Dear RRWPC Supporter:
You might as well consult a Ouija board if you want to know when the drought will end. In Sonoma County, we have been getting very confusing signals from weather patterns and rainfall amounts the last few years. While the Sonoma County Water Agency (SCWA) claims we are in the fourth year of drought, rainfall numbers don’t necessarily bear that out.
Erratic rainfall averages during the last four years….
Normally, Santa Rosa gets an average of 32” of rain each season. (Santa Rosa’s data is the most readily accessible.) In 2012, Santa Rosa got 37.58” for entire year according to the University of California Cooperative Extension. In 2013, they had 4.85”, in 2014: 34.66”, and in the first five months of 2015: 4.33”, although we do not know what November and December will bring. So according to the numbers, in the last four years we have had two normal years, one very dry year, and this year is definitely lower than normal but may not be nearly as bad as 2013. At this point in 2012 we had accumulated 18.07” rainfall, and in 2014:17.41”, putting us far ahead of this year.
The Russian River is a managed system, but it’s unclear where our flows come from, apart from local rainfall and natural flows from local creeks. In reading the Temporary Urgency Change Order, issued by the State Water Board authorizing Sonoma County Water Agency to lower minimum flows from 125 cubic feet per second (cfs) to between 65 and 85 cfs this summer, it is unknown what impact Lake Mendocino releases have on the lower river. Similarly we don’t know what portion of lower river flow comes from natural tributary flows and rain/runoff events, from Lake Sonoma releases, groundwater interchanges. and from upstream wastewater discharges. Our minimum flows are being lowered because SCWA will not use water from either reservoir to provide normal summer flows. The Agency has not yet put stringent requirements on their contractors.
Lake Mendocino’s role in lower Russian River flows unclear…..
Yet the Order states, “Term 20 of SCWA’s Permit….requires SCWA to…..release from storage at Lake Mendocino sufficient water to maintain specified instream flows for the protection of fish and wildlife, and for the maintenance of recreation in the Russian River.” But the recently released document, Lake Mendocino Water Supply Reliability Evaluation Report, Term 17, states that, “No additional releases are made to meet……the minimum instream flow requirements for the Lower Russian River.” (emphasis added in both statements) These two statements appear to contradict one another.
To make things worse, further reductions will be necessary soon…..
Brad Sherwood of SCWA announced on May 8th, “It is thus likely that further Russian River flow reductions will be necessary, probably to “critical” water year levels (25 cfs) in the upper Russian River as early as July 1.” And he added that it will probably be necessary to request a decrease to 25 cfs in the lower river for the entire summer because of PG&E’s need to repair the Potter Valley Project.
Such low flows could kill the recreation season, and could also many of the creatures depending on the river for their water supply, and could cause the growth of killer algae in what water was remaining. That in turn can seriously affect the health and welfare of ANYONE and ANYTHING reliant on the lower river for their wellbeing, including the riparian vegetation that serves many useful functions. And, because this is done on an emergency basis, all this would occur without environmental review.
And in adequacy of flows for new growth…..
The Water Agency’s General Manager also made the following comment recently at a conference for developers (as quoted in the Press Democrat) where he said that in spite of four years of drought, “….we’ll have enough water, so that’s not an excuse to say we can’t build affordable housing.” However he did not say how much others will have to give up in order to add new housing, or where else this water might come from. On the same day as the conference, but at a different meeting with agency heads, he said, “It underscores the need for communities that depend on Russian River water to boost conservation efforts and develop off-river alternatives, such as recycled wastewater.”
Unfortunately, irrigation with recycled wastewater, if not done appropriately, has the potential to do great harm to the health and well-being of small children and wildlife and must not be used carelessly. (We have noted many instances of runoff and over-irrigation at schools, parks, bus stops, and other urban areas where children may be exposed.) But urban and County utilities departments are acting as though recycled wastewater is the same as potable water supplies, and it absolutely is not.
EIR for permanent lowering of flows to come out soon……
The Environmental Impact Report for the Fish Flow Project (permanent lowering of Russian River minimum flows) will be released in a few months. We predict a major campaign by the Water Agency, the County, the City of Santa Rosa, contractors, developers, and other to support this action. Less water for the lower river means more water stays in the reservoirs for the developers.
It is disturbing that monitoring of the lower river demonstrated that excessive phosphorus, algae, and bacteria proliferate there. The lower river is formally listed as impaired for sediments and excessively high temperatures and in some places, bacteria. Any flows under 70 cfs would assure further degradation on a regular basis, and guarantee continued harm to recreation, the fishery, and the general health of the river.
And up to now, agriculture has not adequately controlled their water use; required monitoring of ground water use is still fiercely opposed; cities have not yet instituted enough strict mandatory conservation requirements nor shrunk their general plan projections to address what appears to be repeated water shortages; and inadequate measures are in place to assure that irrigation with wastewater does not become regular discharge into streams.
Annual Estuary Meeting planned….
SCWA will hold annual meeting to update public on the Estuary Management Plan on June 11th at 6 pm at the Monte Rio Community Center. Topics covered will be a summary of 2014 management season and plans for 2015 season, water quality monitoring results and the jetty study. We believe time and date are correct, but please contact Ann DuBay at Agency to confirm: Ann.DuBay@scwa.ca.gov or (707) 524-8378.
RRWPC needs your continued support….
Over the past 35 years, RRWPC has ceaselessly advocated for the health of the lower Russian River. We successfully challenged Santa Rosa’s plans for increased wastewater discharge, we advocated for nutrient impairment listing for Laguna and continue efforts to list lower Russian River as well. Due to our efforts, the lower Russian River will soon be studied for endocrine disruption chemicals. RRWPC needs your continued support. All donations are appreciated; they inform us of your support. We depend exclusively on mailers for funds and especially appeal to those who have not donated in awhile. Please join our email list for important announcements between mailers: rrwpc@comcast.net Thank you for caring about the Russian River.