Sonoma Water E-News | May 2022 |
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Water Supply Update – Drought is Still Here. Save Water. |
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The drought is still here. Water supply levels at Lake Mendocino and Lake Sonoma remain at historic lows. Water is a resource that our community shares, and it is critical that we all continue to protect and conserve this valuable resource. Sonoma Water and its partners in the Sonoma Marin Saving Water Partnership (SMSWP) urge our community to keep up the great work and effort – water saved now, is water we can use later. For water saving tips and programs you can take advantage of to conserve water and save money, visit SavingWaterPartnership.org.
The Sonoma Water weekly water supply graphic (below) provides a comparison of storage levels during 2020, 2021 with current 2022 water storage for our two main reservoirs, Lake Sonoma, and Lake Mendocino. You can stay informed about Current Water Supply Conditions, Drought Updates, Actions, and Information by going to: SonomaWater.org/current-water-supply-levels.
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Sonoma Water receives 2022 Excellence in Innovation Award |
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The Association of California Water Agencies (ACWA) presented the first annual Excellence in Innovation Award to Sonoma Water for its Forecast-Informed Reservoir Operations (FIRO) pilot project.
“FIRO applies emerging science and technology to optimize water resources and adapt to climate change without costly infrastructure.” said James Gore, Chair of Sonoma Water’s Board of Directors. “With improved forecasting skills achieved through continued investment in research, we are actually able to store more water and still maintain the flood protection benefits of our reservoirs. This is another great example of the benefits of a multi-agency partnership that can adapt to our most challenging climate change impacts.”
In 2012, Sonoma Water began working with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and the Center for Western Weather and Water Extremes at Scripps Institute of Oceanography after winter storms resulted in the USACE releasing water from the reservoir as it encroached into Lake Mendocino’s flood pool. The severe 2012-2015 drought immediately followed, which resulted in serious reductions of water storage and river flows.
After more than six years of extensive technical and modeling analysis and annual testing, demonstrations of FIRO proved successful during the course of two very different water years — Water Year 2019 was relatively wet and Water Year 2020 was very dry. In both years, FIRO increased water supply benefits and managed flood risks.
In early 2020, Sonoma Water saved 11,000 acre-feet of water in Lake Mendocino (20% of its water capacity at the time) by implementing a deviation request that allowed the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to use Forecast Informed Reservoir Operations (FIRO) decision support tools. This was an enormous water supply reliability effort and the first of its kind in the nation.
“Projects like these are so important in addressing climate change impacts, including more severe and prolonged droughts,” said ACWA President Pamela Tobin. “The successful and collaborative work done on Lake Mendocino, utilizing science, technology and advances in forecasting, is groundbreaking and serves as a model that can be tested at reservoirs throughout California.”
ACWA’s Excellence in Innovation Award is a new annual award program that recognizes outstanding innovations by public water agencies. The award, sponsored by CDM Smith, was presented during ACWA’s 2022 Spring Conference & Exhibition in Sacramento, where approximately 1,300 leaders from local water agencies in California gathered for programs and panel discussions on a variety of key water issues.
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2022 Strategic Plan Development Process |
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Sonoma Water is conducting a community engagement survey to gather input from stakeholders regarding what they envision for Sonoma Water over the next five years. The purpose of the Strategic Plan is to provide an overall vision for Sonoma Water and quantified objectives to measure the effectiveness of Sonoma Water’s work.
Please share your thoughts via this
Your input is important to Sonoma Water as we begin to update our mission, vision, and strategies for the next five years.
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Save the Date for the virtual 12th Annual Eco-Friendly Garden Tour |
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The 12th annual Eco-Friendly Garden Tour goes live on May 14th! The tour, hosted by the Sonoma-Marin Saving Water Partnership, focuses on low water-use and sustainable landscaping. Participants will hear about water-saving strategies and other garden tips from homeowners while viewing gorgeous local gardens.
The 2022 tour features 11 inspirational gardens throughout Sonoma and Marin counties, including the personal gardens of local landscape designers and architects for those participants interested in landscaping their own yards like the pros, or for participants simply looking for fresh ideas for future landscaping projects.
This year’s tour will take place online. There will also be a recorded presentation available on biodiversity, drought garden design, soil health and favorite local natives. At 1 p.m. on the day of the tour, there will be a live Q&A where participants can ask any questions they might have about their gardens to a panel of experts, registration required.
One of the gardens in this year’s tour is called the Home Ground Habitats in Novato. This demonstration garden is a showcase for a sustainable, organic approach to a California-friendly landscape using native plants and other Mediterranean climate adapted species. On the day of the online tour, Home Ground Habitat will also be open for free in-person visits featuring a plant and seed sale. To register for the in-person events at Home Ground Habitats, visit their website: https://www.homegroundhabitats.org/
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The event will include presentations by recipients of the A Call to Action a Sonoma Water small grants program fro teachers and the winning videos of this year’s High School Video Contest submitted by students working with the theme: Water, there's never enough to waste!
When: Thursday, May 26th, 2022
Where: Sonoma Clean Power’s Advanced Energy Center, 741 4th Street, Santa Rosa, CA 95404
Time: Optional Refreshments 5:30pm - 6:00pm; 6:00pm - 7:00pm presentation
RSVP and let us know if you would like to attend!
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Boating Season at Lake Sonoma is Ramping Up Inspiring Invasive Mussel Inspection Station Move to Visitors Center |
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Come say hi to our mussel dog employees and enjoy a day on Lake Sonoma’s beautiful waters.
One-minute mussel inspections are performed at the lake to thoroughly investigate a vessel for any signs of the invasive dressenid quagga and zebra mussels. The inspections are required by Lake Sonoma and are offered daily from 7 a.m.-3 p.m. for any vessel that is intended to go in the water, including stand-up paddleboards, kayaks, and canoes! If you desire to launch outside of these hours, we ask that you perform the inspection process at home, and ensure there are no aquatic hitchhikers aboard your vessel. Mussels can live out of water for up to a month after attaching to a surface. Some common hiding places are the motor or the hull of the boat.
With the mussel inspections heating up at the Public Boat Ramp at Lake Sonoma, the team of mussel inspectors and dogs make a move down to the Milt Brandt Visitor Center at Lake Sonoma. The mussel inspectors will still have a secondary mussel inspection station at the public boat ramp, which will serve as a “double check” to ensure that all watercraft owners have a daily receipt prior to launching.
You can stay up to date on which California water bodies are infested with mussels by checking the Division of Boating and Waterways website routinely before taking your watercraft anywhere. If you do end up launching in a known lake with quagga and zebra mussels, just remember to Clean, Drain, and Dry your boat! It is highly recommended you let your boat endure a dry-out period of 30 days to ensure no unwanted passengers are aboard your vessels during your next voyage.
Funding of this project has been provided in full or in part through an agreement with the California State Parks Division of Boating and Waterways (DBW). The contents of this article do not necessarily reflect the views and policies of DBW, nor does mention of trade names or commercial products constitute endorsement or recommendation of their use.
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Rainfall and Water Storage Update
Current water supply conditions as of 5/9/2022:
Lake Mendocino Target Water Supply Curve: 86,745 acre-feet
Current Storage: 48,023 acre-feet (55.36% of Target Water Supply Curve)
Lake Sonoma Target Storage
Curve: 245,000 acre-feet
Current Storage: 142,314 acre-feet (58.09% of Water Supply Pool)
Current rainfall conditions (10/1/21 – 5/8/22)
Ukiah:
Average (1894-2021 water years): 35.01”
Current Water Year: 19.63” which is 56.1% of average
Santa Rosa:
Average (1950-2021 water years): 29.15"
Current Water Year: 25.45” which is 87.28% of average
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Upcoming Events
The Board normally holds its regular meetings on Tuesdays, beginning at 8:30 a.m. and will be facilitated virtually through Zoom and at Board of Supervisors Chambers (BSC) 575 Administration Drive 102A.
•May 17, 2022 BSC
•May 23, 2022 BSC - Special Closed Session
•May 24, 2022 BSC
Board Agendas:
Groundwater Sustainability Agency Board Meetings
Sonoma Valley -
May 23, 2022 4:00pm
Petaluma Valley -
May 26, 2022 4pm
Santa Rosa Plain -
May 12, 1pm
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Fact of the Month
During an average year, California's 515 alluvial groundwater basins and subbasins contribute approximately 38% toward the State's total water supply.
During dry years, groundwater contributes up to 46% (or more) of the statewide annual supply, and serves as a critical buffer against the impacts of drought and climate change.
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Employment Opportunities
Sonoma Water has job openings for people with a variety of skills and experience.
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Sonoma Water | 404 Aviation Blvd, Santa Rosa, CA 95403 | SonomaWater.org |
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