[SCE] Russian River Tribs Conservation meetings

[Rue Furch]

Just in case you've not seen this information.  (thanks to Calif. Fish and Wildlife for the WRCB document and to the GR_RCD for the summary)

Spread the word.  We all want to know more about how to save our waters.

Have a great summer week, and a safe July 4th.
Rue


Russian River Tributaries
Water Conservation 
and Informational Order:  
Meetings


The State Water Resources Control Board (State Water Board) is scheduling five meeting opportunities during the week of July 6, 2015 to provide information on the Russian River Tributaries Emergency Regulation and hear from residents and businesses on additional steps that should be considered to help fish survive in this fourth year of dry conditions. A quorum of the State Water Board may be present at the meetings. However, no State Water Board action will be taken.

Date	Time	Location
July 6, 2015	6 - 9 pm	Salmon Creek School
1935 Bohemian Hwy
Occidental, CA 95464
July 7, 2015	6 - 9 pm
Healdsburg City Council Chambers
401 Grove Street
Healdsburg, CA 95448
July 8, 2015	6 - 9 pm
Forestville Fire Department
6554 Mirabel Road
Forestville, CA 95436
July 9, 2015	1 - 4 pm 
&
6 - 9 pm
North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board
5550 Skylane Blvd, Suite A
Santa Rosa, CA 95403

Interested parties that plan to attend a meeting are requested to RSVP at least 48 hours in advance to the Russian River email address: 
rr_tribs_emergency_reg at waterboards.ca.gov)
or Russian River Phone Hotline (916.322.8422).

Please provide your name and organization (if applicable). Note that providing your name and organization are optional.
The State Water Board is interested in other opportunities to provide information to those that may be affected by the Russian River Tributaries Emergency Regulation.  
Russian River Tributaries
Water Conservation 
and Informational Order:  
What does it mean?


It is important to note that the regulation is not in effect until the Office of Administrative Law (OAL) approves the regulation which is expected to be on or around July 3rd.  
 
What information will be required in the statement of use?
 The statement of use would be monthly estimates of use. For surface water diversions, or sub-surface diversions from underflow or underground streams flowing in known and definite channels, there is an official Statement of Diversion and Use required for pre-1914 and riparian claims (More info here). These diverters should have already filed an initial statement of use (unless they started this year) and some may have submitted use for 2014. Initial statements of use are due to the State Water Board by June 30. Diverters will not be required to re-submit information they have already filed with the State Water Board.
 
When will a fine start to be charged if paperwork is late?
The regulation allows for landowners to ask for additional time to submit information upon substantial compliance with the 30-day deadline and a showing of good cause. Failure to provide the requested information within 30 days or any additional time extension granted would be subject to a fine of up to $500/day for each day the violation continues
 
Who will be monitoring water use?
The State Water Resources Control Board will have staff in the field to monitor compliance with the water conservation measures. 
 
Will the information order be instated permanently?
The regulation and its provisions will expire 270 days after approval of the regulation by OAL.  The State Water Board may choose to re-adopt the regulation at that time if the state of emergency has not changed. 
 
What about Atascadero Creek?
The courtesy notification letter, dated June 9, 2015, was mailed to all landowners with parcels within or touching the watershed boundaries as we defined in the regulation.  The Green Valley Creek watershed includes Atascadero Creek as defined by the regulation.  All landowners within the watershed (including Atascadero Creek) will have to respond to any informational orders issued by the State Water Board.  The critical portion of the Green Valley Creek watershed does not include Atascadero Creek.  This means that those below the confluence of Green Valley Creek and Atascadero will not but subject to the enhanced water conservation measures immediately upon OAL adoption of the regulation, while those above the confluence would be required to immediately implement the enhanced water conservation measures.  However, the Deputy Director may extend the enhanced water conservation measures lower in the watershed at a later date in consultation with California Dept of Fish and Wildlife and National Marine Fisheries Service. 
 
Resources:
 Russian River Tributary Watershed Lookup Tool  
 
Question and Answer Page
(This page will be updated)

Background 
On June 17, 2015, the State Water Board approved the Emergency Enhanced Water Conservation and Additional Water User Information for the Protection of Specific Fisheries in Tributaries to the Russian River (Russian River Tributaries Emergency Regulation). (Cal. Code Regs., tit. 23, §876.) The emergency regulation is designed to provide a small amount of additional water in four tributaries to the Russian River to protect threatened and endangered fish. The emergency regulation affects about 13,000 properties in the watersheds of Dutch Bill Creek, Green Valley Creek, Mark West Creek and Mill Creek. The regulation would become effective upon approval by the Office of Administrative Law, which is anticipated to be on or about July 3, 2015. 

The emergency regulation consists of two elements: 
	• Enhanced water conservation measures for all users of water diverted from the four watersheds, including both surface water and groundwater; and 
	• Information order authority to allow the State Water Board to get information on surface water and groundwater use in the four watersheds. 

The enhanced mandatory water conservation measures build upon existing statewide water restrictions approved by the State Water Board on May 5, 2015, which apply to all Californians. These enhanced measures include a ban on watering for ornamental lawns, unless untreated rainwater or gray water is available for use; a limit to watering of all other landscaping to twice a week and only between the hours of 8 p.m. to 8 a.m.; a limit on car washing to commercial car washes that recirculate water; and a prohibition on the filling or refilling of decorative ponds and fountains. Boosting conservation efforts in the watersheds now will reduce the amount of water diverted from the four tributaries, leaving behind more water instream to protect Central California Coast runs of endangered Central California Coast (CCC) coho salmon and threatened CCC steelhead. Low flows in the tributaries have been a problem dating back before the current drought and extremely low flows since then have made the situation critical. The low flows or lack of flow cause high temperatures, low oxygen levels and isolated pools of water that can kill fish. 

The information order will require landowners and water suppliers to provide information on the sources and uses of both surface water and groundwater diverted from the watersheds. It will provide the State Water Board with critical information needed to estimate total water demand in the watersheds, and will help determine priority if curtailments become necessary. Groundwater is included in the order because the groundwater is connected to surface water flows in the Russian River watershed and is a significant factor in surface water flows. 

The goal of the meetings is to educate residents on the new requirements and answer questions about its implementation. Time will also be set aside to discuss potential long-term solutions to address the needs of the fish and other uses of water. 

Additional Information Per the regulation, notices and updates regarding the conservation measures and information orders will be provided by email and posting on the State Water Board’s webpage. To receive emails sign up for the “Russian River Tributaries Emergency Regulation” email list under the “Water Rights” section online at: http://www.waterboards.ca.gov/resources/email_subscriptions/swrcb_subscribe.shtml. 

Notices and updates related to implementation of the Russian River Tributaries Emergency Regulation will be posted to the State Water Board’s webpage at: http://www.waterboards.ca.gov/waterrights/water_issues/programs/drought/water_action_russianri ver.shtml.