Presentation to Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO)
View the presentation to Sonoma LAFCO on November 1. The powerpoint presentation includes background information, purpose, a map of the proposed district boundary, and proposed funding sources. Read it here.
Proposal to form an Alexander Valley Water District
This Proposal describes the efforts of the Russian River Property Owners Association (RRPOA), an organization of agricultural property landowners in Sonoma County’s Alexander Valley, to form a new water district to achieve water supply reliability and resilience in the face of the ongoing drought conditions, future limitations on water supply from Russian River summer flows derived from the Eel River inter-basin transfer at Potter Valley in Mendocino County, and impending State regulation of the local groundwater basins.
A new water district would be initiated by a petition to the Sonoma Local Agency Formation Commission, would be vetted at a public hearing and other public outreach, and would be created only if approved by a majority vote of landowners at an election.
What services would the Water District provide?
Unlike a city or county that can provide a wade variety of municipal services, a new Alexander Valley Water District (AVWD) would be authorized to provide only a handful of specific, limited services related to water supply and water management. The petitioners proposing formation of AVWD offer a vision for the services that the AVWD will provide at its inception in this administrative draft Plan for Services. The Plan describes each proposed service, a staffing plan, and expected sources of funding to pay for each service. The proposed core services are:
Water Sharing Program: establish and manage a water sharing program for the Alexander Valley in cooperation with and participation of other water agencies in the Russian River watershed.
New Eel River-Russian River Diversion Facility: negotiate with, and potentially be a member of, the new Regional Entity that proposes to own, construct and operate a new water diversion facility on the Eel River; administer any new water supply acquired for Alexander Valley water users. Follow this link to read studies on the Potter Valley Project.
Groundwater Investigation and Management: study the relationship between groundwater pumping, groundwater recharge and streamflow and the impact of reduced Eel River imports; prepare a groundwater sustainability plan if mandated by the Department of Water Resources.
Groundwater Recharge Program: construct and operate new water diversion and conveyance facilities, obtain water rights and regulatory approvals, and monitor and report performance of the program on behalf of landowners participating in the on-farm groundwater recharge program.