Sonoma Water E-News July 2020

Sonoma Water E-News | July 2020

Message from General Manager, Grant Davis

If you’ve been following recent events, you know the news is not good about the spread of COVID-19 – in Sonoma County and throughout the state and country. The numbers are heading in the wrong direction, and with Sonoma County on the state’s monitoring list some restrictions will be put back into place in an effort to slow the spread of the virus.

We will continue to ensure that our staff have a healthy workplace and they can carry out their duties in a safe manner. Our communities depend on us to provide essential drinking water and wastewater treatment services, and I am confident that our staff will continue to fulfill that critical mission.

Stay safe. Stick together. Be kind.

Grant Davis

General Manager, Sonoma Water

Water agency stops, cleans up mussel-pocked boat

On Thursday, July 22, 2020 invasive quagga and zebra mussels were detected on a pontoon boat during a visual mussel inspection at the Lake Sonoma Visitors Center. They were found by Mussel Dogs, who is contracted by Sonoma Water to perform the mussel inspections. The boat was not allowed to launch. This is the first find of these mussels at Lake Sonoma, which only further validates the necessity of these inspections. An infested boat was previously stopped at Lake Mendocino in 2018; another bittersweet victory.

An Army Corps of Engineers park ranger was at the scene to provide support while the Sonoma County Sheriff commuted over. California Fish and Wildlife game wardens arrived forty minutes after to take the boat to a decontamination station at Lake Berryessa. It has now been thoroughly decontaminated and will be in quarantine for the next two weeks to ensure any stowaways are no longer a threat.

The origins of the boat were discovered to be from Chicago, and had just been purchased by a Santa Rosa individual. The nearby Great Lakes are known to be infested with dreissenid mussels, so it is no surprise this pontoon came out of the water with extra passengers. The pontoon was wrapped and towed across many state borders to get to Santa Rosa, and then Lake Sonoma.

Mussel Dogs performs inspections daily from 7:00am-3:00pm and will continue to do so through the year’s end and into 2021. This is thanks to a grant from the Department of Boating and Waterways. In 2019, inspections only took place from April through October, during the busy season. We now have more coverage, and can be more confident in the lake's safety.

To learn more please visit www.DontMoveaMussel.com

2020 Stream Maintenance Program

Streams and creeks play an important flood protection role for our communities while also serving as habitat for wildlife.

Learn how Sonoma Water manages over 75 miles of streams in this video where Sonoma Water Director Shirlee Zane talks with Stream Maintenance Program Manager Jon Niehaus about the 2020 Stream Maintenance Program .

Watch the video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r4gRSdPa5Lc&t=64s

Groundwater July Community Workshops

Plan to attend your basin’s online community workshop. Learn about the groundwater basin you live in, including geology and potential problems with groundwater levels and quality. In addition, these virtual meetings will delve into Sustainable Management Criteria (SMCs), which are the heart of the Groundwater Sustainability Plans.

You will have the opportunity to participate in a “virtual” break out discussion to provide your feedback following the presentations.

Petaluma Valley: Wednesday, July 15

Sonoma Valley: Monday, July 20

Santa Rosa Plain: Wednesday, July 29

All workshops are 5:30-7:00 p.m. through Zoom.

RSVP online at SonomaCountyGroundwater.org

Zoom login details will be sent with your RSVP confirmation.

Got Five Minutes?

We are seeking feedback from the community about how we can improve our public education and outreach around local issues.

Sonoma County and Mendocino County residents can participate in this survey for a chance to win a $50 Visa gift card!

Rainfall and Water Storage Update

Learn more

Current water supply conditions as of July 13, 2020

Lake Mendocino

Target Water Supply Curve: 83,181 acre-feet

Current Storage: 58,982 acre-feet (70.91% of Target Water Supply Curve)

Lake Sonoma

Target Storage Curve: 245,000 acre-feet

Current Storage: 201,966 acre-feet (82.4% of Water Supply Pool)

Current Rainfall Conditions (10/1/19 – 7/13/20)

Ukiah:

Average (1894-2019 water years): 36.51”

Current Water Year: 14.67” which is 40.18% of average

Santa Rosa:

Average (1950-2018 water years): 30.41"

Current Water Year: 19.14” which is 62.93% of average

Upcoming Events

Please visit SoCoEmergency.org for additional information from Sonoma County on Covid-19.

Board of Directors Meetings

The Board normally holds its regular meetings on Tuesdays, beginning at 8:30 a.m. and will be facilitated virtually through Zoom.

Upcoming Board meetings:

July 23 at 12:30 pm special meeting

July 28 at 8:30 am budget workshop

August 4 at 8:30 am

Board Agendas:

View upcoming Agenda items

Groundwater Sustainability Agency Board Meetings

July 27 at 4pm - Sonoma Valley

August 13 at 1pm - Santa Rosa Plain

August 27 at 4pm - Petaluma Valley

sonomagroundwater.org

Sonoma Water Events Calendar

Fact of the Month

Did you know that our watershed is home to approximately 360,000 people, 238 streams and creeks, and 63 species of fish?

Get to know our watershed better with the Russian River Watershed Association’s Interactive Watershed Atlas, powered by ArcGis: http://ow.ly/hWL550AqUDx

Employment Opportunities

We invite you to explore the career opportunities available with Sonoma Water.

Employment Opportunities

Public Comment Opportunities

Please click the button below to see opportunities to provide your input and comments.

Public Comment Opportunities

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