Sonoma County Water Resources Hearing Aug. 15

[paultous]

The Planning Commission will begin hearing testimony on the draft Water Resource Element of the General Plan Update between 6:00 pm and 9:00 pm on Tuesday, August 15, at the facility formerly known as the Luther Burbank Center in the Merlo Theater.

Please attend the meeting and speak from your heart about water issues you feel passionate about.

Suggested talking points are pasted below. The text of the Sonoma County Water Coalition comment letter is attached. Our letter provides more detail for talking points.

You will find plenty of information about water and the General Plan Update process on our website: https://www.SCWaterCoalition.org and on the OWL Foundation website: https://www.OwlFoundation.net.

Please call or email me if you need more information.

We need a big turnout on Tuesday to maintain momentum on these issues. Change is happening.

We'll see you on Tuesday evening.

Stephen
707-829-7619 ext 3161 (office)
707-823-3414 (home)

TALKING POINTS FOR PLANNING COMMISSION
(Focus on what you feel passionate about)

A. INTRODUCTION

Sonoma County residents will support a General Plan that protects our quality of life and Sonoma County's values - clean air and water, our natural resources and our world-renowned landscapes. Unless we effectively plan and manage growth, our quality of life will worsen. The County can adopt policies that will reduce significant and unavoidable impacts to our water resources In particular and to the environment in general.


B. WATER COALITION ISSUES

1. Sonoma County needs a groundwater management plan.

2. Groundwater recharge areas in Sonoma County need to be protected.

3. Language to control exports of water from Sonoma County must be strengthened.

4. The draft WRE must provide policies for a County response to Special Study Areas in which groundwater declines have been documented.

5. The WRE must comply with water quality regulations of State agencies and demonstrate such compliance.

6. The assistance of local watershed groups and California State agencies must be sought.

7. More public education on water issues is needed.

8. Most conserved water should remain in source groundwater and surface water.

9. Other GP2020 elements should be consistent with the WRE.

10. General Plan language must be binding.

C. BACKGROUND

1. Our water supply is not proven

2. Groundwater supply in water-scarce areas is threatened

3. SCWA Contractors are becoming more dependent on groundwater

4. Sonoma County Grand Jury called for groundwater management planning

5. Conservation can provide sufficient water for planned growth

6. Water use and global climate change are interconnected.

7. The Sonoma County Water Coalition now includes 32 organizations representing more than 27,000 concerned citizens.

D. OTHER WATER-RELATED TOPICS BEYOND SCWC RATIFIED POSITIONS

1. We need a Comprehensive Water Management Plan for Sonoma County that would include all stakeholders and all systems. Groundwater and surface water must be managed together. This is called 'conjunctive use'.

2. Advanced water conservation will reduce the need for costly new and expanded facilities for the distribution and treatment of water and wastewater.

3. GP2020 should explicitly state performance-based standards for restoration of water resources within 20 years after adoption.

4. Catchment of winter rainfall can supply much of our water needs in the dry months.

5. The County sanitarian, who used to provide guidance to neighborhood groups, retired several years ago and was not replaced. This expertise is sorely missed and must be replaced in PRMD.

6. Continued mining of river gravel will prevent the restoration of free water storage and free filtration of Russian River water under the river.

7. There is a need for more conservation practices in agricultural irrigation.

END

[Katy]

I'll be there!
Thanks for putting this up,
Katherina