GovWatch Reportage Resumes (Ha!)/TITLE> <link href="/ec-main.css" rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" /> <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=ISO-8859-1" /> <style type="text/css">  </style> </HEAD> <BODY> <table width="95%" border="0" cellpadding="6"> <tr> <td width="89%" bgcolor="#FFFFFF"><span class="titles">6/14/07: SCWA Press conference</span> - reported by David Keller <p><span class="black"><strong>Supe. Tim Smith</strong>:</span> we need to reduce diversions from the Russian River by 15% by 7/1 until 10/28/07.</p> <p><strong>Pam Jeane, SCWA</strong>: We are required to produce a work plan for the State Water Resources Control Board to show how we'll get there and monitor it. <br /> - We are required to reduce diversions and usage by 15% from 2004 levels (June - Oct. 2004 as baseline) <br /> -We are required to investigate 'waste and unreasonable use' of RR water <br /> -We are required to come up with a plan to show how we can reduce the fluctuations in RR flows and water depths below the inflatable dam at Wohler Br. <br /> [note, at the SWRCB Urgency Low Flow petition workshop last week, it came out that the daily flow and depth fluctuations (below the dam) are due to expansion of the water-filled rubber dam as it warms in mid-day, according to SCWA staff. As the dam expands, it raises the height by an inch or so, and cutting RR downstream flows significantly at the peak of canoe and recreational use each day. SWRCB board members weren't happy with SCWA's claim that there wasn't anything to do about that. The Order now demands some way to address that fluctuation.] <br /> -Enforcement of any water use violations will be by local water agency/city staff to reach compliance. Jake MacKenzie noted that Rohnert Park will have to reassign city staff to follow thru on this enforcement requirement. <br /> -SCWA will have to work with other water districts, agencies, cities, businesses and agricultural users upstream to achieve compliance with the reduced demands and diversions. They will seek voluntary compliance and coordination, as there is no legal authority that SCWA can exercise over their diversions. <br /> -Approx. 60,000 agricultural acres are irrigated from the Russian River and its tributaries, including dependence on the releases from L. Mendocino</p> <p><span class="black"><strong>Chris Murray, SCWA</strong></span> - Summertime flow levels in the Russian River are kept artificially high due to releases from L. Sonoma and L.Mendocino, which is fed by its own watershed and the Potter Valley Project/Eel River. <br /> - Under SWRCB the existing rules of Decision 1610 (regulating minimum flows in the Russian River), 2007 was a 'normal' water year. However, due to reduced inflows to L. Mendocino from the Potter Valley Project, the SWRCB decision on May 10, 2007 reduces flow requirements to the equivalent of a 'dry year'. <br /> SWRCB could still go to the flows for a 'very dry year' if needed. <br /> - Due to voluntary conservation since May 11, L. Mendocino water levels have been kept stable, increasing storage appx 7000 af above what had been projected if usage hadn't changed. <br /> - We will be required to monitor water temps, dissolved oxygen, pH, water quality (on a number of constituents, with data collection and sampling by USGS), fish counts and other parameters. <br /> - We can expect that the changes in releases from the PVP will be permanent. <br /> - We will be working with stakeholders to come up with proposals and data necessary to redo the criteria for setting RR flows in an amended D1610.</p> <p><span class="black"><strong>Jake MacKenzie, Rohnert Park</strong></span>, vice chair, Water Advisory Committee: RP has already reduced demands by 12% since May 11.</p> <p><span class="black"><strong>Chris DeGabriele, North Marin Water Distr GM</strong></span>, chair, Technical Advisory Comm. to WAC: This is a regional issue, from Ukiah to Sausalito, to protect the fishery and the region's health.</p> <p>In answer to press and audience questions (check KTVU-TV Channel 5 tonite at both early news @ 5 or 6pm, and again at 11pm), SCWA will not monitor groundwater levels along the Russian. Pam Jeane noted that any fluctuations means that water pumped is really 'Russian River underflow' and not groundwater [!], and therefore not theirs to pump in the first place. SCWA has no authority to control any diversions of upstream users, from Potter Valley Irrigation District to Ukiah and downstream, but only can make requests for voluntary compliance.</p> <p>More to come...... <br /> Order for minimum streamflows and mandatory conservation from SWRCB issued yesterday 6/13/07, and the press release from SCWA announcing the mandatory conservation - <a href="http://www.scwa.ca.gov/documents/ORDERWR2007-0021.pdf">http://www.scwa.ca.gov/documents/ORDERWR2007-0021.pdf</a></p> <p>The SWRCB order (see page 9) requires, among other things, that SCWA provide plans to SWRCB including, </p> <ul> <li>14 (b) Identification of Russian River water users who are not subject to SCWA's authority to impose mandatory water conservation measures.</li> <li>14 (c) Steps that SCWA will take to investigate the waste, unreasonable use, unreasonable method of use, or unreasonable method of diversion of water from the Russian River. SCWA shall submit monthly reports to the State Water Board on its progress.</li> </ul> <p>David Keller<br /> Bay Area Director<br /> Friends of the Eel River<br /> 1327 I St.<br /> Petaluma, CA 94952<br /> (707) 763-9336</p></td> <td width="11%" valign="top" class="reg-grn"> </td> </tr> <tr> <td> </td> <td> </td> </tr> </table> <blockquote> </blockquote> </BODY> </HTML>