TIS bnr green water

 

Corte Madera, CA                                                                                                  June 2011
The Inside Source is produced by Marin Municipal Water District to inform local decisionmakers and opinion leaders on issues affecting Marin's water, people, and environment.

Features
New User's Guide for Landscape Plan Review
Public Hearing on July 6 for Urban Water Management Plan
Join MMWD on July 9 for National Trails Day
Spread the Word

MMWD Board of Directors
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Public Meetings

Wed., July 6, 7:30 pm
BOARD MEETING
Board Room
  


Wed., July 20, 7:30 pm
BOARD MEETING
 
Board Room 
 

WRAPPING UP RAINFALL AND RESERVOIR LEVELS FOR THE YEAR; WATER CONSUMPTION DOWN OVER ALL   

June 30 marks the end of the current rainfall year, but it's safe to assume that we already have the final rainfall stats for the year. This rainfall year, which started July 1, 2010, saw 69.44 inches fall at Lake Lagunitas on the Mt. Tamalpais Watershed. This figure is approximately one third higher than the annual average of 52.63 inches.

The above-average number is due to this year's unusually wet spring. Even in June we had measurable rain, receiving 2.75 inches earlier this month. Average for June is just 0.43 inches. 
  
As a result of the wet spring, our reservoirs are also above average, with water levels currently at 97 percent of capacity. Average for this time of year is 87 percent.

Not surprisingly, water consumption has been below average for the last few months. At the same time, we continue to release water into Lagunitas and Walker creeks in west Marin per our agreement with the State of California to maintain adequate flows for the fishery. In May, for example, we released one gallon of water into the creeks for every three gallons consumed by customers, so 25 percent of the reservoir water used last month went to the environment. 

   

Current rainfall and reservoir figures can be found on the homepage of our website.

 


INTERIM 2011/12 BUDGET ADOPTED
At the June 15 board meeting the Board of Directors adopted an interim budget for MMWD for the 2011/12 fiscal year, which begins July 1. The interim budget will keep MMWD operating normally but limits capital expenditures pending further analysis. Board members decided to delay the adoption of a final budget in order to have more time to review the proposed budget.

During the budgeting process the board and staff have dedicated much time and effort to finding ways to cut costs, including employee costs, while still meeting district obligations. The board's Finance Committee is scrutinizing the proposed budget and will continue to look for ways to reduce expenses and operate more cost effectively. The final 2011/12 budget will be adopted soon.


 

NEW USER'S GUIDE FOR MMWD LANDSCAPE PLAN REVIEW REQUIREMENTS

MMWD's Water Conservation Department recently released a user's guide to help planners, landscape architects and customers successfully navigate the landscape plan review requirements section of the district's water conservation code. To help protect our limited water supply, a homeowner or landscape professional is required to submit plans to MMWD demonstrating that their project meets certain water efficiency standards. The user's guide will help to ensure that any project design is in compliance with the code.  

The user's guide includes both compliance and exemption requirements, references to the code number, the actual language of the code, the intent of the code, and any notes that may help clarify the code. The guide also includes contact information, workflows, and an appendix of forms, tables, and definitions. The user's guide will be updated regularly with new information and when code changes are adopted. For more information, email [email protected] or call (415) 945-1497.   


PUBLIC HEARING ON URBAN WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN SCHEDULED FOR JULY 6

The Board of Directors will hold a public hearing on Wednesday, July 6, at 7:30 pm in the MMWD Board Room, 220 Nellen Avenue, Corte Madera, to receive comments from the public on the district's 2010 Urban Water Management Plan (UWMP). The public is encouraged to attend and participate.
 
MMWD developed the plan in compliance with the California Urban Water Management Planning Act, which requires such a plan every five years from urban water suppliers with 3,000 or more service connections or supplying 3,000 or more acre-feet* of water per year.

The plan covers the following topics:
�    Existing water supplies and transmission system;
�    Projected water demands in MMWD's service area over the next 25 years;
�    Projected water supplies available to MMWD over the next 25 years, the reliability of that supply, and general plans for water supply projects;
�    Current and planned water conservation activities;
�    A water shortage contingency analysis;
�    A comparison of water supply and water demand over the next 25 years under different hydrological assumptions (normal year, single dry year, multiple dry years).

*One acre-foot is 325,851 gallons



NATIONAL TRAILS DAY REDUX ON SATURDAY, JULY 9
The sunshine is back and so is MMWD's National Trails Day event, which was rained out in June. MMWD invites volunteers to join the district in celebrating National Trails Day 2011 by making improvements to the Gertrude Ord Trail at the western end of Phoenix Lake. Projects will include rebuilding a bridge and stairs, improving drainage and removing vegetation.

The day will begin at 9:00 am at Phoenix Lake. The gate at Natalie Coffin Greene Park will be open from 8:30 to 9:00 am and from 2:00-2:30 pm to allow volunteers to park by the dam (up to 25 cars). Volunteers who arrive late or need to leave early will need to find their own parking. As usual at volunteer events, MMWD will provide an assortment of breakfast snacks.

To celebrate National Trails Day all volunteers are invited to a free barbecue lunch at 12:30 pm on the grounds of the log cabin next to the reservoir. A special lunch time program will be presented by local basket-maker Charles Kennard, who will bring his creations and talk about the materials and techniques used in the ancient craft of basket making.

To volunteer, email [email protected] or call (415) 945-1128.
 

DISTRICT MOVES FORWARD WITH DEVELOPMENT OF NEW ORGANIZATION TO SUPPORT WATERSHED
MMWD held a public workshop earlier this month to discuss the latest version of the draft business plan for a "Friends of the Mt. Tamalpais Watershed" organization. Staff is in the process of revising the draft plan to incorporate comments from that meeting as well as comments received by email.

The updated draft plan will be posted soon on the district's website and MMWD will have an additional comment period for the new version. A final draft of the plan is scheduled to go to the MMWD Board of Directors for adoption at the July 20 board meeting.

Click here to see the presentation from the June meeting.

Additional information is available on MMWD's website on this page: Friends of the Mt. Tamalpais Watershed.


LAGUNITAS CREEK WATERSHED SEDIMENT STUDY FUNDED BY $163,140 STATE GRANT
MMWD recently entered into a contract with consultant Stetson Engineers, Inc., to complete a comprehensive sediment source site assessment of all unpaved roads within the Lagunitas Creek Watershed that have not yet been assessed. The project will be funded by a $163,140 grant from the California Department of Fish & Game.

Lagunitas Creek, which originates on Mt. Tamalpais on land owned by MMWD, is an important stream for spawning and rearing coho salmon and steelhead trout, both of which are federally listed species. Streambed sedimentation is one of the primary factors that has been identified as constraining habitat values for salmon and steelhead inhabiting Lagunitas Creek and its tributaries. Degraded streambed conditions have been attributed to the excessive load of fine sediments that enter the stream and those fine sediments have been linked to erosion throughout the watershed. By identifying the sources of sediment, MMWD will be able to develop and implement erosion control projects to reduce the flow of sediment in Lagunitas Creek and its tributaries.

The assessment project will cover approximately 105 miles of unpaved roads. These (and other roads not included in this project) were identified in a 2007 watershed sediment study. The new sediment study, which began this month, will take 12 months to complete.


NEW FROM THE MMWD BLOG

Check out these recent blog posts:

  • Let MMWD help you take the guesswork out of watering (click here). 
  • We've got the dirt on compost (click here).  
  • Amazing journeys can be close to home (click here).

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU
We welcome your comments and need your help raising awareness about water in Marin.  Please share this information with your members and constituents. Thank you!

Libby Pischel, Public Information Officer
Marin Municipal Water District
[email protected]
(415) 945-1421