repairs
After a record-breaking year of rain, many repairs have become necessary throughout Sonoma County. A flood control tunnel running beneath downtown Santa Rosa was damaged in the winter storms, the concrete floor eroded significantly. To ensure the efficacy of the city’s flood control this winter, a $767,000 project was approved to repair the tunnel. T.P.A. Construction of Rocklin is completing the repair, removing the old concrete and then sealing, resurfacing, and releveling the tunnel floor. The repairs are expected to be completed by October 15.  

To read the article in The Press Democrat and for an informational video, click "more information."
Winter Water Outlook
As winter approaches, storage levels in Lake Mendocino and Lake Sonoma are very encouraging following several years of drought. It is difficult to predict the water supply condition s for the upcoming water year, as it depends heavily on this winter’s precipitation. However, after a relatively wet year, the Water Agency’s reservoirs are in good condition. The water levels in Lake Sonoma are comparable to their normal levels for this time of year, and may even be higher than usual. Lake Mendocino has an above average supply of water stored this year. This will allow the cold water pools to be maintained, and will ensure that adequate water is available to release for the benefit of the fish in the river while maintaining a reliable water supply for the residents of Sonoma County. 
Sonoma County Water Agency Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
A Local Hazard Mitigation Plan (LHMP) forms the foundation for a community's long-term strategy to reduce disaster losses and break the cycle of disaster damage, reconstruction, and repeated damage. The planning process must include public and stakeholder involvement. The Sonoma County Water Agency is working with its stakeholders on an update of the 2013 LHMP. 

The Water Agency must update its LHMP every five years to ensure it remains relevant to current events and system conditions and to meet regulations set forth by FEMA. In particular, staff will review the Water Agency’s vulnerabilities and risks, as well as the prioritized listing of hazard mitigation projects.
LHMPs are public documents that create a framework for risk-based decision making to reduce damage to lives, property, and the economy from future disasters, such as earthquakes, fires, and floods. Hazard mitigation is sustained action taken to reduce or eliminate long-term risk to people and their property from hazards. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) utilizes LHMPs to issue grant funding for pre-disaster and hazard mitigation projects.

Since 2004 the Sonoma County Water Agency has initiated a natural hazard reliability improvement program, which included finalizing the Water Agency’s first LHMP in 2008. This LHMP was updated in 2013, and includes a priority listing of hazard mitigation projects.

If you are interested in following the LHMP preparation, approval, and adoption process or providing input, click "more information" below. All LHMP drafts for public review, staff reports, public hearing notices, hazard maps, etc., will be posted here for public review. You can submit questions or comments by sending an email to LHMP@scwa.ca.gov.
Water Supply and Rainfall Update
Current water supply conditions (9/8/2017)

Lake Sonoma: 224,466 acre-feet (92% of Target Water Supply Storage Curve)

Lake Mendocino: 80,709 acre-feet (116% of Target Water Supply Storage Curve)
Current rainfall conditions (10/1/16 - 9/8/17)

Ukiah:
Average (1894-2016 water years): 36.53”
Current Water Year: 52.58” (143.94% of average)

Santa Rosa:
Average (1950-2016 water years): 29.91"
Current Water Year: 60.30” (201.6% of average)
September Events Calendar
  • 9/12/2017 @ 8:30 am
  • 9/15/2017 @ 11:00 am
*Special Closed Session
  • 9/19/2017 @ 8:30 am
  • 9/26/2017 @ 8:30 am

Public Tours
  • Friday, October 13th
  • Saturday, October 14th
  • Friday, October 20th 
  • Friday, October 27th 
Fact of the Month
Irrigation needs decrease by approximately 50% from Summer to Fall! For every 10 minutes you irrigated your plants in July, you only need to irrigate for 5 minutes in October.
This E-News is produced by the Water Agency's Community & Government Affairs Department. We want to hear from you!  Contact us with your questions. 
Sonoma County Water Agency