Meeting: Stormwater Management Study

The Sonoma Valley Groundwater Basin Advisory Panel is sponsoring a meeting to discuss potential projects in the Sonoma Creek Watershed that could provide flood control, groundwater recharge and other benefits, such as improvements to water quality and ecosystem enhancements.

The meeting will take place at 3 p.m., Thursday, October 20 at the Vintage House in Sonoma.

Experts working for the Sonoma County Water Agency (Water Agency), which is conducting the study, will review and discuss various types of projects that could be considered and general areas in the watershed that may be appropriate for such projects.

“Folks living in Sonoma Valley have responded very positively to the ‘Slow It, Spread It, Sink It’ manual, which shows how people and businesses can capture rainwater onsite,” said Mark Bramfitt, President of the Valley of the Moon Water District and of the Basin Advisory Panel. “This scoping study takes an important additional step of looking at options for larger scale projects that serve a parallel purpose – reducing flood flows and helping recharge our groundwater reservoirs.”

ESA PWA, the lead consultant preparing the study, is evaluating several types of projects that could provide these benefits. Ideas include unlined basins that detain flood flows and provide groundwater recharge. These basins would be dry most of the year and can be designed for other dry-season use, such as growing crops or serving as playing fields. Other ideas could include floodplain modifications that reduce flooding by increasing flow capacity while potentially enhancing groundwater recharge and providing ecosystem benefits.

The purpose of the “Stormwater Management-Groundwater Recharge Scoping Study” is to determine if multi-benefit project opportunities exist. If possible projects and partners are identified the next step is to conduct feasibility studies in order to prepare for grant funding opportunities.

The Water Agency operates and maintains flood protection facilities in the Sonoma Creek watershed. The Flood Zone 3A Advisory Committee provides input and feedback to the Water Agency on the annual flood zone budget and proposed projects. Projects are financed primarily through property tax revenues. In order to stretch these dollars, the Water Agency seeks state and federal matching funds or grants. Often, funding sources require projects to provide multiple benefits and involve multiple partners.

For more information about the Water Agency’s Stormwater Management-Groundwater Recharge studies, go to www.sonomacountywater.org/stormwater-groundwater.