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Conservation and Land Use
Monitoring
Land Use Monitoring
Soil erosion and sediment runoff are
significant environmental impacts. The main concern of the
Sonoma County Water Agency (SCWA) has been with the impacts
of silt on its flood control facilities. The current
agency management recognizes that the SCWA has not
historically been involved in sediment control except where
it effects its own land, however, it expects to be actively
involved in the future but no statement has been made as to
which areas or with what perceived results.
Turbidity, or soil suspension, are influenced
by high water periods when turbid flows are released from
Lake Mendocino. In between storms, water is released
gradually which prolongs the turbid conditions
downstream. With dams as a major influence on a river
system, as river water levels are evened out, suspended
sediments are deposited along the channel bottom resulting
in stream bottom permeability and destroying fishery
spawning habitat. Dissolved oxygen are seen as
generally good, however, when floodwaters are carried into
gravel pits, suspended sediments are deposited, decreasing
groundwater transmissivity through the aquifer.
Conservation
SCWA contractors retail water to many
purchasers, of which over 80% are residential services
(1986). Most of the connections are metered, except
for single family homes in Rohnert Park. Usually water
contractors charge uniform rates per unit consumed, except
Rohnert Park which charges a flat rate for unfettered
connections.
In 1981 the Water Advisory Committee of the
SCWA decided to create a long-term, comprehensive
conservation program designed to insure both the wise use of
the region's water resources and to optimize use of the
region's sewage treatment facilities. A water
conservation coordinator was hired in 1982.
A 1982 survey indicated per capita use of
between 116 and 150 gallons per day and outside irrigation
in residences was found to be 53% of the total household
use, however, the 1984 SCWA Urban Water Management Plan
stated that for residential users, inside use comprised 71%
and outside use was 29%.
In 1984, the SCWA urban water demand was shown
to be as follows: Single Family Residential 52%, Commercial/
Industrial 26%, Multi-Family Residential 13% and
Public/Other 9%. In a Department of Water Resources
study, "Water Action Plan for the Russian River Service
Area" of May, 1980, the DWR found that approximately 4,500
af of water per year is being reused in Sonoma County.
Reuse was estimated to amount to 2,000 af per year by the
year 2000.
As of 1985, the Urban Water Management Planning
Act requires that urban water suppliers with more than 3,000
customers or supplying more than 3,000 afa must prepare and
adopt an urban water management plan. SCWA is not
required to prepare an urban water management plan since it
is not a retailer of water, however in 1986, the State Water
Resources Control Board stated SCWA should be required to
submit a consolidated water conservation plan for its entire
service area to the Board. Additionally, they found
that a term requiring such a plan and implementation of all
cost effective measures identified should be added to all
SCWA permits for the Russian River Project. The
Board pointed out that any saving of water through water
conservation in SCWA's service area will mainly be reflected
in the amount of storage remaining in Lake Sonoma because
lower Russian River needs will be furnished from Lake
Sonoma. The reach of the Russian River between the
Forks and Dry Creek will be impacted by diverters over which
SCWA has no control.
New pressures for conservation may be on the
horizon if legislation is passed requiring availability of
water sources be tied to growth planning at the General Plan
level. California's history of development first and
find water later is beginning to backfire.
Furthermore, with water use pressure building, the State
must acknowledge its duty to accept public trust
responsibility and must control water allocation and make
management decisions.
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