To achieve and maintain sustainable groundwater conditions within the Sonoma Valley basin we need to look at both water supply augmentation and demand reduction. One of the demand reduction programs the Sonoma Valley GSA is implementing through SGM grant funding is a Water Use Efficiency Assessment and Pilot Program.
The goal of this program is to reduce groundwater user demands through:
- Completing a parcel-specific spatial analysis of crop and landscape types;
- Assessing existing groundwater demand for agricultural, industrial, commercial, and rural residential users;
- Performing targeted outreach to specific groundwater users; and
- Identifying specific measures that could increase water use efficiency.
In 2024, the GSA conducted an assessment of groundwater demand in the basin to improve the understanding of existing groundwater uses. You can view the results of this assessment in the Technical Memo.
The results of this assessment were used to develop a water use efficiency pilot program unique to the Sonoma Valley basin that prioritizes actions to reduce water demands for private well users. In 2025 the Well Aware Pilot Program was launched in Sonoma Valley. The program included four elements designed to reach various groundwater well users across the three Sonoma County GSAs: Petaluma Valley, Santa Rosa Plain, and Sonoma Valley.
The Well Aware Pilot Program created the following:
- Educational and Outreach Materials to encourage wise-water use
- Well Aware Toolkit offering an interactive resource designed to guide groundwater use decisions
- Consultations through local partners to provide site-specific water saving recommendations
- Demonstration Site to highlight water saving and groundwater recharge practices in action
To find more information or access the list of water-efficient resources, visit Well Aware | Sonoma Valley Groundwater Sustainability Agency.
The results of the Pilot Program and recommendations for future program expansion are captured within the Sonoma County GSAs Water Use Efficiency 2025 Pilot Program Report.