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Santa Rosa reports strong reservoir storage after storms; staff warns possible wastewater discharge if inflows continue
Summary
Staff reported elevated storage in Lake Sonoma and Lake Mendocino after recent storms, active groundwater‑management work by local GSAs, grant‑funded groundwater monitoring and recharge pilots, and city preparation for a possible recycled‑water discharge if plant flows exceed pumping capacity.
Peter Martin, deputy director of water resources, and Andrew Romero, wastewater reclamation superintendent, briefed the Board of Public Utilities on water supply, groundwater sustainability work and recycled‑water operations.
Martin said the State Water Resources Control Board granted a temporary change order that indexes Russian River instream flow requirements to storage in Lake Mendocino. He said Lake Pillsbury and Lake Mendocino storage rose after recent storms; Mendocino storage was reported at about 62,600 acre‑feet, or roughly 79% of the allowed storage under current operations. Lake Sonoma had about 254,000 acre‑feet of carryover storage and a minor deviation allowing roughly an additional 12,000 acre‑feet above normal flood operations.
Martin said local groundwater sustainability agencies (GSAs) are in implementation, running public surveys of groundwater users, expanding voluntary well‑monitoring and pursuing a grant‑funded voluntary metering program to install roughly 100 meters on larger wells. The GSA also received roughly $5.5 million in Department of Water Resources grants for projects that must be completed by 2027, Martin said. Staff noted potential participation by Santa Rosa in aquifer storage and recovery pilot monitoring, if appropriate wells are available.
Reclamation Superintendent Andrew Romero described urban and agricultural recycled‑water use during the 2024 irrigation season and showed storage curves that put the city about 400 million gallons higher than average for this time of year. Romero said the city repaired a levee breach at a 300‑million‑gallon pond near the Laguna treatment plant earlier in the year and placed it back into service.
On operational risk, Romero said plant flows are currently exceeding the city’s pumping ability to the Calpine facility and storage is limited. If additional storm events raise inflows further, the city may need to discharge recycled water; staff said a discharge could be necessary in January if elevated flows continue and storage cannot be increased by pumping. Board Member Wright sought reassurance that staff could manage pond levels in the coming weeks; Romero said the city is maximizing pumping now and discharge would be probable only with continuing elevated inflow.
Martin said outreach for indoor efficiency and a direct‑install program for high‑efficiency toilets will continue, funded in part by Bureau of Reclamation and state grants. He also noted the agricultural advisory committee had an open vacancy and that the GSA’s groundwater data dashboard is live online at santarosaplaingroundwater.org.
No formal board action was taken on the update; the briefing was informational.
