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Russian River Weekly Update 3/24/25

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Lake Pillsbury, Scott Dam by Kent Porter-Press Democrat article 3-19-25
Lake Pillsbury, Scott Dam by Kent Porter-Press Democrat article 3-19-25

Reservoir Storage & Operations:

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

Storage data for lakes on specific dates, showing current storage, target or curve values, percentages, and 7-day changes in acre-feet.
Graph showing Lake Mendocino storage in acre-feet from 2018 to 2025, with projections and storage curves.
Lake Pillsbury storage and target scenarios from 2018-2025, showing acre-feet variations. Highlighted: March 22, 2025, 58,220 acre-feet.
Graph of Lake Sonoma storage from 2018 to 2025, showing acre-feet levels over the year. Peak storage in March 2025 at 266,855 acre-feet.

 

PG&E and PVP

RRFC's website page on the PG&E Draft Surrender Application & Decommissioning Plan for PVP. (including public comments submitted.)

Uploaded recently:

Dave Luhrs Comments to FERC 2025, 3-20.pdf

 

County Drought Task Force Meeting Under Government Standing Committee (GGC)

Mendocino County continues to make progress on the development of its Drought Resilience Plan (DRP) to enhance our community’s preparedness for future water shortages. This effort, initiated in response to the severe 2020-2022 drought and in compliance with Senate Bill 552, is being led by the Mendocino County Water Agency in collaboration with the University of California Cooperative Extension (UCCE) and EKI Environment and Water, Inc. The DRP will assess the potential risks of future droughts and outline both short-term and long-term strategies to manage water scarcity. Public participation remains crucial to the success of this initiative.

In February, the DRP held a meeting where all sections of the DRP were presented and discussed. Moving forward, the March 26th meeting will focus on reviewing the draft plan and outlining the process for reviewing and submitting comments. This will be a key opportunity for water stakeholders, domestic well owners, and State Small Water System operators to provide input before the plan is finalized.

The March 26th meeting will provide updates on the DRP development process and discuss the process for reviewing and submitting comments. The County encourages all water stakeholders, domestic well owners, and State Small Water System operators to attend and provide their feedback and share information to be considered in the development of the DRP.

  • Date: Wednesday, March 26, 2025
  • Time: 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
  • Location: GGC Meeting, Mendocino County Administrative Center, Board of Supervisors Chambers
  • Agenda and remote participation link will be available on https://mendocino.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx

 

CA Water Data Consortium Webinar – April 23, 2025

Man holding a fish in a boat next to a banner: "Data for Lunch When Rivers Run Hot" by Aquatic Ecologist Jonathan Walter.

Join us on Wednesday, April 23, for an exploration of "riverine heat waves" — those concerning periods of unusually warm water temperatures that stress river ecosystems and threaten aquatic species. Jonathan Walter from the University of California Davis Center for Watershed Sciences will share eye-opening research showing how these warming events have doubled in frequency over the past 25 years. You'll discover how climate patterns and water management decisions create critical cool refuges during hot periods, and gain practical insights for protecting aquatic species when our rivers need it most. Register now for this timely Earth Month discussion. Register Here

 

Introduction to Groundwater, Watersheds, and Groundwater Sustainability Plans - An Online Shortcourse

Understanding groundwater and watersheds and how we monitor, assess, and sustainably manage these resources remains critical and integral to California Groundwater Sustainability Plan (GSP) implementation and other water management programs.  Private citizens, professionals, decision makers, executives, agency employees, and stakeholders with diverse backgrounds and in a wide variety of private, non-profit, and government responsibilities are increasingly engaged in the sustainable management and assessment of groundwater and surface water.

This online short course will review the fundamental principles of groundwater and watershed hydrology, water budgets, water quality, and water law and regulation in an intuitive, highly accessible fashion. Through real world examples, participants learn about the most common tools for measuring, monitoring, and assessing groundwater and surface water resources. We then review the key steps and elements of assessing groundwater sustainability and implementing projects and management actions (see Program for details). UC Ag and Natural Resources webpage for more information and registration.

 

California Natural Resources Agency Hosts Secretary Speaker Series on Women Leaders Shaping California's Conservation Future Wednesday, March 26, 2025 from noon to 1 p.m.

Join for a conversation celebrating the leadership, wisdom, and innovation of women driving conservation and  sustainability in California. Celebrating Women’s History Month, the event will feature trailblazing women who are breaking new ground and inspiring the next generation of environmental stewards. Panelists will share stories of triumph, lessons learned, and their visions for a more resilient and equitable future for California’s environment. The event will explore how women's leadership is essential to advancing impactful solutions and creating a legacy for generations to come. Register for Zoom here.

 

State Water Resources Control Board Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on Water Measurement and Reporting Regulations (SB88)

The State Water Resources Control Board is proposing (Notice of Proposed Action) to revise the regulations for measuring and reporting surface water diversions. The proposed revisions require diverters to report data in a standardized format, provide an email address, identify measurement locations, and make other minor accompanying changes. The revisions are needed to align regulatory requirements with the Board’s new online water rights data system, California Water Accounting, Tracking, and Reporting System (CalWATRS). A detailed explanation of the proposed regulation revisions and rulemaking process are available on the Water Measurement and Reporting Regulation Rulemaking webpage.

 

In the press:

 

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