Thank you to all those that submitted comment letters protesting the reduction of flows to the Russian River this summer! We appreciate the time and effort you put into helping us ensure the long-term protection of our river!
As climate change affects our local environment and droughts become more extreme, we cannot keep doing business as normal in regards to how we use and manage our local water supply. This means putting a stop to Sonoma County Water Agency’s repeated practice of artificially reducing flows each year without taking any significant steps towards also reducing demand. To truly protect our water supply and ensure our storage is not unreasonably wasted, we have to collectively work together to reduce demand on our finite water supplies.
The negative effects that stem from reducing flow without simultaneously reducing demand can and should be prevented. Both the State Water Board and Sonoma County Water Agency have the power to make sure this happens by requiring mandatory conservation measures. Our public trust resources need to be protected and our water cannot continually be wasted or used unreasonably.
As climate change raises our temperature and makes periods of droughts and extreme heat more frequent, water conservation needs to be part of our California way of life. This means putting a stop to Sonoma County Water Agency’s repeated practice of artificially reducing flows each year without taking any significant steps towards also reducing demand. Thank you for responding to our Action Alert and speaking up for your river! Now we wait to hear if the State Water Resource Control Boards responds. Either way, the status quo can’t continue!