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Corte Madera, CA                                                                                                     February 2016
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
Come to the NBWA Conference in April
New Rates Now in Effect
Open House at Historic Log Cabin
Spread the Word

MMWD Board of Directors 
Join Our Mailing List!
Upcoming Public Meetings
 
Tues., March 1, 7:30 p.m. 
BOARD MEETING   
Board Room

 
Tues., March 15, 7:30 p.m. 
BOARD MEETING 
Board Room

RESERVOIRS ABOVE AVERAGE IN SPITE OF DRY SPELL
Thanks to heavy rains in December and January, MMWD's reservoirs are still above average in spite of the warm, dry conditions in the first half of February. Additional rain is still welcome, however. The reservoirs have some capacity remaining and local waterways will benefit from any rainstorms that come our way in the next few months.  

Here are the latest water statistics:
  • Reservoir Levels - As of February 18, reservoir storage is 78,548 acre-feet,* or 99% of capacity. The average for this date is 68,518 acre-feet, or 86% of capacity.    
  • Rainfall - Rainfall this year to date (July 1, 2015 - February 18, 2016) is 32.99 inches. Average for the same period is 35.96 inches; last year on this date we had 36.85 inches.
  • Water Use - Water use for the week ending February 18 averaged 15.19 million gallons per day, slightly lower that last year when water use for the week was 15.49 million gallons per day.
  • Creek Releases - During the month of January 2016 MMWD released 176 million gallons, or 541 acre-feet, into Lagunitas and Walker creeks in west Marin for habitat enhancement.   
 Visit our Water Watch page for daily updates.

*One acre-foot is 325,851 gallons

WATER SAVINGS ON TRACK; STATE CUTBACKS EXTENDED
In January MMWD customers saved 12% compared to the same month in 2013, falling below our 20% target set by the state. Since water use is already much lower in winter, there is less room for customers to cut back, making it more challenging to reach our goal. The good news is cumulative savings for June 2015 - January 2016 is 20.7%, continuing to surpass our target.
 
Earlier this month, Governor Brown's executive order calling for statewide water use reductions was extended through October. This means the state will continue to require MMWD to reduce water use by 20%. In addition to being mandated by the state, conservation is common sense for MMWD customers: Even when full, our reservoirs hold only about a two-year supply of water, and we never know what the next rainfall year will bring.

Visit our drought information page for more drought news.

REGISTER NOW FOR 2016 NBWA CONFERENCE ON APRIL 22
Registration is now open for the 2016 North Bay Watershed Association
conference scheduled forNBWA logo Friday, April 22, in Napa at the Embassy Suites. The conference theme is "The Future of Water Is Now: Innovation, Integration, Adaptation." Keynote speakers are State Senator Lois Wolk and Assemblymember Marc Levine. The day-long conference includes panel presentations on preparing for extreme weather impacts, groundwater sustainability, expanding beyond traditional water sources, and examples of successful project integration.The program also includes a presentation by Lt. Col. John Morrow, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, San Francisco District, and talks from local high school students on the benefits of environmental education.

The conference fee of $95/person includes continental breakfast, lunch, and a post-conference wine tasting. Please register online here.

The conference is sponsored by the North Bay Watershed Association, a group of 16 public agencies in Marin, Sonoma, and Napa counties committed to regional approaches to watershed management.

NEW WATER RATES NOW IN EFFECT
New rates are in effect for water use as of January 1, 2016. The new rates will be reflected in water bills issued on or after March 1, 2016.

The new rate structure includes the following changes:
  • An increase in the bi-monthly fixed service charge based on meter size for all customers;
  • The establishment of a new bi-monthly watershed management fee based on meter size for all customers;
  • Adjustments to the tier rates for all customers.
MMWD has two discounted rate programs for qualifying low income or medically disabled customers: the Service Charge Waiver Program and the Medical Disability Discount. More information about both programs is available online.

This is MMWD's first rate increase since May 2012. The new rates are based on a 2015 cost-of-service analysis, an in-depth study conducted to ensure costs are allocated accurately and fairly among all customers.

An additional 4% increase across all water service rates, fees, and charges will go into effect May 1, 2016 and will be reflected in water bills issued on or after July 1, 2016 subject to board review in April 2016.

Visit our 2016 water rates page for more information.

PLEASE JOIN US! PHOENIX LAKE LOG CABIN OPEN HOUSE
Join MMWD and One Tam for a tour of the historic log cabin at Phoenix Lake and a discussion about the rehabilitation of this special site on Saturday, February 27, 10 a.m. - 12 p.m.
 
Built from local redwoods in the late 1800s, the log cabin may be the only structure of its kind remaining in Marin County. Once the home of the caretaker for the Porteous family ranch that once occupied these lands, the building has most recently served as a gathering and meeting place. Today, it is no longer in use and suffers from severe decay and insect damage. 
 
Please register for this event here. Additional details will be sent upon confirmation of attendance.  For more information, visit onetam.org.

NEW BLOG POSTS
  • Salvaged redwood logs from watershed are put to good use: fish habitat. Read on.
  • Take advantage of the unseasonably warm weather to prepare your garden for even warmer weather ahead. Read on.
  • A recent fish survey day in the creek for our aquatic ecologist also included a glimpse of a family of otters. Read on for a fish spawner update and a link to an otter video.

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 Manager
Marin Municipal Water District
[email protected]
(415) 945-1421