Author

Lawns or canoes?  Low flows and water shortage spell severe limits for recreation season…..

By Brenda Adelman

Urban water use in Sonoma County and Marin is at least twice as great in summer as in winter.  Coupled with high temperatures, it drives the water drawdown up.  Much of that extra water goes to watering urban lawns.

The Russian River is now experiencing one of the worst water shortages since the Sonoma County Water Agency (SCWA) came into being in the early 1950’s. It’s a complex story, and for those of us downstream, it’s profoundly unfair, since lower river residents themselves use far less water in summer than their urban friends.

Looking towards a long, hot summer……

By Brenda Adelman

Water-wise, this is going to be a long and difficult summer.  Based on the State Water Board’s recent Order, from July 6^{th ,} to October 2^nd, Sonoma County Water Agency is expected to lower Russian River flows from Healdsburg to the Estuary to 35-45 cubic feet per second (cfs).  Normal summer flows at the Hacienda Bridge are usually three to five times that amount.  The entire river will be a sliver of its normal self and those seeking refuge from the heat will probably not be able to canoe or swim in most areas.

What may be even worse is the potential for long-term damage to the lower river environment from both drastically lowered flows and the legalizing of “incidental” summer wastewater releases.   The North Coast Regional Board is right now considering legalizing “incidental runoff” of irrigated wastewater.  For the last thirty years, summer wastewater discharges of any kind had been illegal due to health and environmental concerns. Now there’s a state-wide push to reuse wastewater, mostly to enhance potable supplies.  This would be fine if it were more highly treated.  Unfortunately, there are still many unregulated chemicals in the wastewater.  What a double whammy!   While these discharges won’t be authorized this year, it is likely they will be for next.

River Photography Project and Water Quality Studies Pass Half Way Point

By Brenda Adelman

The photo project…..
For the last two months, a group of volunteer photographers have been documenting conditions in the lower Russian River.  The photo project was triggered as a result of the State Water Board’s May ruling authorizing the Sonoma County Water Agency to greatly diminish river flows in order to address draught conditions in Lake Mendocino.

The project’s goal has been to provide a summer “snapshot” of what happens to the river during ultra low flows.  We have not only been taking pictures, but simultaneously tracking Lake Mendocino levels, reports on lower river flow levels, and water quality monitoring results for nutrients, bacteria, and conventional pollutants such as dissolved oxygen, temperature, turbidity, etc. This project will continue through September.

Water Battles heating up…..

By Brenda Adelman

Water Agency Changing Course…..
Much to the chagrin of Sonoma County water contractors, half of whom provide water delivery services outside the Russian River watershed, the Sonoma County Water Agency (SCWA) is finally changing course.

At the coming September 15^th Board meeting (which will be over by the time you read this), Water Agency Directors (Supervisors) will probably drop their seventeen year quest for additional water rights that would allow them to divert an extra 26,000 acre feet a year (326,000 gallons per acre foot) from the Russian River.

Water Supply Issues Very Active Now…..

By Brenda Adelman

Agency to update water supply plans….
The Sonoma County Water Agency (SCWA) supplies water for eight prime contractors in Sonoma County and Marin.  SCWA’s Board of Directors is the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors, who also serve as Directors of about 17 County Agencies.  This creates conflict in situations where adequate water supplies must be certified in order for new development to be approved.

The Urban Water Management Plan (UWMP) is a required planning document that is completed by SCWA every five years and must include information on projected water needs for all SCWA water customers, details on how the water will be supplied, and the constraints in doing so, descriptions of water facilities, river flows, and other conditions.