Summer in the Sonoma Valley means blond hills, long days and the annual Fourth of July parade. There are few places more appealing than here during these hot months. It is easy to see why droves of people have always descended upon the Valley to spend their days swimming in the springs and lounging under oak trees.
Indeed, it is summertime and the living is — well, it is not as easy as in previous years. The drought has splashed cold water on our former lives replete with green lawns and lush gardens. The majority of neighborhoods have gone brown and most residents are working hard to conserve. We are sharing our showers with buckets and tearing out lawns in favor of drought resistant landscaping. We are, after all, all in this together.
We are now witnessing change as state water conservation regulations increase. What does this mean for our community? Put simply, it means we have to get smarter, use our resources more wisely, and take advantage of planned events that make the process easier and less financially cumbersome.
Learn how to use water more efficiently, where to get the information to help transform your landscaping and what programs are available to provide rebates and advice to homeowners, businesses and agriculture. Here are some good places to start.
Everything You Need to Know to Cope with Our Drought: A Community Conversation for Homeowners, Businesses and Agriculture. Wednesday, July 22, 6 p.m., Sonoma Veterans Building. Confused about the water saving goals? Unsure if there is more you can do at your home or business to conserve? What is agriculture doing to conserve water?
Our Valley water leaders will speak about the drought, its impacts on our water resources, how to save it, and most importantly, how you can take advantage of rebate programs designed to save your households and businesses water and money. Local and regional business and agricultural representatives, members of the newly formed North Bay Water Sustainability Coalition, will talk about proactively addressing the drought through innovation and collaboration.
The Sonoma County Master Gardeners’ Program and Daily Acts will also be there to help homeowners with advice on water conservation, gray water re-use and neighborhood outreach. We can do it! Come and have some fun.
Sonoma Valley Drought Drive-up. July 22, 10 a.m. Sonoma Valley High School
The Valley of the Moon Water District, City of Sonoma and Sonoma County Water Agency host a drought drive-up in front of Sonoma Valley High School near the main parking lot. All you have to do is drive over to the high school and pick up your drought bucket. They will tailor it to fit your water saving needs with items such as faucet aerators, toilet dye tab kits, water-efficient showerheads and other water saving tools.
If you can’t make either of these events, please see one of water conservation specialists at the Tuesday night Farmers Market. Look for the Sonoma-Marin Saving Water Partnership booth near City Hall and stop by to pick up water conservation rebate information and your drought tool kit (as long as supplies last!).
Sonoma County Master Gardeners Program
One incredibly valuable service you may be unaware of is the Sonoma County Master Gardeners. They will come out to your home and provide information about water conservation programs in your area, answer your gardening questions, evaluate your irrigation system and much more. The program is a free service for constituents.
Please visit their webpage for more information. You can also request your free consultation on this page: http://ucanr.edu/sites/scmg/ or call them at 707.565.2608.
Local Water Districts: How Can They Help You?
In the Sonoma Valley, we have two water districts: City of Sonoma and Valley of the Moon Water District (VOMWD). Both entities purchase water from the Sonoma County Water Agency (SCWA) and both have websites offering education and conservation programs. Suspect you have a leak? Give them a call. Want to replace your lawn with drought resistant landscaping? Both have great rebate programs:
— City of Sonoma Water or call 938-3681
— Valley of the Moon: www.vomd.org or call 996-1037.
For more information about SCWA conservation programs, please email Carrie Pollard, Water Conservation Specialist, at carriep@scwa.ca.gov or call 975.3415.
Going to the Fair this Year? Don’t Miss the Mobile Water Wise Display House.
SCWA and its wholesale water customers have built a mobile water-wise display house that will be unveiled at the Sonoma County Fair on July 24. Walk inside this state-of-the-art water-wise house to see how much water pressure comes out of a water efficient shower head or how a gray water system can be set up out in your laundry room. I hear from people all of the time that they are interested in gray water systems but are unsure where to begin. I would like one for my home as well, so this should be educational for all of us. After the fair, this mobile house will be put on display throughout the county – watch for it in the Sonoma Valley.
As you are dipping your toes into the world of water conservation, please know that the county and local water agencies are here to help. I am happy to be a part of this effort benefiting the Sonoma Valley. I can always be reached at Susan.Gorin@sonoma-county.org.
Fourth of July!
It was wonderful to see thousands of people at the 4th of July parade. Lots of people came up to speak with me and I had a great time passing out goodies to the kids. I love my job and representing you on the Board, so please do not hesitate to say hi when I’m out and about. Kudos to the Sonoma Community Center for another great year – just gets better and better.
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