Russian River Water Update 5/21/24

A person fixing a leaky pipe with text promoting water efficiency for Water Awareness Month.

Did you know May is #WaterAwarenessMonth?

Due to climate change, California has experienced weather extremes of drought and floods which will continue to occur more frequently. Making water-wise decisions every day will help us better prepare for the next dry year. #WaterAwarenessMonth

Reservoir Storage & Operations:

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

Table with storage data for Lakes Mendocino, Pillsbury, and Sonoma, showing current levels, target/deviation, percentages, and recent changes.

A graph showing Lake Mendocino's water storage data across different years with flood control and water supply levels indicated.

Graph showing Lake Pillsbury Storage levels over several years compared to target storage curves.

Lake_Pillsbury_Storage_5-18-24.pdf Lake_Mendocino_Storage_5-20-24.pdf Lake_Sonoma_Storage_5-20-24.pdf

Lake Pillsubry, Scott Dam by Kent Porter, Press Democrat 12-13-18

The North Coast Resource Partnership

NCRP is pleased to offer a request for proposals for NCRP CAL FIRE Forest Health Pilot Implementation Projects: restoration and reforestation activities that significantly increase the resiliency of forests in the North Coast while also mitigating climate change, protecting communities from fire risk, strengthening rural economies, and improving water and air quality. Project Applications are due AUGUST 4, 2024. More information available on the website.

WORKSHOP 1: Solicitation Process, Application Materials, & Subcontract Admin, Tuesday May 28, 2024 10 AM
WORKSHOP 2: NCRP Landscape Priority Areas for Forest Health Projects Assessment

Aerial view of a forest with areas of deforestation, contrasting green trees and barren land.

Making Conservation A Way of Life Regulation – Comment Period

The State Water Resources Control Board announced a third public comment period for the proposed Making Conservation a Way of Life regulation from May 20 until June 4, 2024. The following documents are available on the rulemaking webpage:

Notice of Additional Changes to Proposed Regulation (5/20/2024)
Updated Proposed Text_v3 (5/20/2024)

Written comments may be submitted in accordance the instructions in the attached Notice. For more information about the proposed regulation, please check out this factsheet and visit the Conservation as a California Way of Life webpage: Making Conservation a California Way of Life Fact Sheet View the Notice here (PDF)

Free, virtual meet-up with special guests from CWEA, Heal the Bay, and LA Trade Tech

To celebrate Earth Month, CWEA is hosting a series of virtual career info sessions.
The last Water Jobs and Certs info session is May 22. This time, three experts in wastewater careers are joining. How did they get their first water job? What's their advice? Our panel includes Romell Eutsey, City of Pomona; Shawn Spromberg, Cucamonga Valley Water District; and Garry Parker, San Bernardino Valley College. Interested in water careers? Ask the panel your questions. If you know someone looking for a new career, please share this invite with them. Promo flyer. Visit CAWaterJobs.org for career paths, salary info, training, and hundreds of openings.

May 22 • 11:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m: Water Jobs and Certs with Crescenta Valley WD, City of Pomona and Valley College

California Financing Coordinating Committee Funding Fair

The California Financing Coordinating Committee (CFCC) conducts free funding fairs statewide each year to educate the public and offer potential customers the opportunity to meet with financial representatives from each agency to learn more about their available funding. CFCC members facilitate and expedite the completion of various types of infrastructure projects by helping customers combine the resources of different agencies.

1. Spring 2024 California Financing Coordinating Committee (CFCC) Virtual Funding Fairs
The California Financing Coordinating Committee is holding free virtual funding fairs on Thursday, May 23 and Wednesday, May 29 to educate the public and potential customers about available funding. The funding fairs also include an opportunity to discuss your projects with financial representatives from each agency. CFCC members facilitate and expedite the completion of various types of infrastructure projects by helping customers combine the resources of different agencies. Presentations will be held from 9 a.m. to about 12 p.m. and participants can visit virtual booths immediately afterwards to meet with representatives. See the attached flyer for more information and registration links.

2. USEPA Water Technical Assistance (WaterTA):
elping Communities Access Funding - Tuesday, May 22, 2024 · 11 am-12 pm
Every community deserves access to clean, safe and reliable drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater services. Yet too many communities across America— in rural, tribal, suburban, and urban areas —struggle to address water infrastructure needs and obtain funding. USEPA’s Water Technical Assistance (WaterTA) provides free hands-on support for communities to assess their water needs, identify potential solutions, and apply for federal funding to address their water challenges. Join May 22nd, 11:00 am for an informational webinar about WaterTA and available resources to help ensure every community has access to funding. For more information on WaterTA, please visit www.epa.gov/WaterTA.

California State agencies invite feedback on the draft plan driving the state’s response to the climate crisis

California state climate leaders invite public feedback on the 2024 Climate Adaptation Strategy, which outlines California’s approach to adapting to a changing climate. To respond to these realities, California continues its world-leading work to protect people and nature from the impacts of climate change—and the state’s swift action is reflected in historic climate investments, nation-leading targets and goals, and support for California’s most vulnerable communities. The Draft 2024 Climate Adaptation Strategy puts these actions in motion and advances six key priorities to drive all climate resilience actions in California.

The State requests feedback to improve and finalize the 2024 Climate Adaptation Strategy, particularly through the lens of supporting California’s most climate vulnerable communities. A public comment period for the public to review, provide feedback and submit input by July 12, 2024. For more information on this work or for details about upcoming opportunities to learn more, please visit the California Natural Resources Agency’s California Climate Adaptation Strategy web page or the main California Climate Adaptation Strategy website.

Upcoming Water Supply and Demand Assessment Public Meetings

The Division of Water Rights is developing tools to better understand water supply and demand in select watersheds in California. These tools include water supply models, cleaned up water use data, and tools that allocate water based on water right priorities. Division staff will host meetings to discuss the selection of watersheds for this effort. These meetings will take place in Eureka (May 14), Salinas (May 21), and Sacramento (June 3). The June 3rd meeting will also be available virtually. See the meeting notice for details on the meeting locations and how to join the June 3rd meeting virtually.
The June 3rd meeting will be recorded and made available on the Supply and Demand Assessment webpage for those that are unable to attend and would like to review the information. Additional information regarding the watershed selection process for water supply and demand modeling and assessment is provided in a Fact Sheet. The Division will be accepting written comments on the selection of watersheds until 12:00 pm on June 17, 2024. Please submit comments to DWR-SDA@waterboards.ca.gov.

Russian River Watershed Association Meeting – Thursday, May 23, 2024

The next meeting of the Russian River Watershed Association Board of Directors will be held Thursday, May 23, 2024 9-11 in person and on zoom. RRWA May 23, 2024 Agenda