MMWD SUPPORTS NORTH BAY ACTIONABLE CLIMATE ASSESSMENT
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MMWD is one of several resource agencies in Sonoma, Marin, Napa, and Mendocino counties supporting a new climate assessment for the North Bay. The Sonoma County Regional Climate Protection Authority (RCPA), in participation with the North Bay Climate Adaptation Initiative (NBCAI), will develop a spatially explicit, regional vulnerability assessment for implementing climate adaptation strategies. The cost of the assessment is $200,000; the State Coastal Conservancy will fund $100,000; MMWD will contribute $30,000 toward the project; other North Bay agencies will provide additional funding. MMWD agreed to participate because the district will benefit from a regional effort to address the challenges presented by climate change including changes in temperature, water deficits, precipitation, runoff, water demand, and fire risk. More information about NBCAI is available here.
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PHOENIX LAKE FLOOD CONTROL PROJECT FEASIBILITY STUDY BEGUN
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| Phoenix Lake
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Members of the MMWD District Operations Committee (DOC) received an update at the DOC's April meeting from the County of Marin on the status of a proposal to use Phoenix Lake as a flood detention basin to provide flood protection for the Ross Valley. MMWD entered into a memorandum of understanding with the county in 2010 to study the concept. As initial steps in the project feasibility study, the county recently engaged a consultant to provide professional services for geotechnical studies of Phoenix Dam and to prepare a preliminary design. The feasibility study is projected to be completed within 18 months. The county is also in the process of selecting a consultant to complete the final engineering design, conduct environmental compliance, and handle permitting services necessary for the proposal to proceed. Click here for more information.
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MMWD LENDS EXPERTISE TO INVASIVE PLANT PREVENTION EFFORTS |
MMWD natural resources staff and native plant experts Janet Klein and Andrea Williams are two of the presenters in a new training video from the California Invasive Plant Council (Cal-IPC) called, "Best Management Practices for Preventing the Spread of Invasive Plants." The video is designed for both land managers and those who manage road or utility corridors, which can be pathways for the spread of invasive plants. The video summarizes key content from Cal-IPC manuals. In addition to MMWD, contributors to the video include the Sonoma Ecology Center, the California Department of Transportation, Yosemite National Park, Sacramento Municipal Utility District and the U.S. Bureau of Land Management. The video is available to order here for $10.
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'WATER SERVED ON REQUEST" TABLE TENTS FOR RESTAURANTS
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MMWD is offering free table tents to local restaurants to help them spread the word to their customers about serving water on request. Under the district's water conservation code, restaurants may serve drinking water only upon request. In response to the current drought, MMWD wants to remind restaurants about the code requirement, which was adopted by the MMWD Board of Directors in December 2009. The table tents make it easy for restaurants to inform their customers about this water-saving measure. To order, contact MMWD's Water Conservation Department at 415-945-1520 or [email protected].
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NEW BLOG POSTS
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Check out these recent posts from MMWD's blog, Think Blue Marin:
- Are you a budding botanist? If so, you'll want to read this month's post on goat grass. This post is the third installment of a 12-month series on grasses from MMWD Vegetation Ecologist Andrea Williams.
- Are you considering installing a hot water recirculating system in your home? MMWD Conservation Specialist Craig Lauridsen shares tips on how to do it in this post.
- The official Earth Day 2014 may have passed, but the Mt. Tamalpais Watershed is worthy of attention and appreciation year round. We thank volunteer Watershed Ambassador Paul Scott for this post about what makes the watershed special to him.
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WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU
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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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Libby Pischel, Public Information OfficerMarin Municipal Water District[email protected](415) 945-1421
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