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Corte Madera, CA                                                                                                  February 2014
The Inside Source is produced by Marin Municipal Water District to inform local decision makers and opinion leaders on issues affecting Marin's water, people and environment.
Features
Operations Flex to Meet Needs
Past Improvements Reduced Drought Risk
Register Now for NBWA 2014 Conference
Spread the Word

MMWD Board of Directors 

Armando Quintero
President

Liza Crosse
Vice President 

Jack Gibson
Cynthia Koehler
Larry Russell

Regular meetings of the MMWD Board of Directors are held at 7:30 pm the first and third Tuesday of each month unless otherwise noted 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) 945-1455

Krishna Kumar
General Manager


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Upcoming Public Meetings
 
Tues., March 4, 7:30 pm
BOARD MEETING 
Board Room

Tues., March 18, 7:30 pm
BOARD MEETING 
Board Room
CONDITIONS IMPROVE, BUT DROUGHT STILL WITH US
In this, the shortest month of the year, it didn't take long for a concentrated series of heavy storms to significantly enhance our water supply picture. For four days starting Feb. 6, the first "pineapple express" storm system of the year brought nearly 15 inches of rain to the district's Lagunitas Creek watershed.

Phoenix, Lagunitas and Bon Tempe reservoirs filled to capacity and runoff into the district's other four reservoirs continued for a full week post-storm. Total reservoir storage increased more than 11,400 acre-feet,* or 27%, to 53,223 acre-feet by Feb. 17. This is 67% of total storage capacity and 78% of normal storage. Current rains will bring these numbers even higher.

While MMWD's water supply situation is vastly improved, the drought is still with us and certainly a serious issue in other parts of California. Governor Jerry Brown declared a statewide drought emergency in January and called for 20% voluntary cutbacks in water use by all Californians. The MMWD Board of Directors requested a 25% voluntary reduction.

This spring the board will reconsider water use restrictions based on April 1 storage. Given the improved reservoir levels, MWMD does not anticipate a need for mandatory restrictions. A voluntary reduction may still be needed for 2014, although the level could change. See our Drought 2014 Information page for more.

*One acre-foot is 325,851 gallons
CURRENT RESERVOIR LEVELS

Here are the current water statistics:

  • Reservoir Levels - As of January 31, reservoir storage is 42,127 acre-feet,* or 53% of capacity. The average for this date is 65,130 acre-feet, or 82% of capacity. Total capacity is 79,566 acre-feet.   
  • Rainfall - Rainfall this fiscal year to date (July 1-January 31) is 3.80 inches. Average for the same period is 29.87 inches.
  • Water Use - Water use for the week of January 20-26 averaged 21.1 million gallons per day, compared to 16.8 million gallons per day for the same week last year.      
  • Creek Releases - During the month of December 2013 MMWD released 439 million gallons, or a total of 1,346 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 agreements with the State of California.

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

 

*One acre-foot is 325,851 gallons.
DISTRICT EFFORTS TO ADDRESS DROUGHT BEGAN LAST SPRING
Because the dry period we have been experiencing actually began in spring 2013, we began taking steps then to prepare for the current dry period. In the past year, we modified our operations to preserve our limited supplies by taking the following actions:
  • Optimized use of Russian River water to preserve reservoir supply; 
  • Maximized use of Nicasio Reservoir, which fills faster than the other six reservoirs when it does rain;
  • Maximized use of recycled water for the 2013 irrigation season;
  • Re-instated rebates in 2013 for water-conserving toilets, clothes washers, and irrigation controllers;
  • Participated in the Sonoma-Marin Saving Water Partnership "20-Gallon Challenge" summer 2013 conservation outreach program;
  • Re-prioritized leak repairs on the district's water distribution system;
  • Canceled the 2014 annual water quality flushing of water distribution system;
  • Launched an expanded conservation outreach program in January 2014;
  • Used Phoenix Lake, a reserve reservoir, earlier this year;
  • Prepared to restart recycled water treatment plant early for the 2014 irrigation season. 
WATER SUPPLY MORE SECURE SINCE DROUGHT OF RECORD

Challenging as this year been, the district was better prepared for this year's unprecedented dry period than it would have been thanks to an increase in water supply since the historic drought of 1976-77. MMWD's total reservoir storage capacity today is 79,566 acre-feet, more than 50% higher than it was pre-1976 when it was 51,200 acre-feet.

 

Since the drought of record MMWD has implemented a number of water supply improvements, including:

  • The acquisition of supplemental supply from the Russian River in Sonoma County with multiple amendments to the contract over the years to improve the contract terms and to increase the quantity;
  • Construction of Soulajule Reservoir to increase storage capacity;
  • Construction of a recycled water treatment plant to reduce demand for potable water; enlarged the plant in the 1990s;
  • Expansion of the capacity at Kent Lake;
  • Implementation of an aggressive water conservation program beginning in 1993.

MMWD is continuing to explore long-term options to provide a more secure and reliable water supply into the future.

REGISTER NOW FOR NBWA 2014 CONFERENCE ON FRIDAY, APRIL 11
The North Bay Watershed Association is holding its biennial conference on Friday, April 11, 2014 at the Stone Tree Golf Club in Novato. The theme is, "Water Resources Management: What, Where and How." Keynote speakers include U.S. Representative Jared Huffman, California Department of Water Resources Director Mark Cowin and State Water Resources Control Board Chair Felicia Marcus. Water supply, integrated projects, and project funding are the panel discussion topics.

Leaders in government, business, science and environmental organizations are encouraged to attend. Registration is $95 per person. The conference is from 8:00 am to 4:30 pm, with a wine tasting for the last hour. Registration also includes a continental breakfast and lunch. For more information visit the NBWA website conference page.

NEW BLOG POSTS
Check out these recent posts from MMWD's blog, Think Blue Marin:
  • The latest Lagunitas Creek spawner update is good news! Read more here. 
  •  You can take steps to help your soil soak up rain when those precious drops do fall. Read more here.  
  • Interested in learning more about native grasses? Read this first post in a new 12-part series for some little-known but fascinating facts.
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
lpischel@marinwater.org
(415) 945-1421