Santa Rosa City Council
March 14, 2023

Rescind Drought Stage 3 – Mandatory of the
City of Santa Rosa WSCP
City Council Meeting
March 14, 2023
Jennifer Burke – Director, Santa Rosa Water
Peter Martin – Deputy Director Water Resources, Santa Rosa Water 1 Outline
• Regional Drought Response 2021 - 2023
• Stage 3 – Mandatory
• Statewide Emergency Drought Regulations
• Local Water Supply Conditions
• Outreach and Resources
• Recommendation
2 3
Regional Drought Response Timeline 2021-23
3 Winter
2020-21 Spring 2021 Summer 2021 Fall 2021
Winter
2021-22 Spring 2022 Summer 2022 Fall 2022
Winter
2022-23
April 21 - Governor
declares drought
emergency in Sonoma
and Mendocino Counties
Upper Russian
River challenges
and Dry Winter
Campaign begins
Sonoma
Water Files
TUCP
Sonoma Water
institutes
allocations for
contractors
May 18 - Santa Rosa City
Council adopts resolution
requesting 20% voluntary
water use reduction
June – SWRCB Order
allowing reduced
flows and mandating
reduced diversions
(Jul-Dec)
June 29 - Santa Rosa City
Council adopts resolution
declaring emergency,
requiring 20% community-
wide water use reduction
October 2021
Atmospheric
River
2nd driest Jan
and Feb on
record in N. CA
Sonoma Water
files TUCP
June – SWRCB
Order allowing
reduced flows and
mandating reduced
diversions (Jul-Dec)
Sonoma Water
institutes
allocations for
contractors
Lake Sonoma falls
to lowest levels in
operational history
Sonoma
Water Files
TUCP; order
by SWRCB
Sonoma
Water Files
TUCP; order
by SWRCB
Dec 2022 –
Jan 2023
Atmospheric
Rivers
January – Lake Mendocino
Operations begin flood
control releases & Lake
Sonoma gains 145,000+
acre-feet (near 100% full)
Regional Drought
Response
• May 2021, Sonoma Water contractors adopt
resolution with target 20% reduction in water-use
over 2020
• Since June 2021, the partners implemented water
shortage plans to achieve up to 20% savings to meet
regional supply shortfall and comply with Russian
River specific regulations
• Santa Rosa has been in Stage 3 – Mandatory since
June 2021 by action of City Council achieving 18%
community-wide reduction in water use compared
to 2020
4 Stage 3 – Mandatory
Implementation: June 2021
• Community-wide water use reduction target = 20%
• Water Waste Ordinance always in effect
• Prohibits leaks/breaks in water system
• Prohibits Overspray and runoff
• Stage 3 – Prohibitions and Restrictions
• Irrigation limited to 8:00 PM to 6:00 AM
• Shut-off nozzles for hoses required
• No washing hard surfaces (unless required for public health) • Restaurants only serve water upon request
• Hotels and Lodging linens upon request messaging
• No pressure washing with potable water
5 Enforcement of
Prohibitions – Stage 3
• Outreach to customers
• Water Waste Patrols
• Water Waste Reporting
• Automatic Metering Infrastructure
monitoring
• Power washing variances for certain
health, safety, construction activities
6 State Water Board Emergency Water
Conservation Regulations
• Outdoor watering that creates runoff
• Washing vehicles without an automatic shutoff
nozzle
• Washing hard surfaces like driveways or sidewalks
• Street cleaning or construction site preparation
• Filling decorative fountains, lakes, or ponds without a recirculation pump
• Outdoor watering within 48 hours after at least 1/4
inch of rainfall
• Watering decorative grass on public medians
7 State Water Board Emergency Water
Conservation Regulations
• Prohibiting irrigation of nonfunctional turf
• Applies to Commercial, Industrial, and Institutional
(CII) properties irrigated by potable water
• Required all water utilities to institute all demand
measures consistent with up to 10 – 20%
• Santa Rosa Water has been outreaching to CII
and other Customers since 2022
8 Water Supply Outlook - 2023
 Lake Mendocino and Lake Sonoma, have
recovered after reaching historically low
levels
 Sonoma Water’s existing Temporary Urgency
Change Order remains in effect, water year
classification is NORMAL
 FIRO and established USACE storage curve
deviations may be utilized to store additional
water
 Prior analysis: Lake Sonoma has a 3-4 years
of water supply for the region and
contractor’s demands
9 Outreach and Resources
• Lots of info on city websites, updates on social media, bill inserts, and radio
• hosting workshops and attending community events
• Water Use Restrictions: srcity.org/savewater
• Water Use Efficiency Programs and Information:
srcity.org/watersmart
• Contact: 707-543-3985 or [email protected]
10 Recommendation
The Board of Public Utilities and Santa Rosa Water staff recommend that the City Council adopt a resolution:
• 1) rescinding the June 29, 2021 drought emergency declaration, • 2) rescinding the implementation of Stage 3 – Mandatory of the City of Santa Rosa Water Shortage Contingency Plan,
• 3) removing the authorization for Water Department to utilize Water Enterprise Catastrophic Reserve funds, and
• 4) direct staff to implement demand reduction measures and other requirements consistent with the statewide emergency water conservation regulations until they are no longer applicable or in effect.
11 Questions?
12