County to announce mandatory water rationing

The Sonoma County Water Agency is expected to announce on Monday mandatory water rationing for 750,000 residents in portions of Marin, Sonoma and Mendocino counties.
The SCWA has scheduled a news conference for 11 a.m. at Healdsburg Memorial Beach on the Russian River (near the fish ladder), 13839 Old Redwood Highway, Healdsburg. Officials will clarify at the conference what areas will be under the mandatory rationing, expected to be a minimum of 30 percent. “The projection will show that we have entered uncharted territory,” said Pam Jeane, deputy chief engineer of operations for SCWA. “A 30 percent mandatory rationing order is just the beginning – further decline in reservoir levels could necessitate 50 percent cutbacks.”
Lake Sonoma, the city of Sonoma’s municipal water source, is currently 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.
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 being in a “D-2” or “severe drought” condition.
Impacts of the low water storage levels may be addressed at the news conference, including Russian River flow levels, salmon fishery concerns and possible economic impacts including loss of jobs. The storage projection is based on past and projected rainfall patterns, Russian River flow requirements, and recent agricultural and municipal water demands in the Russian River above Healdsburg.
Scheduled speakers at the event include Sonoma County Supervisor Paul Kelley; Pam Jeane, SCWA deputy chief engineer of operations; Rohnert Park City Councilman Jake Mackenzie; Cynthia Murray, president/CEO, North Bay Leadership Council; Sean White, general manager, Mendocino County Russian River Flood Control and Water Conservation Improvement District; Dick Butler, National Marine Fisheries Service; Dr. Robert Eyler, director, Center of Regional Economic Analysis, Sonoma State University, along with representatives from the agriculture and tourism industries.