Reservoir Storage & Operations:

Water supply information provided by Sonoma Water (more info here).

Abacela Weather & Climate Summary and Forecast for September 2023

Russian River Water Forum Updates

 (https://russianriverwaterforum.org/)

The Planning Group meeting scheduled for this Thursday, September 7th has been canceled. The next meeting is on October 5th.
The proponents of the New Eel-Russian Facility have developed the following statement to share with the Planning Group:
 

The Proponents are in the early stage of efforts to meet the initial deadlines identified in the proposal to PG&E which includes formation of a JPA as the Regional Entity by 12/31/23 and convening a table to negotiate a settlement agreement with respect to the approach to the New Eel-Russian Facility in the license surrender application by 10/31/23.  These efforts are being discussed and direction is being provided by respective Boards and Councils.
Discussions are also proceeding with regard to how to formally involve the Russian River Water Forum in the effort to create the New Eel-Russian Facility.  We hope to be able to share more complete updates by the October Planning Group meeting.  
Working Group updates:

• Water Rights & Water Management:
  • The Water Rights Working Group met August 21 and identified a core drafting team, which has begun preparing the Work Product per the plan shared at the August 17 Planning Group meeting.
  • Further Water Rights Working Group meetings are scheduled.
• Russian River Resiliency Subcommittee:
  • The first meeting of the Russian River Resiliency Subcommittee will be held in mid-to-late September. 

MendoFever: Three Parties of the Russian River Water Forum Go Rogue Offering to Buy the Potter Valley Project, 8/31/23

Learning Series: Building Water Equity and Climate Resilient Communities for ALL

The Urban Waters Learning Network is hosting a webinar series to highlight a variety of strategies that community-based organizations can use to help their communities anticipate, prepare for, and respond to climate risks such as flooding, coastal storms and drought, with a focus on protecting community members who are most vulnerable to climate threats. Learn more here.

At the end of this learning series, participants will:

• Understand the historical context of climate inequities and be able to initiate local conversations to help residents and stakeholders understand the relationship between historic land use/housing policies and predicted impacts of climate change, in particular with regards to water.
• Understand and describe how climate change impacts are felt through water: riverine, urban and coastal flooding, drought and water scarcity, water pollution and more, and how restoration initiatives improve community resilience.
• Identify key practices of community-driven climate resilience and gain tools for organizing community members and communicating local priorities to decision-makers more effectively.

Upcoming Speaker Series Events

More information here: Charging Ahead Toward a 100% Clean Energy Future - September 6, 2023 | Noon – 1pm

California leaders have set a world leading target to achieve 100% clean energy over the next two decades. Californians are also rapidly shifting to zero-emission vehicles, which will increase electricity demand. As climate change intensifies, heat waves and extreme weather challenge our existing energy grid. How can California achieve our bold clean energy goals while maintaining reliable and affordable energy to power our communities and economy? Join us for a candid discussion with state energy leaders about how California is working to achieve this bold vision. We’ll discuss recent progress, current challenges, and the road ahead toward our clean energy future.

In the press:

•  CA Water Plan eNews, August 30, 2023
• Maven's Notebook August 27- September 1, 2023

•  Maven's Notebook FEATURE: How a new satellite-based platform could transform water management in California, 8/30/23
• Associated Press-Climate: States at the forefront of fights over wetlands protections after justices slash federal rules, 8/30/23
• CNN: EPA slashes federally protected waters by more than half after Supreme Court ruling, 8/29/23
• New York Times: Five Takeaways From Our Investigation Into America’s Groundwater Crisis, 8/29/23
• New York Times: Uncharted Waters - The threat to groundwater is a classic tragedy of the commons., 8/29/23
• New York Times: America Is Using Up Its Groundwater Like There’s No Tomorrow, 8/28/23
• PPIC: Exploring the Yurok Tribe’s Management of the Klamath River, 9/5/23
• CA Water Blog: Wetlands on the Edge, 9/3/23
• Inside Climate News: Green Groups Are Divided Over a Proposal to Boost the Nation’s Hydropower. Here’s Why, 9/1/23