Workshops Scheduled on Santa Rosa Plain Groundwater Planning
Santa Rosa, CA -Three educational workshops on groundwater in the Santa Rosa Plain will be held this fall and winter. The first workshop on Santa Rosa Plain Groundwater Planning will take place Wednesday, November 17, 6:30-9 p.m. at the Santa Rosa Veterans Memorial Building.
The forums will provide people an opportunity to learn about the Sonoma County’s largest groundwater basin (the basin covers an area of approximately 80,000 acres and is home to approximately half of the population of Sonoma County) and groundwater planning efforts. The workshops are based on information being generated by a study being conducted by the U.S. Geological Survey and sponsored by the Sonoma County Water Agency, County of Sonoma, City of Santa Rosa, City of Rohnert Park, City of Sebastopol, City of Cotati, Town of Windsor, and Cal-American Water Company.
“We are excited about the opportunity for people to learn about our critical groundwater resources and to have a chance to ask the questions of the experts,” said Sonoma County Supervisor and Water Agency board member Shirlee Zane.
The Santa Rosa Plain groundwater steering committee – formed by the Water Agency and comprised of representatives from cities, agriculture and environmental organizations – will present information on groundwater and on proposed planning efforts.
There are over 12,000 permitted wells in the basin and these provide water for a variety of uses, including residential, commercial and industrial uses and agricultural irrigation. Future population growth and demand for water coupled with constraints on existing surface water sources are likely to increase stresses on the region’s groundwater resources.
“With growing pressure on our groundwater resources, it’s important that we all have a better understanding of our local basin and our options for the future,” said Stephen Fuller-Rowell, co-founder of the Sonoma County Water Coalition, which is co-sponsoring the November 17 workshop along with the Sierra Club and the League of Women Voters.
A “Groundwater Primer for the Santa Rosa Plain,” released in September, can be found at www.sonomacountywater.org, under “projects”.
The city of Sebastopol is sponsoring the workshop on December 2, 6:30-9 p.m. at the Sebastopol Veterans Memorial Hall and the city of Rohnert Park is sponsoring the workshop on December 12, 6:30-9 p.m. at Rohnert Park City Hall (details below). Everyone is welcome to attend any workshop, all which are free of charge. The content of the workshops will be the same. Dates, times, and locations of the workshops are:
Workshop Schedule:
Wednesday, November 17th
6:30 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Santa Rosa Veterans Memorial Building
1351 Maple Avenue
Thursday, December 2
6:30 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Sebastopol Veterans Memorial Building
282 High Street
Wednesday, January 12
6:30 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Rohnert Park City Hall
130 Avram Avenue
For additional information, please contact Marcus Trotta, (707) 547-1978 or marcus.trotta@scwa.ca.gov.