TIS bnr green water
Corte Madera, CA                                                                                                           July 2015
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
New, Bigger Rebates Available
Herbicides Removed from Watershed Plan
New Blog and Facebook Posts
Spread the Word

MMWD Board of Directors 
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Upcoming Public Meetings
 
Tues., July 21, 7:30 p.m. 
BOARD MEETING 
Board Room

 
Tues., Aug. 4, 7:30 p.m. 
BOARD MEETING 
Board Room

RAINFALL FOR YEAR ENDING JUNE 30 IS 39.82 INCHES
June 30, 2015 marked the official end of the most recent rainfall year. Between July 1, 2014 and June 30, 2015 MMWD received 39.82 inches of rain at Lake Lagunitas. While this figure is below the annual average of 52 inches, it is higher than the 33.40 inches we received the previous year.

The new rainfall year has already provided us with measurable rainfall, albeit a small amount, when we received 0.06 inches July 9 and 10.

Visit our Water Watch page for daily water use updates.
 

 

Here are the latest water statistics:
  • Reservoir Levels - As of July 17, reservoir storage is 65,369 acre-feet,* or 82% of capacity. The average for this date is 64,484 acre-feet, or 81% of capacity.   
  • Rainfall - Rainfall this year to date (July 1 - July 17, 2015) is 0.06 inches. Average for the same period is 0.0 inches; last year on this date we had 0.0 inches.
  • Water Use - Water use for the week ending July 16 averaged 23.27 million gallons per day, down from 28.98 million gallons per day for the same week last year.
*One acre-foot is 325,851 gallons

WATER USE DROPS 26% IN JUNE, SURPASSING 20% GOAL
June numbers show we are off to a good start in meeting the state conservation standards in response to the drought.

In the first official month of state water use cutbacks MMWD customers achieved a 26% water savings in June 2015 compared to June 2013. MMWD's state conservation standard is a 20% reduction in water use for the nine-month period June 2015 through February 2016. Customers used 2,108 acre-feet in June 2015 compared to 2,836 acre-feet in June 2013.*

On a statewide basis, the goal is a savings of 25% for June 2015 through February 2016 compared to 2013 use. The state's water use reduction standards for different communities vary from 8% to 36% depending on previous water conservation efforts. The more water saved earlier, the lower the number for each community.

For regular drought updates and information about specific water use prohibitions, visit marinwater.org/drought.

Thank you for conserving and keep up the good work!

*One acre-foot is 325,851 gallons 

NEW! $150 REBATES NOW AVAILABLE
Rebates: Get Paid to Save MMWD's rebates are now bigger! As of July 1, 2015, MMWD is offering up to $150 each for EPA WaterSense labeled high-efficiency toilets and up to $150 for an Energy Star Most Efficient clothes washer.

Older toilets can use 3.5 gallons per flush or more, while new high-efficiency models use 1.28 gallons or less-a savings of more than 50%. Similarly, old-school clothes washers can chug 30-40 gallons with every load, while many new high-efficiency models use less than half that.

The new, bigger rebates are thanks to $1.6 million in California Proposition 84 grant funding awarded to MMWD to support the district's conservation efforts. The grant is among more than $200 million in Proposition 84 grants awarded statewide to alleviate drought impacts and improve regional drought preparedness.

In addition to rebates, the $1.6 million will help MMWD fund other conservation projects. The state grant will cover between 60-75% of costs, depending on the project, with MMWD contributing the remaining funds. All of the projects align with the district's five-year strategic plan to improve water supply resiliency and promote water use efficiency. MMWD also continues to offer district-funded rebates up to $50 each for pool covers, hot water recirculating systems, organic mulch, laundry-to-landscape system components, and rain barrels.

For more information about all of MMWD's rebates, visit marinwater.org/rebates.  


MMWD REMOVES HERBICIDES FROM OPTIONS FOR USE ON MARIN WATERSHED LANDS
At the July 7, 2015 meeting of the MMWD Board of Directors, and in alignment with an existing ban on the use of herbicides that has been in effect since 2005, the board voted to remove herbicides from the list of potential options under consideration for the management of vegetation on watershed lands.

The change will be made in a draft plan, the Wildfire Prevention and Habitat Improvement Plan (WPHIP), which lays out a long-range plan for managing vegetation on 18,500 acres on Mt. Tamalpais and 2,750 acres in West Marin. The draft WPHIP, which has been in the environmental review process since 2013, had laid out two options. One relied on physical and mechanical methods to control non-native, invasive plants, and the other used all of the same methods of control but also included the limited use of herbicides.  

In other changes to the plan, the board also affirmed an increase in the level of manual weed control action and the addition of proposed forest management actions aimed at increasing carbon sequestration and water yield.  Later this summer the public will have the opportunity to comment on the revisions to the draft WPHIP and the changed scope of work in the revised environmental impact report.

MMWD has not used herbicides on watershed lands since 2005 pending the adoption of a long-range management plan and additional review and public input. Changed conditions in the intervening 10 years have resulted in the district's decision to remove chemicals from the proposed plan.

Specifically, during this time, MMWD has seen the following developments:
  • A significantly increased risk of catastrophic wildfire threats to the Mt Tamalpais Watershed due to a higher fuel load resulting from the spread of Sudden Oak Death (SOD) and the drought. The district needs to take action now to safeguard the communities that share a border with the watershed.
  • SOD and the drought also contributed to declining forest and grassland health. The spread of economically and ecologically disruptive invasive species has been exponential and requires action.
  • Recent public discourse within Marin County points to a growing apprehension towards exposure to herbicides.
Given the current conditions and concerns, MMWD has decided it is in the best interests of the district and the community to remove herbicides from further consideration so the district can expedite the completion of the WPHIP and the environmental review process.  

Read on for more information about the WPHIP.

NEW BLOG AND FACEBOOK POSTS
  • Many thanks to those who attended our Customer Appreciation Open House on June 27. Everyone had a great time and we look forward to seeing even more of you next year! Photos of the 2015 open house are posted on our Facebook page.
  • We are proud to report that our water continues to meet or surpass all state and federal drinking water standards. Our 2015 Annual Water Quality Report is now available in English and Spanish. Read on for more information.
  • Hot summer days in the garden require a slower pace, but there is still lots of activity. Read on for reflections from MMWD retiree Charlene Burgi.

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