Agenda Item #16.3
For Council Meeting of: December 16, 2025
CITY OF SANTA ROSA
CITY COUNCIL
TO: MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
FROM: JENNIFER BURKE, DIRECTOR OF WATER, WATER DEPARTMENT SUBJECT: WATER SUPPLY ASSESSMENT FOR THE WOODLANDS AT CHANATE AGENDA ACTION: RESOLUTION
RECOMMENDATION
Santa Rosa Water recommends that the Council, by resolution, approve the Water Supply Assessment for the Woodlands at Chanate. This item has no impact on current fiscal year budget.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The State of California, in accordance with Senate Bill 610 (SB 610) requires water suppliers to provide a determination of available water supply in a Water Supply Assessment (WSA) on certain large projects subject to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). The City of Santa Rosa Planning and Economic Development Department is the designated land use and planning agency for the proposed Woodlands at Chanate (Project) development and has determined that the Project is subject to CEQA. Santa Rosa Water would be the public water system serving the proposed Project. The Project will include up to 660.5 dwelling units and is projected to have 136.5 acre-feet of water annually in net demand. The WSA has determined that Santa Rosa has adequate existing and projected water supplies to meet the planned development of the proposed Woodlands at Chanate, in addition to existing development, with the implementation of demand management measures in dry years as needed.
GOAL
This item relates to Council’s legal mandate to ensure adequate water supply for new development, pursuant to SB 610. It also relates to Council Goal #5, Plan for and Encourage Housing for All and Reduce Homelessness.
BACKGROUND/PRIOR COUNCIL REVIEW
The State of California, per SB 610, requires that water suppliers provide a WSA to planning agencies for any proposed projects which are subject to CEQA and would demand an amount of water equivalent to or greater than the amount of water required by a 500 dwelling unit project. The proposed Project is subject to CEQA and has an increase of 660.5 residential dwelling units over the General Plan so it is subject to SB 610.
ANALYSIS
The Project is subject to CEQA and is expected to have an increase of approximately 660.5 residential dwelling units which will utilize approximately 136.5 net acre feet annually and requires CEQA, triggering the need for a WSA pursuant to SB 610.
Santa Rosa currently has three existing sources of water which serve the Project area: a contract entitlement of 29,100 acre-feet annually (afa) from the Sonoma County Water Agency pursuant to the Restructured Agreement for Water Supply; 2,300 afa of local groundwater supply; and approximately 140 afa of recycled water supply.
According to state law, the WSA must consider available water supply under normal, single-dry year, and multiple-dry water year conditions. The analysis shows that supplies for historic and planned future uses, including the Project, are sufficient under normal water year conditions. Under a single-dry water year condition, demand could exceed supply at Project buildout (assumed to be 2030) by up to 0.6 percent. If a water shortfall occurs in dry water years, the City would implement more stringent water conservation efforts and enact the Water Shortage Contingency Plan, if needed, to ensure water demand does not exceed supply.
The WSA finds that the City’s existing and projected water supplies are sufficient at this time to meet the projected demand associated with the Project, in addition to existing and planned future uses for the 20-year projection.
The WSA will be circulated with the Environmental Impact Report for the Project.
FISCAL IMPACT
Approval of this action does not have a fiscal impact on the General Fund or the Water Department’s Enterprise fund.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
This action has been found exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to CEQA Guideline Section 15306 in that the project (the WSA) consists of basic data collection, research, experimental management, and resource evaluation activities which do not result in a serious or major disturbance to an environmental resource.
BOARD/COMMISSION/COMMITTEE REVIEW AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Not applicable.
NOTIFICATION
Not applicable.
ATTACHMENTS
Resolution
Exhibit A - Water Supply Assessment for the Woodlands at Chanate
PRESENTER(S)
Claire Nordlie, Senor Water Resources Planner, Water Department
WATER SUPPLY ASSESSMENT FOR THE WOODLANDS AT CHANATE
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