Many local community members serve as volunteers on our Advisory Committees, contributing their time and energy to the complex issues related to managing our groundwater basins. As we approach the end of the year, there are several members to acknowledge and thank for their commitment to serve and provide thoughtful feedback and guidance to our staff and governing boards. Thank you to David Long, in Santa Rosa Plain and Matt Stornetta in Sonoma Valley for representing agricultural interests, and to Craig Benson representing the City of Petaluma for Petaluma Valley GSA.
In Sonoma Valley, Fred Allenbach has been active in the GSA since the very beginning. He is moving out of the GSA zone, which means he can no longer serve in this area, but his hard work and dedication is something deserving of recognition. Recalling his years of service, Ann Dubay commented, “The ideal committee chair is thoughtful, well-prepared and passionate about whatever work the committee is doing. Fred checks all those boxes – and often goes the extra mile. For example, he’s the only committee chair (or member) I can remember who took a college-level seminar on the basics of groundwater so that he could be fully engaged and informed on groundwater issues. Sonoma’s loss is Santa Rosa’s gain.”
Petaluma Valley’s Advisory Committee benefited greatly from Rebecca Ng’s years of service and leadership. She started on the Advisory Committee in 2020, bringing an accomplished professional background in environmental health. Her leadership and skill helped this committee conduct thoughtful discussions and formulate informed recommendations for the board. We are grateful for her service and contributions.