Local reservoirs already running low

While emerald green still dominates the undulating hills, the lush seasonal illusion hides a serious issue. The  reservoirs providing much of the water to Sonoma County are at historic lows.

LakeSonoma is holding just two thirds of what’s typical for mid-April. Lake Mendocino has less than half. Locally, the current drought is worse than any year in living memory or in the books.

Peter Martin is deputy director of water resources for Santa Rosa Water. He will help present a report to the Santa Rosa city council Tuesday, and he says conditions now are worse than, “The driest, single year on record, right now, which was 1976-1977.”    

Although Santa Rosa, and Sonoma County, have a lot more people than 45 years ago during the worst drought, conservation efforts have paid off.

 “We have actually been able to offset much of the population expansion and demand in the city through water use efficiency programs and of course smarter building as time goes on.”

Next month Sonoma Water is expected to request permission from state officials to reduce releases into the Russian River south of Healdsburg. That could harm endangered fish and other species, though officials may have few other options.

The last time that happened recreational fishing was halted entirely to reduce strain on fish. 

Jennifer Burke, the agency’s director, predicts restrictions on water use could come as soon as June or July.