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Corte Madera, CA December 2011
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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.
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| MMWD Board of Directors |
Jack Gibson
President
Cynthia Koehler
Vice President
David Behar
Armando Quintero Larry Russell
The MMWD Board of Directors has two regular meetings a month in the District Board Room, 220 Nellen Avenue, Corte Madera. Additional meetings are scheduled as needed. All board meetings are open to the public. (415) 945-1450
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Public Meetings
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Thurs., Jan. 5, 7:30 pm
BOARD MEETING
Board Room
Thurs., Jan. 19, 7:30 pm
BOARD MEETING Board Room
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RAINFALL AND RESERVOIR LEVELS
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Here are the most current reservoir and water use figures:
- Rainfall - Rainfall from July 1, 2011 to December 14 was 8.57 inches. Average is 13.82 inches.
- Reservoir Levels - As of December 14, reservoir levels were 76 percent of capacity, or 60,275 acre-feet.* These levels are higher than the average for this date of 68 percent (54,183 acre-feet). Reservoir levels have been above average for all of 2011.
- Water Use - Water use for the last seven days has averaged 19.06 million gallons, higher than last year's average of 16.08 million gallons. These figures are contrary to the general trend for 2011, which has seen lower consumption than 2010 almost the entire year.
- Creek Releases - For the month of November MMWD released 349 million gallons, or a total of 1,071 acre-feet, into Lagunitas and Walker creeks in west Marin. We release water throughout the year to maintain adequate flows for the fishery per our agreement with the State of California.
Current water use and reservoir figures can be found on the homepage of our website.
*One acre-foot is 325,851 gallons.
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MMWD TURNS 100 IN 2012
| It was on April 25, 1912 that MMWD received its charter, becoming the first municipal water district in the State of California. Ever since, in rainy years and dry, MMWD has been providing high quality water to the residents of central and southern Marin.
Before 1912, water in central and southern Marin was provided by a number of small, private companies, many of them subsidiaries of real estate developers. To ensure a reliable water supply, the citizens of Marin came together to create a publically owned and managed water system. In the process, they also laid the foundation for the perpetual protection of the Mt. Tamalpais Watershed, a natural wild land with tremendous ecological value.
In 2012 MMWD will be celebrating its centennial with community events, the publication of a history photo book and special watershed programs. We invite you to join in.
Click here for a sampling of little-known historical tidbits related to MMWD.
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EARLY REVIEW OF 2012-2013 BUDGET BY FINANCE COMMITTEE
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The MMWD Finance Committee, composed of board members, barely took a break after approving the district's 2011-12 budget before getting started on the 2012-13 version. The committee has held several meetings this fall to review both the operating and the capital budgets. The review of the capital budget includes not just the 2012-13 proposal but also a 10-year capital improvement plan. Because parts of MMWD's infrastructure date back to the district's founding in 1912 and even earlier, replacing those aging facilities is critical to maintaining reliable water service. In addition, meeting increasingly more stringent water quality regulations means investing in other facility upgrades.
At the December 14 Finance Committee meeting the committee also approved the district's annual audit for the 2010-11 fiscal year. The audit was performed in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards and included tests necessary for the auditors to form an opinion regarding the district's financial statements. The report is provided in accordance with state law, which requires local agencies to have an annual audit performed by a qualified independent certified public accountant. The District received an unqualified opinion, the highest level possible, from independent auditors Caporricci & Larson, Inc. of San Francisco.
Click here for highlights of the 2011-12 budget.
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MMWD SUPPORTS COUNTY'S APPLICATION FOR FLOOD CONTROL FUNDING FOR ROSS VALLEY
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Earlier this year the Marin County Flood Control and Water Conservation District applied for Proposition 1E funding for flood control improvements in the Ross Valley. MMWD sent a letter to the State Department of Water Resources (DWR) stating the district's support for one of the program elements, the Phoenix Lake IRWM Retrofit Project. Once the funding has been approved, MMWD will work with the flood control district to determine the best means of expanding the benefits provided by Phoenix Lake from water supply, aquatic habitat and recreation to also include flood control for the Ross Valley.
The flood control district's application is for funding from Proposition 1E Integrated Regional Water Management Grant Program - Stormwater Flood Management Grant, Round 1, 2010-2011. Integrated Regional Water Management (IRWM) is a collaborative effort to manage all aspects of water resources in a region. For the Proposition 1E program, grants are awarded by a competitive process with each application being ranked according to the degree it meets the IRWM objectives. The Phoenix Lake Retrofit project is ranked fifth in the state out of 41 applications, 18 of which are being funded. DWR is expected to release an announcement regarding funding some time this month.
Click here for more information on flood control for the Ross Valley.
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EARLY FISH SPAWNING REPORT FOR LAGUNITAS CREEK
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There has been a brisk start to the coho salmon spawning season and here's a rundown of spawner survey observations since the beginning of the season:
- Spawner surveys in Lagunitas Creek found the first coho salmon redd (gravel nest) of the 2011-12 season on November 3, making it the earliest coho redd found in the creek since 2001.
- The following week MMWD's fisheries team observed 11 coho salmon and three new redds, more fish seen ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday since 2007.
- The week after Thanksgiving a total of 15 live coho and 23 new redds were observed in Lagunitas Creek and its tributaries, bringing the season total to 26 salmon and 26 redds. Again, a good sign-MMWD hasn't seen that many redds in November since 2001.
- There was little to report during the first week of December, however, with no significant rainfall since Thanksgiving.
- This week 27 coho were observed in pools in the creek waiting for the heavy rain they need in order to spawn.
These initial reports are certainly positive, but the recent dry spell has slowed things down and it's still too early to predict what final spawning run will be seen this year in Lagunitas Creek.
Peak coho salmon spawning time in Lagunitas Creek is typically mid-December, a day or two after a rainstorm. So, keep an eye on the weather and hope for rain.
Click here for more information about MMWD's fisheries program and spawning reports from previous years.
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| SAVE THE DATE: NBWA 2012 CONFERENCE ON FRIDAY, APRIL 13 | The North Bay Watershed Association is holding its biennial conference on Friday, April 13, 2012 at the Sheraton Petaluma. The theme is, "Climate Change: How Can We Be Ready?" The conference objective is to explore state, regional and local efforts to adapt to climate change including water supply, sea level rise, flood management and habitat. The keynote speaker is California State Assemblymember Jared Huffman.
Leaders in government, business, science and environmental organizations are encouraged to attend. Early bird registration (before January 31, 2012) is $70 per person and regular registration (starting February 1, 2012) is $80 per person. The conference begins at 8:30 am and concludes at 4:15 pm. The last hour is a wine tasting hosted by Jackson Family Wines. Registration also includes a continental breakfast and lunch. For more information visit the NBWA conference page.
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| NEW FROM THE BLOG | Check out these recent blog posts:
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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 colleagues and constituents. Thank you!
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