Resilient Infrastructure​

Summary of objective implementation status (achievements or progress over last year); significant delays or issues, etc.

• Objective 5.3 has significant alignment with Objective 5.1, which aims to “Develop partnerships with cities, tribal governments, and private organizations regarding flood protection and sustainability to identify gaps and address climate change impacts.” The Countywide Flood Risk Management (FRM) Assessment work being facilitated by Sonoma Water supports Objective 5.1 and will also serve to further inform potential next steps on Objective 3, which may be addressed through the report and partnerships coming out of 5.1, pending additional funding investment.
• As identified in the implementation plan for Objective 5.3, property-owner support is critical to securing a vote for a benefit assessment. The residents in the Upper Russian River watershed/Alexander Valley (4A) are the only property owners who have indicated interest in potentially pursuing a new self-imposed funding (e.g., assessment, tax, etc.) to fund flood protection projects. It is anticipated that those representing valley floor properties would be the most likely to benefit from and sufficiently justify a self assessment given the Proposition 218 challenges associated with allocation of flood-related benefits.  As such, much of the current focus of Objective 5.3 addresses advancement of flood risk related activities within the upper Russian River/Alexander Valley (4A) portion of the County.
• Following issuance of a Request for Qualifications (RFQ), Sonoma Water selected Environmental Science Associates (ESA) for the work related to the Russian River O&M Manual update. Additional funding was made available to allow ESA to also perform more in-depth studies to better understand existing and future flood risk and the hydrogeomorphic processes of the Russian River in the Alexander Valley region beyond the footprint of the O&M Manual update.  The additional work in the Alexander Valley will allow Sonoma Water to not only evaluate the various scenarios and the level of revisions needed for the O&M Manual, but also perform additional hydrogeomorphic evaluations to better understand the physical processes of the Russian River Alexander Valley reach and ultimately develop a list of opportunities and a range of potential actions.

Key milestone update (include relevant metrics, if applicable)

• After the RFQ for the O&M Manual update closed on 12/20/23, a panel of reviewers consisting of Sonoma Water staff were tasked with reviewing and evaluating the statement of qualifications submitted by the consultants. A total of four consultants were placed on a qualified list for work related to river and stream channel assessment and management services. In March 2024, Sonoma Water conducted panel interviews with consultants on the qualified list and selected Environmental Science Associates (ESA) for the O&M manual update project.
• In August 2024, Sonoma Water staff confirmed and secured funding for the Alexander Valley feasibility study from a portion of Water Security Funding authorized by the Board in 2023 for Alexander Valley Water and Natural Resource Management related purposes. Due to the many overlapping components in both the O&M manual update and the Alexander Valley feasibility study, Sonoma Water decided to combine the effort of both projects under one agreement with ESA. Sonoma Water is currently working with ESA to finalize the scope of work. The goal is to enter into an agreement with ESA and begin the work in the first quarter of 2025.

Coordination and partnership update

• The US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) is a key partner in the future update of the O&M Manual along with multiple other permitting/regulatory entities. Planning for stakeholder outreach coordination is commencing concurrent with the scoping of ESA’s services related to the O&M Manual Update and Feasibility Study.  Coordinated outreach with additional stakeholders having potential overlapping interests associated with other concurrent efforts (e.g. water resource and watershed resiliency planning for the upper Russian River) is being considered in the outreach planning. Additional partners and potential governance structures will also be considered for advancement of actions and opportunities identified as part of the broader Feasibility Study.
• Sonoma Water, along with its consultant Kerns and West, facilitated the Russian River Water Forum (RRWF) through May of 2024 using funds provided by Sonoma Water’s Water Contractors and the County of Sonoma. These funds have been expended and the work of the RRWF concluded.  Meeting notes and resources prepared by the various RRWF working groups can be accessed at its website www.russianriverwaterforum.org.

Community, equity and climate update

• One of the alternative scenarios for the O&M Manual update will incorporate future climate analysis to investigate the range of possible flood-related outcomes.
• The Alexander Valley feasibility study will hold meeting(s) and workshop(s) to present study findings and engage stakeholders in the community.

Funding narrative (If this objective received Strategic Plan funding in year 1 or year 2, please provide a status of expenditures to date.)

• No changes for O&M Manual: Last year’s update still holds true – Sonoma Water’s efforts associated with updating the O&M Manual could be funded through a re-establishment of the Coyote Valley Tax Override.
• Future funding needs are not yet identified to implement broader actions in the Alexander Valley identified in the Feasibility Study and outside the scope of the O&M Manual.