Sonoma Valley-wide water district

Suggestion for Sonoma Valley-wide Water District

Groundwater depletion is the core problem for Sonoma Valley water management. Sonoma Valley is a geographic unit: groundwater, surface water, flood hazard, recharge, supply infrastructure, wells, riparian ecosystems, open space, agriculture, housing, are all integrated valley-level factors relevant not only to 10,000 people in the city or to ratepayers in the VOM water district.

Pubic water issues should be addressed to the entire population, not only SCWA contractors. In reality everyone is a stakeholder; make all stakeholders pay their fair share by creating one valley wide water district.

Governmental fragmentation of services inhibits valley-wide solutions. The city and county work many times at cross-purposes. I suggest a joint powers agreement to create a valley-wide water district. This will provide regional continuity and make actual stakeholders pay and be accountable for their use. Groundwater use accountability is exactly what is needed.  Voluntary efforts are not working. Groundwater depletion is increasing.

Recharge is great but with a valley-wide water district, greater conservation gains can be made up front through same-team efforts gained by wide-net management of the watershed. In exchange for the security of coming under the umbrella of the SCWA and one water district, valley well owners will have to agree to well monitoring terms, in service of the greater good of the watershed.

Adoption of a full cost accounting method will insure that the interests of all stakeholders are equally represented.

The SCWA, Basin Advisory Panel, SVGWMP, the city of Sonoma, the VOM Water District and Sonoma County are the entities with the resources and expertise to get behind regional solutions. It only makes sense to get the ball rolling this way by adopting a goal of the creation of a joint powers valley wide water district.

The county wine industry has recently announced a plan to become certifiably sustainable in 5 years time. If this is to be more than ‘greenwashing’, a unified water district aimed precisely at sustainable groundwater management is just the ticket. Residents want in, now vineyards have no plausible excuse to opt out.