Sonoma County Sustainable Groundwater Agencies
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QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER Q2 | 2025 |
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Challenges and potential solutions for two ‘Groundwater Sustainability Priority Areas’ presented at recent Sonoma Valley GSA community meeting |
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The Sonoma Valley Groundwater Sustainability Agency (GSA) has designated two new Groundwater Sustainability Priority Areas—El Verano and Eastside—in response to critical groundwater declines threatening long-term water reliability for homes, farms, and businesses in the region.
Despite 20 years of voluntary conservation efforts, groundwater is being extracted faster than it can naturally replenish. In the most severely impacted zones, levels in deep aquifers (greater than 200 feet) are dropping by up to eight feet per year, with some areas losing nearly 100 feet in just the last decade.
Understanding the Causes
The primary cause is over-pumping of deep aquifers, which recharge very slowly compared to the shallow aquifer.
Read more
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2024 Water Year Annual Reports provide a detailed status report on local groundwater conditions |
Our GSAs monitor, track and annually report on groundwater levels, storage and quality in their respective groundwater basins. The GSAs are also required to measure whether groundwater pumping is causing land subsidence, intrusion of seawater, and affecting creeks, streams and other surface water.
Each year the GSA must provide an Annual Report to comply with the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act. The Annual Report must include a snapshot of groundwater conditions from the previous water year (Oct. 1 - Sept. 30), a status report on the Groundwater Sustainability Plan project implementation, and an account of the basin’s progress towards meeting defined sustainability.
Learn about current groundwater conditions
These reports are available for review on our websites, each paired with a fact sheet that provides a brief overview of the findings at-a-glance. Find them at the links below:
santarosaplaingroundwater.org/annualreport
petalumavalleygroundwater.org/annualreport
sonomavalleygroundwater.org/annualreport
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Petaluma Valley groundwater benefitting from innovative collaboration |
The recently released 2024 Annual Report finds that Petaluma Valley’s groundwater levels have recovered from the most recent drought throughout most areas of the subbasin, and that continued improvements are possible as innovative new projects come online.
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Only three years into its implementation of a landmark 2022 groundwater management plan, the Petaluma Valley Groundwater Sustainability Agency is achieving its sustainability goals, according to a report released on April 1. The 2024 Petaluma Valley Annual Report shows that groundwater levels in both deep and shallow wells have remained steady over time. Additionally, there have been no signs of problems like poor water quality or seawater mixing into the groundwater.
“Like everywhere in California, Petaluma Valley’s groundwater is vulnerable during long droughts and to climate change,” said Sonoma County Supervisor David Rabbitt, who is chairman of the Petaluma Valley Groundwater Sustainability Agency. “The groundwater agency’s close collaboration with the city of Petaluma is a big step toward efficiently and cost-effectively climate-proofing our groundwater.”
One project is especially focused on basin resiliency to future droughts. The city of Petaluma recently constructed 1.2 miles of recycled water pipeline along Maria Drive on the east side of the city. State grant funding from the groundwater agency allowed the pipeline to be extended from Lucchesi Park to South McDowell Boulevard. The pipeline installation was paired with the complete reconstruction of the existing two-lane road, including the addition of new curb ramps, signalized crosswalks and traffic-calming measures.
Read more
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Aquifer storage and recovery projects underway |
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As California continues to face increasingly unpredictable weather patterns, water agencies across the state are seeking smarter, more resilient ways to manage our most precious resource. Here in Sonoma County, one innovative solution is gaining momentum: aquifer storage and recovery (ASR).
What Is Aquifer Storage and Recovery?
Aquifer storage and recovery, commonly known as ASR — or sometimes referred to as groundwater banking — is a forward-thinking water management approach that stores water underground during wet periods and recovers it for use during dry spells or emergencies.
Here’s how it works: During rainy seasons, high-quality drinking water from the Russian River is delivered through Sonoma Water’s aqueduct system and injected into deep underground aquifers through specially designed ASR wells. This water can then be safely stored for months or even years and pumped back up when it’s needed most — whether during a summer drought, multi-year dry conditions, or a natural disaster.
Read more
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4 Well Aware tips for your summer garden |
Summer weather is coming! Here are water-saving tips with resources for healthy plants and groundwater basins:
🌿Plant native, water-wise, fire-wise landscaping plants.
🌻Schedule a free Garden Sense consultation and have a Sonoma County Master Gardener help you find the right plants for your space.
💦Use the water more than once with graywater and rainwater systems to stretch your water resources.
🕗Water the wise way by using the Irrigation Scheduling Tool to take the guess work out of scheduling your irrigation timer.
💧 Water between midnight and 6 a.m. for less water loss due to evaporation and wind.
💧 Encourage strong roots through deep watering by scheduling your timer for two start times with shorter watering run times.
💧 Install drip irrigation or hand water with a shutoff nozzle to deliver water directly to plant roots.
💧 Check your irrigation timer batteries! Power outages can restart them causing them to go into water wasting default settings.
💧 Check regularly for leaks and broken heads which can waste gallons of water.
Check out the Well Aware webpage for more do-it-yourself guides and free resources.
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Level Up! well monitoring day made better with friends and neighbors! |
On a recent Saturday in late April an interested and concerned group of well users gathered to help with the water level measurement of one neighbor’s well and learn more about the state of the Petaluma Valley groundwater basin.
Sebastian Bertsch, Petaluma Valley GSA Advisory Committee member and Level Up! program volunteer facilitator for the day, explained the entire process of using the sonic measurement tool, how to sign up to borrow it for a free one-day check out, and he explained the benefits of creating a neighborhood group to work together and take our own measurements all on one day.” Amy, who attended the gathering to learn more about the process said, “The well measurement came first. It was easy and quick.” The water level was about 12 feet higher after the rainy season as compared with the last time they measured in October, an expected result revealing that the year’s precipitation helped recharge the aquifer.
Read more
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RESOURCES FOR GROUNDWATER USERS |
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Sonoma County Groundwater Level Data Dashboard |
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View current and historical groundwater levels across our county
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Groundwater Users Information Data Exchange (GUIDE) |
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The Groundwater Users Information Data Exchange or GUIDE program was developed to provide the GSA better information about groundwater use and to give you and other groundwater users an opportunity to view the available data about your parcel’s assumed groundwater use. Through the GUIDE program, you can view, correct, or confirm the data the GSA has assumed for your property by reviewing the steps below and completing the GUIDE survey or by calling the GUIDE information line at (707) 243-8555.
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MEETING LOCATION
Petaluma Community Center
320 N. McDowell BLVD
Petaluma, CA
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Advisory Committee Meetings
2025
Wed., May 28, 4:00 - 6:00 PM
Wed., Sept. 24, 4:00-6:00 PM
2026
Wed., Feb. 25, 4:00-6:00 PM
Wed., May 27, 4:00-6:00 PM
Board of Directors Meetings
2025
Thurs., Jun. 26, 4:00-6:00 PM
Thurs, Oct. 23, 4:00-6:00 PM
2026
Thurs., Jan. 22, 4:00-6:00 PM
Thurs., Mar. 26, 4:00-6:00 PM
Thurs., June 25, 4:00-6:00 PM
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MEETING LOCATION
City of Santa Rosa Utilities
Field Office
35 Stony Point Road
Santa Rosa, CA
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Advisory Committee Meetings
2025
Sept. 8, 3:00 - 5:30 PM
2026
Feb 9, 2026 3:00-5:30 PM
May 11, 2026, 3:00-5:30 PM
Board of Directors Meetings
2025
Jun. 12, 1:00 - 3:30 PM
Oct 9, 1:00 - 3:30 PM
2026
Jan 15, 1:00 - 3:30 PM
March 12, 1:00 - 3:30 PM
June 11, 1:00 - 3:30 PM
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MEETING LOCATION Valley of the Moon Water District
19039 Bay Street
Sonoma, CA
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Advisory Committee Meetings
2025
Tues., Sept. 16, 3:00-5:30 p.m.
Tues., Dec. 16, 3:00-5:30 p.m.
2026
Tues., Feb. 17, 3:00-5:30 PM
Tues., May 19, 3:00-5:30 PM
Board of Directors Meetings
2025
Mon., June 23, 4:00-6:00 p.m.
Mon., Oct. 27, 4:00-6:00 p.m.
2026
Mon., Jan. 26, 4:00-6:00 PM
Mon., Mar. 23, 4:00-6:00 PM
Mon., Jun. 22, 4:00-6:00 PM
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Message sent by Sonoma County Groundwater Sustainability Agencies at 2235 Mercury Way, Suite 105, Santa Rosa, CA, USA.
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