Historic water plan offers a model for community cooperation

With the combination of high tides and heavy rain, Sonoma Creek jumped its banks and flooded nearby roads and vineyards at the intersection of Hwy 121 and Broadway during the first storm of 2008. In preparation of the storm, the City had sandbags available free of charge at City Hall and Depot Park. Photo by Ryan Lely.

The torrents of rain that fell into the rivers and reservoirs this past week may temporarily drown concerns of drought and fill imaginations with images of brimming reservoirs. But the real solution to the water problem is far more complex.
“Don’t be tricked into thinking that one series of storms, one single event or several events in a row means that you have a sustainable water supply over time,” said Bill Keene, Project Manager of the Sonoma County Water Agency. “Remember that particularly with ground water, it takes a long time to recharge a basin and it takes a long time to draw it down. Things don’t change overnight.”
Sonoma Valley, depending as it does on both river and groundwater, needs a balance of both sources to ensure a sustainable water supply. “Think of water as having more than one source,” said Keene. “Groundwater is connected to river water because if you don’t have the Russian River water coming in, then inevitably people are going to be using more ground water. An example of that would be this year. There was a mandated 15% reduction in the Russian River, and that just increased use of the groundwater in the Sonoma Valley. So you have to be thinking about how you’re going to balance Russian River water and groundwater. There is a link.”
Currently, the groundwater basin is showing vulnerability in spots, which could prove worrisome for agriculture. City councilmember Steve Barbose said that a recent study of groundwater levels in the Sonoma Valley showed pockets of weakness. “Salt water intrudes into groundwater when there’s more pressure coming from the Bay side than there is ground water backing up against it,” he said. “If sea level is higher than ground water level, that could be devastating for the agriculture people.”
To maintain a stable groundwater basin is essential to a long-term sustainable water supply, and in response to the challenge, the Sonoma Valley Water Agency, Valley of the Moon Water District, and the City of Sonoma formed a Basin Advisory Panel, which crafted a groundwater management plan impressive not just in its aims, but in the fact of its very existence.
This plan, drawn up by a wide sampling of seemingly opposing interests, will work to maintain and restore the groundwater basin for the good of the whole, over time. Once underway, the plan will create a network of monitoring wells over a diverse area so that the agency can measure water levels throughout the groundwater basin. “A network of about 30 to 40 well owners have volunteered to let us measure their water levels,” said water district General Manager Krishna Kumar. “I think we have covered 80-85 percent of the geographical area we need to cover.” When the state funding comes through, they will be able to add a couple of more wells. “I think our chances are good,” said Keene. “There’s money already in the budget. It’s there. It’s not going anywhere.”
Those who speak about the plan marvel that a group of such disparate concerns could actually come together, make their compromises, and unanimously agree. “What is exciting,” said Kumar, “is the fact that there were 20 people representing a wide spectrum of interests—municipal well operators, residential well owners, agricultural well owners, vineyard owners—every conceivable interest was represented at the table, and over the course of 13 meetings, we had an agreed-upon groundwater management plan. Without one drop of blood being shed.”
“It was a super, major accomplishment,” said Keene. “I feel really proud of the group that worked together. I’m the project manager, but those people are really the ones who deserve all the credit. They found a way to compromise and figure out what’s the best way to manage the basin, moving forward. We just presented them with ideas, and they tweaked them and made it better. The credit goes to those folks.” The water goes to all.

Members of panel developing Groundwater Management Plan

Bill Keene, Project Manager
Tim Parker, Technical Consultant, Schlumberger Water Services
Gina Bartlett, Mediator, Center for Collaborative Policy
Mark Bramfitt, Chair of Basin Advisory Panel, Sonoma Valley Citizen’s Advisory Commission and Valley of the Moon Water District
Al Bandur, City of Sonoma Public Works Director
Katherine Culligan, West Valley Alliance
Nicki DiMattei, Focus4
David Goodison, Sonoma Planning and Community Development Administrator
Clarence Jenkins, Madrone Vineyard Management
Ned Hill, Sonoma Valley Vintners & Growers Alliance
Vicki Hill, Sonoma County Water Agency
Jay Jasperse, Sonoma County Water Agency
Krishna Kumar, Valley of the Moon Water District