TISbnr_salmon

Corte Madera, CA                                                                                                     February 2012
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
General Manager Departing
MMWD Proposes Rate Increase
MMWD and MCFCA Propose Fire Flow Fee Extension
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Public Meetings
 
Thurs., Mar. 1, 7:30 pm
BOARD MEETING
 
Board Room


Thurs., Mar. 15, 7:30 pm
BOARD MEETING
 
Board Room  


Thurs., Mar. 29, 6:30-8:00 pm
PROPOSED RATE INCREASE WORKSHOP 
Board Room  

LOW RAINFALL YEAR CONTINUES    

Rainfall continues to be well below average this winter, at less than half of average for this date. Reservoir levels, while below average, are higher than might be expected, thanks to last year's rainfall, which was heavy even into the summer months. Although on the low side, the reservoirs are not expected to reach drought levels this year. 

Here are the current water statistics:
  • Rainfall - Rainfall from July 1, 2011 to February 27, 2012  totals 18.45 inches. Average for the same period is 39.06 inches.      
  • Reservoir Levels - As of February 27, reservoir levels are 76 percent of capacity, or 60,772 acre-feet.* The average for this date is 88 percent (70,363 acre-feet).  
  • Water Use - Water use for the last seven days averaged 17.9 million gallons, higher than last year's average of 15.4 million gallons.  
  • Creek Releases - During the month of January 2012 MMWD released 547 million gallons, or a total of 1,679 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. We have released more water every month this winter than last to help make up for the lack of rain this year.   

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

 

*One acre-foot is 325,851 gallons.


  

MMWD GENERAL MANAGER STEPPING DOWN MARCH 1
MMWD General Manager Paul Helliker announced at the February 16 board meeting that he plans to step down from the general manager position effective March 1. MMWD Facilities and Watershed Division Manager Tom Cronin will serve as the district's acting general manager until longer term plans are made.
 
Starting March 2, Helliker will provide ongoing support to Cronin to assist in the transition. Starting June 12, Helliker will serve for six months as a contractor to MMWD to provide similar transition support. Board President Cynthia Koehler expressed her appreciation to Helliker for remaining available during the transition period. "We are fortunate that Paul will continue to work with MMWD, allowing us to benefit from his expertise and guidance over the next few months. I want to thank Paul for his exemplary service to this community and I wish him the best in his future endeavors," said Koehler.
 
Helliker joined MMWD as general manager in 2004. Under his tenure the district completed its largest scale Water Conservation Master Plan, established a "friends" group to support the Mt. Tamalpais Watershed and completed the Lagunitas Creek Restoration Plan, an intensive 10-year effort to improve Lagunitas creek for the benefit of coho salmon and steelhead trout.



  

MMWD PROPOSES 6-PERCENT RATE INCREASE
Customers and property owners in MWMD's service area will soon be receiving information in the mail from the district announcing two public hearings set for this spring. At the first hearing, scheduled for April 19, the MMWD Board of Directors will consider approving a proposed 6-percent rate increase. At the second hearing, on May 17, the board will consider approving an extension of the $75 per parcel annual fire flow fee (see article below for more information on the fire flow fee).

The rate increase, if approved, would apply to meter readings taken on or after May 1 and would be reflected in water bills issued on or after July 1. The average customer's bill would go up by a maximum of $5.63 per two-month billing period, increasing from $94.44 to $100.07, or slightly less than $3 per month.

Even though MMWD has cut costs considerably in each of the last three years, expenses are going up starting July 1. In addition, the district can no longer tap into reserves. Since 2006 MMWD has been spending down reserves to minimize the impact of higher costs on water rates; however, reserves are now at a minimum level and need to be restored to keep the balance from dropping lower and to fund current and future capital improvement projects.

MMWD is holding a public workshop on the rate increase proposal on Thursday, March 29, 6:30-8:00 pm.

The board proposed the rate increase at the February 16 board meeting. The original rate increase proposal was for 6.5 percent; the board reduced that to 6 percent at the meeting. 


MMWD PROPOSES EXTENSION OF FIRE FLOW FEE
At a public hearing scheduled for May 17 the MMWD Board of Directors will consider approving an extension of the $75 per parcel annual fire flow fee. The Fire Flow Fee is dedicated to capital improvement projects that improve the fire-fighting capacity of the district's water system. The fire flow fee funds raised since the program began in 1997 have supported the investment of approximately $70 million for the replacement of more than 60 miles of fire-flow deficient (undersized) pipelines, the installation of 750 hydrants and seismic retrofits of the water treatment plants, critical storage tanks and pump stations.

But there is still more to be done, which is why the Marin County Fire Chiefs Association (MCFCA) formally requested last November that MMWD extend the fire flow fee and program beyond 2012. The extension would allow MMWD to replace 12 miles of pipe from the original fire flow program that were not funded due to inflation and would also fund an additional 40 miles of fire-flow deficient pipes as well as other related projects. 

MMWD is holding a public workshop on the fire flow fee extension proposal on Thursday, April 26, 6:30-8:00 pm.

The board proposed the extension at the February 16 board meeting.  


SONOMA COUNTY WATER AGENCY OFFICIALLY DECLARES "DRY YEAR"

The Sonoma County Water Agency (SCWA) recently announced that the Russian River water supply condition changed from "normal" to "dry" on February 1 based on the agency's water rights permits and State Water Resource Control Board Decision 1610. According to that decision, issued in 1986, a water year is declared normal, dry, or critical on the first of each month between January and June based on cumulative inflow into Lake Pillsbury, located in Lake County on the Eel River.

 

This "dry" designation means SCWA can reduce flows in the Russian River to preserve water storage in Lake Mendocino so there is enough for all water users and for release in the fall to support the migration of Russian River Chinook salmon, listed as threatened on the Federal Endangered Species List.

 

SCWA's two water supply reservoirs, Lake Sonoma and Lake Mendocino, are the source of drinking water for more than 600,000 residents in portions of Sonoma and Marin counties, including MMWD. In a typical year, 25 percent of MMWD's water comes from the Russian River under a contract with SCWA. 

   


 

REGISTRATION NOW OPEN: 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. Registration 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 website.

 

NEW FROM THE BLOG
Check out these recent blog posts:
  • An early spring? What to do (click here).   
  • How is this drier than average winter affecting the fish in Lagunitas Creek (click here)? 
  • Tending your garden from 33,000 feet above (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 colleagues and constituents. Thank you!

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