Santa Rosa staff report strong reservoir storage, recycled-water discharges and outreach push; PG&E Potter Valley proposal opens 30-day comment period

Santa Rosa Water staff reported that regional water supplies and recycled-water storage are well above average for this time of year, announced a planned discharge of recycled water using existing credits, and described outreach and grant-funded programs to conserve water.

Peter Martin, deputy director of water resources, told the Board of Public Utilities that Sonoma Water is operating under a temporary change order tying minimum end-stream flows to storage in Lake Mendocino rather than cumulative inflow into the Eel River. Martin said Lake Pillsbury held about 64,500 acre-feet as of the presentation, well above target, and Lake Mendocino and Lake Sonoma storage were “well above the forecast” with Lake Sonoma near 284,500 acre-feet. He said the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers had managed releases for flood control and that releases from reservoirs could occur in the coming days to draw levels back to…