In two areas of Sonoma Valley, groundwater is being pumped faster than it can naturally recover. The El Verano and Eastside Groundwater Sustainability Priority Areas have experienced declining water levels for over a decade, threatening residents, businesses, and farms that rely on wells. Despite voluntary conservation efforts over the past 20 years, the situation continues to worsen. Without immediate action, these communities may struggle to access sufficient water in the future. To address this, the Sonoma Valley Groundwater Sustainability Agency (GSA) is increasing oversight in these Priority Areas, implementing programs to monitor and reduce and offset groundwater use, supported by state grant funding for sustainability projects.
Residents and businesses must work together to reverse the trend of declining groundwater. Join the conversation at the Declining Groundwater in Sonoma Valley: What Can We Do? Community Meeting and Resource Workshop on May 1, from 5:30-7:00 p.m. Learn about local programs such as the Level Up! voluntary well monitoring program, Flow Smart voluntary flow-metering program, and Well Aware water-use efficiency initiative. Voluntary participation in these efforts can help delay or prevent the need for mandatory measures.
RSVP now and submit your questions in advance at http://qrco.de/SVGSAMay1.
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