County in ‘severe drought’

The drought is officially here. With reservoirs lower than ever, and no significant rain in sight, the Sonoma County Water Agency is preparing to act.
“We’ve been asking for voluntary conservation for the last four years,” said SCWA conservation manager Carrie Pollard. Residents have cooperated, she said, and in fact, exceeded expectations. However, given the little rainfall last year, and even less this year, the agency is having to look at other measures. The agency will make an announcement soon.
Brad Sherwood, SCWA public information officer, said that currently, Lake Sonoma, the city of Sonoma’s municipal water source, is only about 74 percent full, with about 182,000 acre feet of water. This is down from 210,000 acre feet last year, which was already low, given that 270,000 is optimal for this time of year. Lake Mendocino, from which cities in the area of Healdsburg draw their water, is only 38 percent full.
“Without daily downpours from now through March,” he said, “the area will face a serious water shortage. Our immediate fear is the current dry levels, but another dry winter would be disastrous for Lake Sonoma. Lake Mendocino is at the breaking point right now.”
After two dry years, and with only 7.28 inches of rain – compared to 15.5 inches at this time last year – the area is listed by the U.S. Drought Monitor as in a “D-2” or “severe drought” condition, and SCWA is preparing to take action. Supervisor Paul Kelly has called a meeting and press conference for Monday, Feb. 2 at the Healdsburg fish ladder.
Sherwood said the conditions may bring new opportunities. ”We’re trying to work with different agencies to create jobs by working with homeowners to install basic water-safe appliances,” he said, hoping to turn this water crisis into a tool for economic stimulus. “For example, AB 811, would allow California homeowners to finance any energy- and water-efficient projects to their home, and it would be financed through property taxes.”
Assembly Bill 811, passed in September 2008, will assist municipalities with retrofitting residential and commercial properties by providing low-interest loans for energy efficient installations paid for using city utility and property tax assessments. Sonoma County is already exploring possibilities for making use of this bill.
Sherwood said people want to help, but often don’t know how. “One of the challenging aspects of asking people to conserve water is hearing people say, in response to requests for more conservation, ‘I already do this; what more can I do?’” In the very near future, they are likely to find out.