Politics & Government

State board lowers Russian River water flows for summer

California State Water Resources Control Board announces annual limits.

As it has done in the past two years, the California State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) recently issued an order lowering minimum flow requirements in the Russian River this summer.

The SWRCB order responds to a Temporary Urgency Change Petition that was filed in April by the Sonoma County Water Agency.

A Biological Opinion issued by the National Marine Fisheries Service in September 2008 requires the Water Agency to annually ask the state board to reduce flow requirements in the river.

Find out what's happening in Healdsburgwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Slowing the velocity of water during the summer improves conditions for young steelhead that live in the Russian River before migrating to the ocean.

As required by the Biological Opinion, the order requires minimum flows of 125 cubic feet per second (cfs) in the river above Dry Creek and 70 cfs in the lower river (with the understanding that the Water Agency will typically maintain approximately 85 cfs in the lower river to provide an operational buffer). While the order is in effect from June 1 to October 15, there will be little noticeable decrease in flows immediately due to the order.

Find out what's happening in Healdsburgwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

“With so much water coming into the river from recent storms, the Water Agency isn’t currently controlling the majority of the flow,” said Pam Jeane, assistant general manager of operations for the Sonoma County Water Agency.

 As was done last year when it issued an order for lower flows, the state board included several requirements for water quality and fisheries monitoring and water conservation measures. Specific conditions of the order include:

  • Fisheries and Water Quality –The order requires monitoring of threatened steelhead and Chinook salmon and endangered coho salmon and weekly consultations with California Department of Fish and Game and National Marine Fisheries Service regarding potential fishery issues. A water quality monitoring plan must be prepared.
  • Water Management -- The order requires the agency to work with agricultural Russian River water users to better anticipate periods of high water demand. The state board also requires the Water Agency to work with its customers (Santa Rosa, Windsor, Petaluma, Rohnert Park, Cotati, Sonoma, Valley of the Moon Water District and North Marin Water District)  to conjunctively manage surface and groundwater resources, with an emphasis on conserving and replenishing groundwater resources.
  • Conservation – The order requires preparation of a report that details the “20% by 2020” water conservation targets and the daily per capital consumption of the Water Agency’s customers. In addition, cities and water districts served by the Water Agency must require their dedicated irrigation customers be assigned a water budget designed to achieve a maximum applied water allowance of 60 percent evapotranspiration (known as ETo). NOTE: A water budget is the amount of water a site should be using, based on the landscaped area and historical weather factors. ETo refers to the reference evapotranspiration – the amount of water that evaporates and transpires from a square foot of grass; 60 percent ETo means the landscape is provided 60 percent of the water that is needed for grass to thrive and grow. 

About Russian River Flows and the Biological Opinion: The Water Agency is the local sponsor for the federal water projects at Lake Mendocino and Lake Sonoma and has responsibility to regulate water supply-related releases from these reservoirs to meet the needs of more than 600,000 people in portions of Sonoma and Marin counties.  A decision by SWRCB in 1986 (known as Decision 1610) requires the Water Agency to release sufficient water from the reservoirs to maintain flow rates above designated minimum values at certain points along the Russian River. The values change depending on whether the hydrologic year is deemed “normal”, “dry” or “critical.”

The Biological Opinion requires the Water Agency to ask the SWRCB to permanently change the minimum flow levels established in D1610. Depending on the hydrologic year, the Biological Opinion flow levels are generally lower than those established in Decision 1610. In September 2009, the Water Agency petitioned the SWRCB for the permanent changes in D1610 required by the Biological Opinion. The proposed flow regime will undergo a full environmental review. Because permanently changing D1610 could take several years, the Biological Opinion requires the Water Agency to annually petition the SWRCB to change minimum flow levels on a temporary basis.

SWRCB Order and Water Agency Petition Information: A copy of the SWRCB Order is attached. The Water Agency’s Temporary Urgency Change Petition and Petition to Modify D1610 can be found at www.sonomacountywater.org

 Water Conservation Information:  A list of water conservation tips, programs and rebates are available at www.savingwaterpartnership.org.

 

 

 


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here