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Russian River Watershed Council

Full Council Meeting

May 19, 2007

Raven Theater, Healdsburg, California

Attendees: Peggy Maddock, Curtis Kendall, Brain Hines, Bob Clemens, Karen Rippey, Colleen Fernald, Bob Anderson, Rusty Klassen, Richard Miller, Bob Rawson, Scot Stegeman.

Approve Agenda of January 20, 2007 – Action Item

lack of a quorum - action item delayed

Approve Minutes of November 11, 2006 – Action Item

lack of a quorum - action item delayed

Agency Announcements – Discussion

No announcements

Community Announcements – Discussion

Russian River Cleanup the weekend of September 22/23, 2007

Officer Reports – Discussion

No reports

Meeting Format, Frequency and RRWC By-Laws Review

No action because of a lack of quorum

July RRWC Mendocino County Event

Numerous comments focused on water quality/quantity issues:

Dams: How are the discharge amounts determined? What are the different possibilities for precise control of outflow? What is the outlook for discharge ramping rates for fish and what are the technical issues/ability to achieve different rates? Explain the relationship/differences of natural verses managed systems? How would lower release volumes effect (increase) pollution?

Runoff: What are physical and chemical runoff percentages in the water courses?

Vegetation: What are the vegetation changes because of channel downcutting?

Fish: How would more water/less water increase or decrease salmonid production and increase/decrease predatory fish.

Awareness: What do we need to know as a community (decision making process with flows/river/future) and as regulator agencies from community, i.e. Section 7, water rights? How do people become involved to make a difference?

Suggestion to have event at Jericho Winery in Hopland.

RRWAMP BASELINE ASSESSMENT

Dan Smith, USACE ERDC

Divided the watershed into watershed assessment areas, approximately 1,800. CalWater 2.2.1 has not heterogenic borders to geological characteristics. The Baseline Assessment adopted a second order basis, a balance between reasonable landscape change and reasonable ability to handle data. Geomorphic change, landuse disturbance areas also determine watershed assessment area size. Russian River is a six order stream.

Indicators (more than 100 for assessing watershed conditions), for example: vegetation/land cover is a standard indicator, fire regime condition class, hydrograph, percent embeddedness, fish barriers, percent amphibian richness.

Plan of Action lists critical issues used as determining criteria. Knowledge Base includes a proposition which determines if the knowledge base is true or false. The indicator truth values are compiled and averaged to enable ranking. There are approximately 20 knowledge base to calculate WAA values

Indicators fold into secondary criteria to primary criteria.

EMDS will use tables created by Dan to create maps.

Task 2, Draft Management Plan, will provide management recommendations to use with indicators to determine the best method to improve watershed conditions.

RUSSIAN RIVER DISCHARGE PROPOSAL

Dan Schurman, Moderating

David Smith, City of Santa Rosa Consultant

Santa Rosa discharged about 600 million gallons last year. Threeto four thousand million gallonsper year were discharged before the Geyser Projectbegan operation in 2003. One thousand million gallons will berecycled as part of the Santa Rosa Urban Reuse Project. Other measures expected to reduce river discharge include conservation, ag reuse, and the Geysers. Potable waterdemand will bereduced by using recycled water instead of potable water for landscaping and other urban needs. Additional recycled water storage may be needed to provide additional recycled water for reuse and to help manage discharge for regulatory compliance. Five storage sites are being assessed. Draft EIRsfor the Discharge Compliance Project (DCP) and Seasonal Storage Project are scheduled to be circulated in August or September.

The City has a predictable amount of water it will produce each that the City intends to continue reusing. In addition to this predictable volume of recycled water, an unpredictable volume of recycled water is produced each winter in proportion to rainfall. The unpredictable volume of recycled water is discharged each winter between about December and April because the City cannot commit it to recycled water customers. The current discharge location does not comply with regulatory requirements. Therefore, the City is developing the DCP. DCP alternatives include adding reverse osmosis, cooling towers, increasing reuse and further decreasing discharge volume, and relocating the discharge from the Laguna to the River. Relocating the discharge is more expensive than keeping the discharge at Delta Pond. David presented a table that exhibitsthe amount of water discharged to the Russian River and the level of treatment by various communities.The data indicate that Santa Rosa reuses 90 percent of its recycled water (more than any other discharger) and discharges less than Ukiah.

Don McEnhill, Russian River Keeper

Discharge proposal would not dramatically impact flows. But with flow reductions (to enhance fisheries or reduced water supply from the Eel River), discharge would have a major effect. Total boron, seinimum, water temperature would be expected to go up. Last year with the higher than normal flows, nutrients were still a factor in water quality. Off West Soda Rock Road, the Russian River already has high algae growth. Pollutants from all cities including increase metal, endocrine disrupters (personal care products), plus other human pollutants. Endocrine disruptors have an impact at the macroinvertibrate levels. Not the same as past pollutants because a small amount could have a large effect.

The agricultural discharge is the most effective approach. Orange County cleaned up their system by applying reverse osmosis and injects the “cleaned” water into groundwater storage for future use.

River discharge will affect aquatic habitat because of the length of time of exposure verse human limits exposure. Agricultural reuse may affect human health more directly. Also, the sprays from frost protection may be having a major impact to macroclimates.

Dennis Murphy, Vineyard Owner/Manager

The City now views water as a valuable resource for all elements – river, groundwater, waste and reuse. Different flows protocols, for example 1610 permits, determine flow needs. Evaportransportation is a factor to be considered in any water supply sinerio. In Alexander Valley, approximately 17,000 acres are in vineyards. Each acre uses 1.5 acre feet per year. This equates to 22 to 40 cfs over the whole year for Alexander Valley. Reuse water would be used for irrigation/frost protection/summer cooling. Discharge is not allowed outside area. Lack of adequate water because of change in river flows and change in jurisdiction requirements. Reuse water may be cheaper. Static water pressure in Alexander Valley is 20 feet below the surface.

River discharge will affect aquatic habitat because of the length of time of exposure verse human limited exposure. Agricultural reuse may affect human health more directly including frost protection.

Bob Rawson, Graton Consultant

Santa Rosa is looking at infiltration and inflow. Cities continue to grow with leaking pipes. They compute rate of infiltration of 13.6 million gallons per day. With complete build out, an infiltration rate of 90 million gallons per day. Repair does no keep up to necessary maintenance. Inflow is added ground water into system putting additional load of waste water system. Infiltration is waste water flowing through ground. A bigger pipe solution is a false premise because pipes leak. Range of solution are neared with 80% of cost is in infrastructure system. City has 505 miles of gravity flow system with problems with privates hookups. Contaminants are released throughout system because of all the leakages. New construction could be IAI fees. Opportunity for clustering (shallower pipes, easier repairs). 50% of inflows come from private laterals. Inspection and repair should be repaired. This would eliminate need for project. Project is running in gravel areas which is a direct to ground water pollution. Reduce infiltration reduce pumping costs. Petroleum to pump effluents. Another savings is reducing the gravel for burying pipe. I disagree with Don in that agricultural reuse is a good idea as long as the water is clean.

Russian River Watershed Council	Full Council Meeting
May 19, 2007	Raven Theater, Healdsburg, California


Attendees: Peggy Maddock, Curtis Kendall, Brain Hines, Bob Clemens, Karen Rippey, Colleen Fernald, Bob Anderson, Rusty Klassen, Richard Miller, Bob Rawson, Scot Stegeman. Approve Agenda of January 20, 2007 – Action Item lack of a quorum - action item delayed Approve Minutes of November 11, 2006 – Action Item lack of a quorum - action item delayed Agency Announcements – Discussion No announcements Community Announcements – Discussion Russian River Cleanup the weekend of September 22/23, 2007 Officer Reports – Discussion No reports Meeting Format, Frequency and RRWC By-Laws Review No action because of a lack of quorum July RRWC Mendocino County Event Numerous comments focused on water quality/quantity issues: Dams: How are the discharge amounts determined? What are the different possibilities for precise control of outflow? What is the outlook for discharge ramping rates for fish and what are the technical issues/ability to achieve different rates? Explain the relationship/differences of natural verses managed systems? How would lower release volumes effect (increase) pollution? Runoff: What are physical and chemical runoff percentages in the water courses? Vegetation: What are the vegetation changes because of channel downcutting? Fish: How would more water/less water increase or decrease salmonid production and increase/decrease predatory fish. Awareness: What do we need to know as a community (decision making process with flows/river/future) and as regulator agencies from community, i.e. Section 7, water rights? How do people become involved to make a difference? Suggestion to have event at Jericho Winery in Hopland. RRWAMP BASELINE ASSESSMENT Dan Smith, USACE ERDC Divided the watershed into watershed assessment areas, approximately 1,800. CalWater 2.2.1 has not heterogenic borders to geological characteristics. The Baseline Assessment adopted a second order basis, a balance between reasonable landscape change and reasonable ability to handle data. Geomorphic change, landuse disturbance areas also determine watershed assessment area size. Russian River is a six order stream. Indicators (more than 100 for assessing watershed conditions), for example: vegetation/land cover is a standard indicator, fire regime condition class, hydrograph, percent embeddedness, fish barriers, percent amphibian richness. Plan of Action lists critical issues used as determining criteria. Knowledge Base includes a proposition which determines if the knowledge base is true or false. The indicator truth values are compiled and averaged to enable ranking. There are approximately 20 knowledge base to calculate WAA values Indicators fold into secondary criteria to primary criteria. EMDS will use tables created by Dan to create maps. Task 2, Draft Management Plan, will provide management recommendations to use with indicators to determine the best method to improve watershed conditions. RUSSIAN RIVER DISCHARGE PROPOSAL Dan Schurman, Moderating David Smith, City of Santa Rosa Consultant Santa Rosa discharged about 600 million gallons last year. Threeto four thousand million gallonsper year were discharged before the Geyser Projectbegan operation in 2003. One thousand million gallons will berecycled as part of the Santa Rosa Urban Reuse Project. Other measures expected to reduce river discharge include conservation, ag reuse, and the Geysers. Potable waterdemand will bereduced by using recycled water instead of potable water for landscaping and other urban needs. Additional recycled water storage may be needed to provide additional recycled water for reuse and to help manage discharge for regulatory compliance. Five storage sites are being assessed. Draft EIRsfor the Discharge Compliance Project (DCP) and Seasonal Storage Project are scheduled to be circulated in August or September. The City has a predictable amount of water it will produce each that the City intends to continue reusing. In addition to this predictable volume of recycled water, an unpredictable volume of recycled water is produced each winter in proportion to rainfall. The unpredictable volume of recycled water is discharged each winter between about December and April because the City cannot commit it to recycled water customers. The current discharge location does not comply with regulatory requirements. Therefore, the City is developing the DCP. DCP alternatives include adding reverse osmosis, cooling towers, increasing reuse and further decreasing discharge volume, and relocating the discharge from the Laguna to the River. Relocating the discharge is more expensive than keeping the discharge at Delta Pond. David presented a table that exhibitsthe amount of water discharged to the Russian River and the level of treatment by various communities.The data indicate that Santa Rosa reuses 90 percent of its recycled water (more than any other discharger) and discharges less than Ukiah. Don McEnhill, Russian River Keeper Discharge proposal would not dramatically impact flows. But with flow reductions (to enhance fisheries or reduced water supply from the Eel River), discharge would have a major effect. Total boron, seinimum, water temperature would be expected to go up. Last year with the higher than normal flows, nutrients were still a factor in water quality. Off West Soda Rock Road, the Russian River already has high algae growth. Pollutants from all cities including increase metal, endocrine disrupters (personal care products), plus other human pollutants. Endocrine disruptors have an impact at the macroinvertibrate levels. Not the same as past pollutants because a small amount could have a large effect. The agricultural discharge is the most effective approach. Orange County cleaned up their system by applying reverse osmosis and injects the “cleaned” water into groundwater storage for future use. River discharge will affect aquatic habitat because of the length of time of exposure verse human limits exposure. Agricultural reuse may affect human health more directly. Also, the sprays from frost protection may be having a major impact to macroclimates. Dennis Murphy, Vineyard Owner/Manager The City now views water as a valuable resource for all elements – river, groundwater, waste and reuse. Different flows protocols, for example 1610 permits, determine flow needs. Evaportransportation is a factor to be considered in any water supply sinerio. In Alexander Valley, approximately 17,000 acres are in vineyards. Each acre uses 1.5 acre feet per year. This equates to 22 to 40 cfs over the whole year for Alexander Valley. Reuse water would be used for irrigation/frost protection/summer cooling. Discharge is not allowed outside area. Lack of adequate water because of change in river flows and change in jurisdiction requirements. Reuse water may be cheaper. Static water pressure in Alexander Valley is 20 feet below the surface. River discharge will affect aquatic habitat because of the length of time of exposure verse human limited exposure. Agricultural reuse may affect human health more directly including frost protection. Bob Rawson, Graton Consultant Santa Rosa is looking at infiltration and inflow. Cities continue to grow with leaking pipes. They compute rate of infiltration of 13.6 million gallons per day. With complete build out, an infiltration rate of 90 million gallons per day. Repair does no keep up to necessary maintenance. Inflow is added ground water into system putting additional load of waste water system. Infiltration is waste water flowing through ground. A bigger pipe solution is a false premise because pipes leak. Range of solution are neared with 80% of cost is in infrastructure system. City has 505 miles of gravity flow system with problems with privates hookups. Contaminants are released throughout system because of all the leakages. New construction could be IAI fees. Opportunity for clustering (shallower pipes, easier repairs). 50% of inflows come from private laterals. Inspection and repair should be repaired. This would eliminate need for project. Project is running in gravel areas which is a direct to ground water pollution. Reduce infiltration reduce pumping costs. Petroleum to pump effluents. Another savings is reducing the gravel for burying pipe. I disagree with Don in that agricultural reuse is a good idea as long as the water is clean.