The drought is still on

Despite recent rains, the cumulative average rainfall for the water year to date (July 1, 2013 – March 9, 2014) is still well below average. The Santa Rosa basin currently, as of March 14, has 14.1” compared to an average of 25.2”. The Ukiah basin has 11.45” compared to the average of 30”. While the drought status in much of the county was updated from “extreme” to “severe,” water storage levels in Lake Mendocino and Lake Sonoma continue to be well below average. Lake Mendocino’s water supply storage capacity was at 50 percent and Lake Sonoma’s water supply capacity was at 73 percent (as of March 14).  
Mendocino County declared a Local Emergency and Imminent Threat of Disaster due to drought conditions. The Mendocino County Russian River Flood Control and Water Conservation Improvement District has reduced contract allocations for 2014 by 50 percent. To help residents reduce their water use, Mendocino County is publishing a water conservation tip every day for 100 days. Check the website daily for tips to stay healthy and conserve water during the drought: http://www.co.mendocino.ca.us/administration/drought/tips-and-resources.htm
All of the Sonoma-Marin Saving Water Partnership members including the Sonoma County Water Agency, have approved a resolution seeking 20 percent voluntary water reduction per the governor’s drought emergency declaration with Marin Municipal Water District approving a 25 percent voluntary water reduction.
The Sonoma County Water Agency and the Partnership are working together to make saving water easy for our community by providing as many resources as possible – including holding a “Drought Drive-Up” event and town hall meetings.  Read below for more information.  
“Drought Drive-Up” event:  The Sonoma County Water Agency, in cooperation with the Sonoma-Marin Saving Water Partnership, is implementing a “Drought Drive-Up” event on April 23 at multiple locations across the county to supply residents with water efficient “drought kits” to help conserve water in their daily lives. Free water saving tools will be made available to the public.  These tools include free shower timers, toilet die tabs to check for leaks, aerators, showerheads and more! Locations will be publicized later this month in various publications, or you can go online to www.wateroff.org to view locations.  
Drought Town Hall meetings:  Drought town hall meetings will be held in April throughout Sonoma County.   The focus of these meetings will be on answering questions about the effect of the drought on water supply and learning what agencies and organizations are doing to address these critical challenges. Learn more about the dates and locations of these meeting at www.sonomacountywater.org.
Find out more about the drought and Russian River water supplies at www.sonomacountywater.org
Get all your water conservation tips and rebate program information at www.wateroff.org.
For 100 water conservation tips in 100 days and additional Mendocino County resources, visit http://www.co.mendocino.ca.us/administration/drought/tips-and-resources.htm.
Brad Sherwood is a community and governmental affairs manager for the Sonoma County Water Agency. The commentary was written on behalf of RRWA. RRWA (www.rrwatershed.org) is an association of local public agencies in the Russian River Watershed that have come together to coordinate regional programs for clean water, fisheries restoration, and watershed enhancement.