Sonoma County’s new Flood Risk Management Plan

On Nov. 14, Sonoma Water and the Sonoma County Department of Emergency Management released a major report outlining strategies to minimize the damage and disruption caused by flooding in high-risk areas. The report summarizes the findings of the Countywide Flood Risk Management Assessment Project, which convened County departments, local and tribal government partners, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and non-governmental partners that play a role in flood risk management in Sonoma County. The report identifies gaps in flood risk management services and opportunities for regional collaboration in Sonoma County to pursue more comprehensive and integrated countywide flood management and adaptation strategies. It provides recommendations to improve flood risk management and will guide efforts to implement actions and continue collaboration, including applications for funding for further work. This project was funded through Sonoma County’s Climate Resiliency Fund and Water Security Fund.

Sonoma County experiences more recurring damage from floods than any other county in 11 western states. More than 99 percent of flood damages in Sonoma County are associated with “atmospheric rivers,” which transport huge amounts of condensed water vapor from the tropics to the California coast. In February 2019, one atmospheric river flooded more than 2,000 properties in Sonoma County and caused an estimated $155 million in damage. In 2023, a series of atmospheric rivers caused widespread power shutoffs for more than 4,600 households and businesses, resulting in spoiled food, lack of heat, business closures, and lost wages. In the future, climate change is expected to increase the frequency, duration and intensity of atmospheric rivers, and rising sea levels will make the impacts of these events worse. While existing flood risk management services in Sonoma County are extensive, they are spread across multiple jurisdictions and levels of government, with important services provided by non-governmental organizations.  The goal of the Countywide Flood Risk Management Assessment Project was to lay the foundation for a more coordinated, effective and efficient approach to providing flood risk management services in Sonoma County.



The Nov. 14 report provides findings and recommendations organized around four key themes: Policies and Standards; Monitoring, Modeling and Decision Support; Stream Maintenance; and Communication and Community Engagement. For each theme, the report summarizes gaps, challenges and opportunities, and proposes recommendations to improve flood risk management through regional coordination. Each recommendation is accompanied by example actions that were identified by partners during the project surveys and workshop. According to Grant Davis, general manager of Sonoma Water, and Jeff Duvall, Emergency Management director, one of the key findings of the report is the need and interest to form an ongoing Countywide Flood Risk Management partnership. Securing funding for such a partnership is an important next step.

Saluting climate resiliency leadership

Supervisor Susan Gorin, center, receives a gold resolution from colleagues at the Board of Supervisors meeting on Dec. 10.

District 1 Supervisor Susan Gorin is retiring after serving three terms on the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors. She has been a strong voice for climate resilience on the Board of Supervisors and carried that advocacy to other bodies she served on in Sonoma County, the Bay Area and nationally.  

When the County embarked on the development of a new five-year Strategic Plan, Supervisor Gorin joined with District 5 Supervisor Lynda Hopkins to convene residents, government, nonprofits and community leaders through interactive workshops and town halls. She urged the group to identify climate projects that would benefit all communities while ensuring the County made a just transition to a green economy, where the most vulnerable residents are not left behind. Out of this effort, the Board of Supervisors adopted a Strategic Plan in 2021 with a pillar dedicated to climate action and resiliency. The Climate Action and Resiliency pillar sets goals to improve wildfire resilience; to help communities become carbon-neutral; to make County facilities and operations carbon-free, zero waste and resilient; to create a fleet of zero- and near-zero-emission County vehicles; and to develop policies for land use and natural and working lands that reduce the emission of greenhouse gases and promote carbon sequestration.

Supervisor Gorin was instrumental in the Board’s decision to allocate $10 million to a Climate Resilience Fund for County projects that advance climate resilience. She still speaks fondly of the “spaghetti on the wall” brainstorming discussions, where she encouraged staff to suggest a wide range of potential projects to identify the ones that would work best. Since the Fund was established, the Board has awarded nearly $9.5 million to an array of projects, from drought resiliency planning and rainwater catchment to electric and active transportation, energy upgrades, fare-free transit, prescribed grazing, and a community food network.



Among her many appointments, Supervisor Gorin represented the County on the Regional Climate Protection Authority board of directors for seven years, from 2015 through 2021, where she served two years as vice chair and two years as chair. She advocated for aggressive climate protection, promoted policies recognizing the connection between climate, housing, and transportation, and supported initiatives advancing energy efficiency, the transition to electric vehicles, water conservation, and climate resilience throughout Sonoma County. As chair, she led the authority’s board to adopt its Climate Mobilization Strategy, with a goal to make Sonoma County carbon-neutral by 2030. Tanya Narath, chief deputy executive officer at the Sonoma County Transportation Authority and Regional Climate Protection Authority, said, “I greatly appreciate Supervisor Gorin’s many years of climate leadership and her contributions to several key SCTA/RCPA climate plans, including the Shift Low Carbon Transportation Action Plan and the Sonoma Climate Mobilization Strategy.”

Long a champion of energy and sustainability, Supervisor Gorin provided steadfast and unwavering support throughout her tenure for energy upgrade projects to the County’s infrastructure and facilities, ensuring residents and businesses had resources through services that offered technical assistance, rebates, incentives, green business certification, and financing related to energy efficiency, water conservation, renewables and resiliency. After losing her home to the Nuns fire in 2017, she consulted with the County’s services to learn about the Advanced Energy Rebuild Program while designing her all-electric and renewable home – and continues to praise the staff and programs. Jane Elias, who previously managed the County’s Energy & Sustainability Program, said, “I feel fortunate to have worked with Supervisor Gorin over the years on climate and energy projects and programs. It is because of her dedication to climate and energy work that Sonoma County’s present and future are a better place to live, work and play. Thank you Susan!”

Barbara Lee, the County’s director of Climate Action and Resiliency, reflected on Supervisor Gorin’s positive impact co-chairing the Board of Supervisors’ ad hoc committees on climate. “She pushed staff to make meaningful progress,” Lee said, “and always to consult with our communities.” The Climate Planning Ad Hoc, on which Supervisor Gorin served with Supervisor Hopkins, tasked staff with creating a quarterly newsletter to update the public on climate action and resilience initiatives. That committee also set staff the goal of producing a municipal climate action plan for the County. In 2024, the Board approved the Climate Resilience Comprehensive Action Plan, which includes a demonstration of carbon neutrality by 2030 for County operations and shows how carbon neutrality can also be reached countywide by 2030. Reviewing the proposed plan earlier this year, Supervisor Gorin noted that everyone thought carbon neutrality by 2030 was “pie in the sky” but she believes it’s important to set big goals – what a fitting capstone to her career that the County’s new plan sets a path to make that pie a reality.

Exploring induction cooking

Chef Scott Spencer educates participants on the ease and benefits of induction cooking.

The Climate Action and Resiliency Division hosted an induction cooking expo on Oct. 19. More than 60 people attended the free event, which featured a demonstration of induction cooking, hands-on opportunities to try induction, and valuable information on rebates and incentives for energy-efficient upgrades to your home. Speaking of incentives … the long-awaited Inflation Reduction Act High-Efficiency Electric Home Rebate Act Phase 1 rebates for heat pumps that provide heating and cooling in single-family homes have launched with rebates up to $8,000 per system. To learn more about the program visit www.switchison.org/ca. You can also contact our office at (707) 565-6470 or email energy@sonoma-county.org to learn about other incentives and financing available to assist you on the path to electrification at home.

Working toward long-term wildfire resilience

The County’s Climate Resilience Comprehensive Action Plan, approved by the Board of Supervisors on Sept. 10, calls on County staff to develop recommendations for a long-term, sustainable Wildfire Resilience Program. The County of Sonoma and its partners have implemented a range of actions to increase wildfire resilience and advance climate change mitigation and adaptation efforts. As part of those projects, the County has successfully increased the partners participating in advancing County strategies that are broadly supported and known to be effective. To build on these efforts, the Board of Supervisors approved an effort to design a comprehensive Wildfire Resilience Program that would align the work, identify stable resources to support it, and increase engagement and participation across the county. The project is known as the Sonoma County Wildfire Resilience and Climate Change Planning and Coordination Project. It includes an evaluation of options for an organizational structure to improve cross-agency and external partner collaboration and increase available funding. It will result in recommendations to the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors.

A graphic showing the National Cohesive Wildland Fire Management Strategy.



The Climate Action and Resiliency Division has been working with Permit Sonoma, Sonoma Water and Sonoma Ag + Open Space to launch the Wildfire Resilience Coordination Project, which aims to better integrate the work of many County departments and agencies engaged in wildfire prevention protection and response it includes four technical advisory committees:

• Landscape: This committee grew out of the County’s Vegetation Management Grant Program technical advisory committee that was coordinated by Ag + Open Space. The new committee, which is focused on optimizing vegetation management in the open landscape, had its first meeting on Nov. 14.

• Climate Resilient Lands: This committee is rooted in the County’s Climate Resilient Lands Strategy as well as the Climate Plan. It provides a forum to coordinate and collaborate on land-based climate resilience work and met for the first time on Dec. 9.

• Wildfire Risk Mitigation: This committee is focused on wildfire hardening of structures and defensive space, with its work informed by the Wildfire Resilient Sonoma County program implemented by Permit Sonoma. Its first meeting will occur early in 2025.

• Organizational Structure and Funding: This committee is a forum to explore models to effectively organize and sustainably fund ongoing wildfire resilience work. It is co-led by the County Administrator’s Office and the Sonoma County Regional Climate Protection Authority and will hold its first meeting in early 2025.

A Resilience Coordination Team will receive input from the four committees and will prepare recommendations for the Board of Supervisors regarding a long-term, sustainable Wildfire Resilience Program. To develop the recommendations, the project includes outreach and engagement, and collaboration with community-based organizations. Look for more information about this project in the new year – and if you want to be on the mailing list, please send your name and email address to Climate@sonoma-county.org with the subject line: Wildfire Resilience Program mailing list.

Septic Systems: County regulations, mapping study and community engagement

On Oct. 8, the Clean Water Ombudsman, with the assistance of a consultant, presented to the Board of Supervisors the results of a study on septic systems in Sonoma County. The study analyzed the location of septic systems in relation to existing wastewater services and other geographic features, and created an interactive, web-based map for use by the public and government officials. The study reported there are more than 36,000 known or likely onsite wastewater treatment systems in Sonoma County. 

All five supervisorial districts have parcels with septic systems, including over 7,000 in District 1, over 5,000 in District 2, 500 to 1,000 in District 3, over 5,000 in District 4 and over 17,000 in District 5. Of the approximate 36,000 systems, 15,230 exist on parcels considered medium density, or between 1.25 and 10 acres, and 15,327 exist on parcels considered high-density, or less than 1.25 acres. Most of the systems on high-density parcels are single-family residences (14,974 parcels).  The study looked at parcel density because parcel size is an important factor in whether a septic system could receive a permit today. While regulations don’t currently require systems to be replaced, all septic systems eventually fail; according to the study, 9,877 existing systems are on parcels that are too small to receive a permit under current state standards, which will create challenges for those property owners when the system fails and needs major repairs or replacement.

The study also identified 47 community clusters that could potentially benefit from shared septic systems, connecting to adjacent sewer systems, or the creation or modification of a shared wastewater management entity. Of those, 39 are in the Russian River watershed, four in the Petaluma River watershed and four in the Sonoma Creek watershed. All are located in areas subject to the more stringent septic standards resulting from existing or foreseeable state requirements that limit discharge of bacteria and pathogens. Nine of those 47 systems were identified as meeting multiple criteria that support community solutions. Because this is a high-level analysis, the results are intended to be a starting point for more detailed examinations of the potential alternatives. Additional work will be needed to determine the feasibility of any one option. The study and the map can be used by government, communities, and individuals to understand wastewater needs and explore potential opportunities.



The online interactive map, the study, and supporting data sets can all be accessed through a new Sonoma County OWTS Hub.

A density map of known and likely onsite wastewater treatment systems in Sonoma County.

On Oct. 24, the Climate Action and Resiliency Division joined other local and state government representatives at the Monte Rio Community Center for a public meeting of the Lower Russian River Citizens’ Advisory Group. Brelje & Race, a Santa Rosa engineering firm, presented draft findings from the Monte Rio/Villa Grande Wastewater Solutions Pilot Project. Community members expressed concern that the County might force construction of a sewer treatment project. Government representatives and members of the citizens’ advisory group explained there is no intent by the County to force any wastewater solution on the communities of Monte Rio and Villa Grande. The pilot study was developed to help residents understand and evaluate their wastewater treatment opportunities, as many parcels in those communities will be unable to maintain their existing septic systems under current and upcoming state regulations. Climate Action and Resiliency staff agreed to work with Supervisor Hopkins’ staff and the citizens’ advisory group and consider holding another community information forum early in 2025.  

Collaborating for environmental and climate justice community change

An ongoing collaboration between the Climate Action and Resiliency Division and ten community partners continues to seek funding to improve climate resilience in four of Sonoma County’s disadvantaged communities. In addition to the County, the coalition includes the Sonoma Ecology Center, Latino Alliance of Rohnert Park-Cotati, Latino Service Providers, La Luz Center, Los Cien, Soluna Solutions, Evette Minor, River to the Coast Children’s Services, Russian RiverKeeper and Greenbelt Alliance. With Sonoma Ecology Center acting as the project lead, the coalition sought $2.4 million in funding in December from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Environmental and Climate Justice Community Change grant program. It is creating a community-led climate resilience project in four areas – southwest Santa Rosa, Rohnert Park-Cotati, the Lower Russian River, and the Springs area of Sonoma Valley – that are home to some of Sonoma County’s lowest-income residents and have the highest proportions of Latino and African-American residents, other people of color, and others who have been marginalized. If funded, the Community Partners for Resilience in Sonoma County project will provide resources and technical support to these communities as they design local greenspaces, combat heat island effects, or develop other climate resilience actions that meet their needs. Because the EPA received 2,700 applications for this round of funding, making this a highly competitive grant, the coalition is also looking into additional funding opportunities.

As directed by the Strategic Plan, the County has been investing in its Clean Commute Program to promote our employees’ use of alternate modes of transportation, including bike and carpool incentives, and last-mile solutions connecting bus and train stations to County worksites. This quarter, County staff saved 104.4 metric tons of CO2 from being emitted into the atmosphere by clean commuting. Check out the impact of the Clean Commute Program.

Data as of Dec. 23, 2024

There are no workshops or events currently scheduled. Offerings will resume with webinars in February 2025, and in-person events will start in March.  As events are scheduled information will be posted here.

Changes coming to Climate Action and Resiliency in the County Administrator’s Office

On Sept. 10, the Board of Supervisors approved a Climate Resilience Comprehensive Action Plan to achieve carbon-neutral County operations by 2030. Supervisors also approved a Community Engagement Strategy to refine and prioritize future actions that support community climate resilience and carbon neutrality.

With the approval of the plan, the County Administrator’s Office has established a new operational staffing structure to oversee and support implementation of the Climate Plan and community engagement on future climate actions, while maintaining strong support for energy and sustainability in communities.

The CAO Policy, Grants and Special Projects Division has been renamed CAO Strategic Initiatives. Under Deputy County Administrator Christel Querijero, the division will continue to support priority policy research and development, Board special projects, legislative affairs, strategic grant-seeking, and Strategic Plan implementation. Five positions from the Climate Action and Resiliency Division will become part of Strategic Initiatives including climate policy and climate resilient lands, grants, the Sonoma Marin Ag and County Climate Coalition project, and the currently vacant Clean Water Ombudsperson.

The Energy and Sustainability unit from the Climate Action and Resiliency Division will be reporting to the Deputy County Administrator Peter Bruland as part of the broader Operations & Budget unit. We are excited that Energy & Sustainability will continue to offer all the community services it is so well known for, including the Sonoma County Energy Independence Program, and will also serve as a resource for our County organization on energy and sustainability issues. 



This operational staffing structure will provide effective, transparent and accountable implementation of the Climate Plan and continue the County’s important energy and sustainability services following the departure of Climate Action and Resiliency Director Barbara Lee, whose limited-term position ends in January. As the transition unfolds, the Climate Action and Resiliency website will be updated to maintain continuity of information access. Inquiries can be directed to: Climate@sonoma-county.org, and Energy@sonoma-county.org. 

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The Climate Action and Resiliency Division (CARD), within the County Administrator’s Office,

has been dedicated to helping the County and the community address the climate crisis

and achieve its climate-related goals and objectives.