Russian River Water Update 9/11/23
Reservoir Storage & Operations:
Water supply information provided by Sonoma Water (more info here).
Ukiah Valley Russian River Cleanup: September 23, 2023
Calling one and all:
Resource Conservation District is hosting the 2023 Ukiah Valley Russian River Cleanup on September 23 to pick up trash in our tributaries before it enters the Russian River this winter. They will be handing out free T-shirts from Russian Riverkeeper. Meet at Low Gap Park at 8:30 AM to grab coffee and snacks before dividing into groups and heading out to locations around Ukiah. Email Jessica at j.reid@mcrcd.org for more information. REGISTER for the cleanup. Click here for flyer
Forecast-Informed Reservoir Operations Makes the News… and the Law
Water News Network: New California Law Taps Science to Improve Water Management, 9/6/23
Forecast-informed reservoir operations, (FIRO) was piloted at Lake Mendocino and has proven successful in our local reservoir. FIRO is a flexible water management approach that uses data from watershed monitoring and improved weather forecasting to help water managers selectively retain or release water from reservoirs for increased resilience to droughts and floods. FIRO applies emerging science and technology to optimize water resources and adapt to climate change without costly infrastructure. Learn more about FIRO.
Looking for Funding?
Bay Nature: How Do I Get My Hands on These ‘Wild Billions,’ Anyway?, 9/7/23
Historic amounts of federal money are flowing into the Bay Area and California thanks to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) and Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). How does your organization or agency apply for some of it? After talking with experts and grant awardees to wrap our minds around this process, we’ve come up with a quick guide and database for seeking grants related to nature-based solutions in northern California available through BIL and IRA.
Environmental Justice Action Grants Program
The California Environmental Protection Agency (CalEPA) has officially opened the grant proposal solicitation for its new Environmental Justice Action Grants Program. The Water Boards are one agency within the CalEPA umbrella, and this new funding program can support community and tribal engagement in many water-related decision-making processes. For more information on the Program, review the SWRCB Funding Opportunity Bulletin of 9/7/23 and visit the Program website.
Celebrate Water Professionals Appreciation Week Oct. 7-15
Groundwater Recharge Updates
- The On-Farm Recharge Methods Manual uses 10 grower case studies to discuss lessons learned about implementing on-farm recharge.
- The District Recharge Program Guidance equips water districts, groundwater sustainability agencies (GSAs), and technical consultants with the necessary considerations, tools, and examples to design and refine groundwater recharge programs that address needs and priorities of all stakeholders in their subbasins.
- The Central Valley Groundwater Recharge Incentives and Strategies summarizes incentives and water management strategies developed by Central Valley water districts that other water districts and GSAs can reference to customize and tailor strategies according to their subbasins’ individual needs.
‘Making Conservation a California Way of Life’ Regulation
“With California facing a hotter and drier future — punctuated by bouts of extreme weather — state officials are moving forward with a new framework for urban water use that could require some suppliers to make cuts of 20% or more as soon as 2025. The proposed regulation, dubbed “Making Conservation a California Way of Life,” would establish tailored goals for each urban retail water supplier in the state, providing them with more flexibility to account for local conditions, according to the State Water Resources Control Board. The move marks a shift away from the one-size-fits-all approach that has governed California water for years. If adopted, the new rules would require the state’s more than 400 urban water suppliers to come up with a new water-use budget every year beginning in 2025. They could face hefty fines for failing to comply or meet their targets.” F rom LA Times: Sweeping California water conservation rules could force big cuts in some areas, 9/7/23
In the press:
- Russian River Watershed Association: Save our Creeks - Dispose of Yard Waste Properly, 9/1/23
- Press Democrat: Vineyard owner sues Napa County over well permit policy, 9/11/23
- Maven's Notebook: Heralded winemaker sues Napa County over water wells, 9/6/23
- Press Democrat: Combined Lake Sonoma, Lake Mendocino storage at highest level ever for this time of year, 9/3/23
- LA Times: Lawmakers approve plan to strengthen oversight of California water rights, 9/9/23