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Extracted from Consolidated Report
This investigation was originally published as part of a larger consolidated report containing multiple investigations. View the consolidated PDF for the complete document.
Sonoma County Grand Jury
• 2019-2020
Sonoma Valley Regional Water Resources Water for a Changing Future
⚠️ Translation Notice: This content has been automatically translated. The original English text is the official version. Translation may contain errors.
⚠️ Este contenido ha sido traducido automáticamente. El texto original en inglés es la versión oficial. La traducción puede contener errores.
Findings and Recommendations 8 findings
F1
The unilateral closure of the Sonoma Developmental Center water treatment plant has negatively impacted water agencies throughout the Valley and illustrates the need for a regional approach to water management.
No recommendations for this finding
F2
The Sonoma Developmental Center has chosen to purchase water from Sonoma Water, rather than continue treating local water for its supply, but the Restructured Agreement may give the Valley of the Moon Water District the right to replace Sonoma Water as the water supplier for the Sonoma Developmental Center.
Related Recommendations (1)
R1
Sonoma Water, the Valley of the Moon Water District, the City of Sonoma and Permit Sonoma work with California Department of General Services to seek an agreement, by October 31, 2020, that potable water storage facilities at Sonoma Developmental Center shall remain active and available for sharing water (F2)
F3
The SDC Specific Plan provides an opportunity for regional cooperation.
Related Recommendations (1)
R3
Sonoma Valley water agencies take an active role in the SDC Specific plan process, by September 30, 2020. (F3, F7)
F4
As the Sonoma County Local Agency Formation Commission’s presumptive water supplier for the site, the Valley of the Moon Water District could contract with the Department of General Services to operate and manage the existing water distribution system on the Sonoma Developmental Center site until the SDC Specific Plan is implemented.
No recommendations for this finding
F5
The City of Sonoma, the Valley of the Moon Water District, and Sonoma Developmental Center have common interests that warrant current and ongoing cooperation between and among them through formal and informal processes.
Related Recommendations (1)
R2
Permit Sonoma establish, by August 31, 2020, a continuing dialog with water system managers for the City of Sonoma, the Valley of the Moon Water District, and the Sonoma Developmental Center to inform the SDC Specific Plan. (F5, F8)
F6
Small private water districts in the Valley would also benefit from regional cooperation.
No recommendations for this finding
F7
Cooperation between regional water suppliers might include projects such as: wastewater collection and treatment, recycled water use, spreading basins for groundwater recharge and fire suppression.
Related Recommendations (1)
R3
Sonoma Valley water agencies take an active role in the SDC Specific plan process, by September 30, 2020. (F3, F7)
F8
The State of California encourages cooperative efforts among water supply agencies, including joint preparation of regional Urban Water Management Plans.
Related Recommendations (4)
R2
Permit Sonoma establish, by August 31, 2020, a continuing dialog with water system managers for the City of Sonoma, the Valley of the Moon Water District, and the Sonoma Developmental Center to inform the SDC Specific Plan. (F5, F8)
R4
Permit Sonoma communicate the results of the Water Supply Assessment to water system managers for the City of Sonoma and the Valley of the Moon Water District as soon as they become available. (F8)
R5
The City of Sonoma and the Valley of the Moon Water District establish a mutual aid agreement that provides for ongoing cooperation on planning, services, projects and such other collaborative efforts that they deem to be to be mutually beneficial (e.g., sharing of such resources as staff, equipment and emergency water), with a copy of the mutual aid agreement to be sent to the Grand Jury by December 31, 2020. (F8)
R6
The Valley of the Moon Water District and the City of Sonoma meet by October 31, 2020 to discuss the issuance of a regional 2020 Urban Water Management Plan rather than two separate ones. (F8)
Additional Recommendations 4
These recommendations are not explicitly linked to specific findings.
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R7DHS hire a CFO who is experienced in government finance and systems DHS and DHR The Recommendation has been implemented. The Grand Jury acknowledges that the Recommendation has been implemented.
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R8The County Auditor’s Office institute procedures for verifying actual revenue figures, rather than verifying that projected budgets balance,
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R9The Compliance Program be adequately funded and supported, by December 31, 2019 DHS
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R10We recommend the BOS review its budget oversight responsibilities
Conclusions 1
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CL1 Page 9Sonoma Valley will need to adopt a more regional approach to water management because of ongoing challenges such as population growth and climate change in the region. Water resources in the Valley are clearly limited; formalized agreements and efforts to share water supplies in an emergency should be equally valuable. Mutual aid agreements can also be applied to supplies, equipment and staffing. Cooperative efforts can extend to joint projects such as water conservation, groundwater recharge and distribution of reclaimed water, all of which are regional concerns. Sonoma Valley has had some notable successes in cooperating on water management such as the Sonoma Aqueduct, the Sonoma Valley Groundwater Sustainability Agency and the Regional Water Supply Resiliency Study. Now they are going to need to go beyond that due to future challenges. The need for potable water affects everyone in Sonoma Valley, especially during emergency conditions such as fire, earthquake, drought or flood. As conditions change and we need better ways to manage water, we must seek solutions through cooperation. To anticipate and prepare for tomorrow’s problems, Sonoma Valley needs a regional approach to managing regional water resources.
Agency Responses 1
Government agencies' official responses to this report's findings and recommendations. Click on a response to see the structured breakdown.
No Responses Found 3
Government entities assigned to respond to this report. No response documents have been linked in our database.