TIS_bnr_rocks_moss
Corte Madera, CA                                                                                                         April 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
MMWD Joins Climate Project
Flood Control Study Proceeds
New Invasive Plant Training Video Available
Spread the Word

MMWD Board of Directors 
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Upcoming Public Meetings
 

Tues., May 20, 7:30 pm
BOARD MEETING 
Board Room

RAINY SEASON ENDS WITH A SPLASH
Although rainfall this year is just 66% of average, we received sufficient amounts of rain in February and March to raise reservoir levels to near-normal levels. And we even got a half inch of rain in late April as a bonus.

As we enter the irrigation season, MMWD's water supply situation is much better than that of many parts of California. According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, conditions throughout the state range from moderate to exceptional drought. These conditions are quite evident in the dramatic photos of reservoirs and the Sierra snow pack on the home page of the California drought information website.

MMWD's request for a 25% voluntary reduction in water use is still in effect, although the Board of Directors will review this request at the end of May.

Here are the current water statistics:
  • Reservoir Levels - As of April 27, reservoir storage is 65,213 acre-feet,* or 82% of capacity. The average for this date is 72,152 acre-feet, or 91% of capacity. Total capacity is 79,566 acre-feet.   
  • Rainfall - Rainfall this fiscal year to date (July 1-April 27) is 33.22 inches. Average for the same period is 50.20 inches.
  • Water Use - Water use for the week of April 21-27 averaged 20 million gallons per day, compared to 27 million gallons per day for the same week last year.      
  • Creek Releases - During the month of March 2014 MMWD released 303 million gallons, or a total of 930 acre-feet, into Lagunitas and Walker creeks in west Marin.  

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

 

*One acre-foot is 325,851 gallons

MMWD SUPPORTS NORTH BAY ACTIONABLE CLIMATE ASSESSMENT
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.

PHOENIX LAKE FLOOD CONTROL PROJECT FEASIBILITY STUDY BEGUN
 
Phoenix Lake
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.

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.

'WATER SERVED ON REQUEST" TABLE TENTS FOR RESTAURANTS
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].


NEW BLOG POSTS
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.  

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