Brenda, Vesta,
Here is information about the Water Supply Workshop that is happening this upcoming Monday, April 13th. Any help on getting the word out would be appreciated!
Ann
p.s. This is an abbreviated version of a press release that will be sent out to all media tomorrow but which is still in draft form — so don’t be surprised if you receive the same information from Brad tomorrow with a couple of quotes.
Sonoma County Water Agency
PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release
CONTACT: Brad Sherwood 707.547.1927 Cell Phone: 707.322.8192
Public Workshop Focuses on Sonoma County‚s
Future Water Supply
The Sonoma County Water Agency board of directors will hold a public workshop on future water supply issues and strategies from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Monday, April 13 in the chambers of the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors. The purpose of the workshop is to solicit public input on proposed strategies for addressing long-term water supply problems presented by regulatory requirements, endangered species and changing weather conditions. Information obtained will help shape future water supply programs, including the 2010 Urban Water Management Plan.
The hearing will begin with a comprehensive presentation on the threats to SCWA‚s mission of delivering reliable water to its contractors (which include Cotati, Petaluma, Rohnert Park, Santa Rosa, Windsor and North Marin and Valley of the Moon water districts). SCWA‚s contractors provide water to approximately 600,000 people in the North Bay. Problems include outmoded river flow regulations, three listed fish species in the Russian River, limitations on the amount of water that can be delivered from Lake Sonoma and climate change.
Possible strategies to address the challenges facing the water agency include updating a 1986 state regulatory decision on water flows in the Russian River, known as Decision 1610; evaluating the impacts of climate change on water supply; exploring opportunities for storing winter water underground to be used in the summer (known as „groundwater banking‰); and working with the county and cities to implement low impact development standards.
“Worldwide, people are looking for new ways to address water shortages,” said Jay Jasperese, Sonoma County Water Agency deputy chief engineer. “Sonoma County may be able to borrow some of these strategies and adapt them to meet our needs or, by working together, we may be able to come up with entirely new solutions.”
SCWA staff will ask its board of directors to provide direction for future action and will recommend an extensive outreach process to water contractors and the community.
PUBLIC WORKSHOP
The Sonoma County Water Agency Board of Directors will hold a public workshop to get an update on water supply problems and to discuss possible solutions.
WHEN: 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., Monday, April 13
WHERE: Board of Supervisor Chambers
Room 102A Administration Drive, Santa Rosa
CONTACT: Jay Jasperese, (707) 547-1959