SV-featured Archives - Sonoma County Groundwater Sustainability Agencies

Agriculture Groundwater User Survey Highlights Opportunities for Collaboration and Sustainability

Between August and December 2025, the GSAs conducted a joint survey of agricultural groundwater users to better understand priorities, concerns, and opportunities related to groundwater sustainability. The 21-question survey received 82 responses. Responses were well distributed across the basins: 46% from Santa Rosa Plain, 20.5% from Petaluma Valley, 17% from Sonoma Valley, and 22% marked ‘not applicable’.

Who Participated?

The majority of respondents (75%) identified as owners of agricultural property. Others included lessees (11.25%), agricultural support professionals (6.25%), staff of agricultural companies (3.75%), and representatives of governmental agencies or nonprofits working with agricultural operators (5%).

Farm sizes varied:

34% operate on less than 5 acres
23% farm between 10–50 acres
22% manage more than 50 acres
11% operate between 5–10 acres
10% selected not applicable

Agricultural production is diverse. Nearly half (45%) identified grapes or vineyards as a primary product. Other operations include specialty crops (31.25%), livestock/dairy/poultry (27.5%), orchards (18.75%), diversified agriculture (12.5%), and other uses such as native habitats, sheep wool fiber, hay, and grain (11.25%).

Ninety-two percent of respondents reported using groundwater.

Awareness and Engagement

Thirty-eight percent of respondents operate under a farm plan, certification, or permit program, including LandSmart, Fish Friendly Farming, and Certified California Sustainable Winegrowing. This presents a ready-made pathway for integrating groundwater sustainability actions into existing frameworks.

When asked whether they would support adding voluntary groundwater sustainability measures—such as monitoring or metering—into existing farm plans:

36% said yes
36% said no
27% were unsure

Preferred Strategies

Respondents clearly prioritized voluntary, incentive-based approaches over mandates.

Top-ranked strategies included:

Stormwater capture for groundwater recharge (clear #1)
Conservation and water-use efficiency incentives
Expanded recycled water availability

Mandatory metering—either basin-wide or for users pumping more than 2 acre-feet per year—consistently ranked near the bottom. Preferences skew toward voluntary metering or targeted metering in distressed areas. While a minority expressed opposition to any metering, privacy emerged as an important consideration; support increased when data would not be attributed to individual users.

What Motivates Action?

Key motivators for adopting groundwater sustainability practices include:

Better understanding of groundwater conditions on their property
Direct financial incentives
Cost savings, particularly reduced energy costs for pumping
Hands-on installation assistance
Practical, “how-to” education

With adequate support, respondents indicated strong willingness to implement:

Compost and mulch applications (66%)
Irrigation equipment upgrades (65%)
Cover crops (61%)
On-farm recharge projects (41%)
Consultations with technical experts (41%)

Barriers to Implementation

Participants identified several challenges to implementing new practices. Ranked from most significant to least, these include:

Cost of implementation
Fear of additional regulation
Permitting challenges
Concerns about sharing groundwater information with agencies
Limited capacity to implement changes
Perception that existing systems are already water efficient
Lack of technical knowledge
Time constraints
Lack of property ownership
Need for leadership approvals

Next Steps

Staff will continue analyzing the survey results alongside broader basin data to identify trends and actionable recommendations. A summary memorandum will be developed outlining key findings and potential next steps to inform future outreach, incentives, and program design.

The survey results underscore both the agricultural community’s strong interest in practical, incentive-based solutions and the opportunity to strengthen partnerships that support long-term groundwater sustainability across Sonoma County’s basins.

Recycled Water Expansion Project in Sonoma Valley Update

map of recycled water alternative extension in Sonoma Valley Planning is moving forward on a major recycled water expansion project in Sonoma Valley. This improvement will help reduce groundwater pumping in critically depleted areas while increasing long-term water supply reliability for local agricultural and irrigation users.

The project includes installation of approximately 2.5 miles of up to 12-inch diameter pipeline, along with associated valves, meters, and storage improvements. Three potential pipeline alignments are currently being evaluated. Once complete, the expansion is expected to offset an estimated 200 to 300 acre-feet per year (AFY) of groundwater pumping. Construction costs are projected to range from $5 million to $10 million.

Strengthening Sustainable Water Supplies

The majority of new recycled water supplies will be available during the winter months, making additional storage and conservation strategies essential to maximize year-round use. Updates to existing user allocations will also help increase availability and make the most efficient use of supplies.

By expanding recycled water use, the project will:

Reduce groundwater demand in critically depleted areas
Lower well pumping electrical costs
Improve water quality for some users compared to existing groundwater sources
Increase water supply resiliency through reliable allocation of available recycled water

Securing Partnerships and Funding

Securing user commitments is a key next step. Outreach is underway to potential recycled water users, with a focus on those who have higher water demand and on-site storage capacity. Template agreements and a frequently asked questions (FAQ) document are being developed to support these discussions. An informational meeting is planned for April, with support from the Sonoma Resource Conservation District (RCD).

Because multiple funding sources will be needed to complete the project, staff are pursuing several potential opportunities, including:

Future Proposition 4 SGMA funding through the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) Water Recycling Program
The Bureau of Reclamation Water SMART Program
Formation of an Enhanced Infrastructure Financing District
State Revolving Fund loans
Local assessments

As the project progresses, continued collaboration with landowners, agricultural partners, and community stakeholders will be critical. Expanding recycled water use is a practical, forward-looking step toward protecting Sonoma Valley’s groundwater resources and building long-term water resilience.

Spring Into Action and Be Well Aware

As warmer days approach, there’s no better time to think about how you use water on your property — and what you can do to protect the groundwater that you depend on.

graphic illustration of a high tech sprinkler system that uses wifi controls based on weather conditions The Well Aware program is here to help people with wells to do exactly that. Whether you want to understand your water use, check your system for leaks, or learn smarter ways to conserve, visit wellawaretoolkit.org to explore resources, tips, and tools tailored to your land and your well. This resource is perfect for everyone-from farms to residential wells to businesses; there is something practical for everyone in this resource.

Opportunities to get involved in March:

Plan your Spring Gardening Projects

The Well Aware Toolkit offers a collection of informational resources with year-round planting guides, food gardening with less water and smart plant choices for your landscape.

Fix-a-Leak Week is coming the third week of March. A single leaky faucet or fixture can waste thousands of gallons a year — and leaks in a well system can go undetected for even longer. Improve your home’s energy and water efficiency by checking out a Do it Yourself (DIY) Toolkit at your local Sonoma County Library branch. DIY Energy and Water Savings Toolkits include tools and information to perform home upgrade projects including weather stripping windows and doors, monitoring electrical usage, finding water leaks, and making homes more efficient with LED lightbulbs. Toolkits are available at all 12 Sonoma County Library regional branches and Sonoma County Library cardholders can check out the kits for up to 21 days.

Small actions add up. By staying informed and taking a few simple steps this spring, you can help preserve our shared groundwater supply for years to come. Start by visiting the wellawaretoolkit.org.

Sonoma County GSAs Launch New Online Well Aware Toolkit to Support Groundwater Sustainability

The Sonoma County Groundwater Sustainability Agencies (GSAs) are proud to announce the launch of the Well Aware Toolkit, a new online resource designed to help well owners and groundwater users make informed, sustainable water management decisions.

Funded by a grant from the California Department of Water Resources, the Well Aware Program was created to connect well users with practical tools and resources that promote groundwater sustainability. Water use efficiency is a critical part of the plan to protect local basins, and it depends on everyone being thoughtful about how they use water.

“Groundwater is a lifeline for Sonoma County, supporting homes, farms, and ecosystems,” said Bill Keene, Administrator for the Sonoma Valley GSA. “By using the Well Aware Toolkit, residents and businesses can take practical steps to ensure this vital resource remains available for generations to come.”

The new Well Aware Toolkit is an interactive resource that allows users located in the Petaluma Valley basin, Santa Rosa Plain subbasin, and Sonoma Valley subbasin to enter their own property address to find personalized water savings practices, funding opportunities for water conservation, and expert guidance tailored to the region.

The Well Aware Toolkit is now live and available to all groundwater users in Sonoma County.

Visit https://wellawaretoolkit.org to start saving water and protecting our shared resource.

About the Well Aware Program

The Well Aware Program is a free, voluntary initiative for groundwater users. Its goal is simple: provide easy access to resources that help protect groundwater for future generations.

About the Sonoma County Groundwater Sustainability Agencies

Sonoma County’s three GSAs were formed in 2017 for Petaluma Valley, Sonoma Valley and Santa Rosa Plain to implement California’s Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA). The agencies adopted their Groundwater Sustainability Plans in 2022, aiming to achieve basin-wide sustainability by 2042. The three GSAs are funded by a combination of groundwater user fees, county and city contributions, and most of its current projects and programs are funded through a major SGMA Implementation Grant from the State

Department of Water Resources.

Orientation to the LEVEL UP! Voluntary Well Level Monitoring Program

LEVEL UP! Informational Webinar

Recorded Thursday, September 11, 2025

Join the Sonoma County Groundwater Sustainability Agencies to help support sustainability in our local groundwater basins, and also know how the water levels in your own well fluctuate season-to-season and year-to-year. This community program is free, and we provide the tools and training for you to take the measurements in Spring (April) when the water levels tend to be highest and in Fall (October) when the water levels are usually lowest. This webinar walks through the details of this program and how to get your well enrolled and how to participate. With speakers from the Sonoma County GSAs, Sonoma Resource Conservation District, Gold Ridge Conservation District and Community Alliance with Family Farmers.

Helpful Links:

Sonoma County Groundwater Sustainability Agencies: sonomacountygroundwater.org
LEVEL UP! Program: sonomacountygroundwater.org/voluntary-monitoring
How to use the Sonic Water Level Measuring Tool 3-minute video: https://youtu.be/Rcov_zyPKCM?si=PEKyfHJISnUcgAJ2
Sonoma County Groundwater Data Dashboard: https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/ab2be3d4c3f245568478644cb90444e7/page/Homepage/

group of 6 farmers around table are holding a device they made from simple PVC materials at a workshop

Local Farmers Participate in Interactive ‘From Ground to Field: Know Your Water, Know Your Use’ Workshop

On a sunny and cool June afternoon, an eager group of 40+ people made up of local Sonoma County farmers and local agricultural organization representatives gathered at an orchard site for the workshop “From Ground to Field: Know Your Water, Know Your Use.”

a man in a plaid shirt holds a chart and explains something inside a barn building Hosted by the Community Alliance with Family Farmers (CAFF) in partnership with Sonoma Resource Conservation District (SRCD), Goldridge RCD, University of California Cooperative Extension, and the Sonoma County Groundwater Sustainability Agency (GSA), the event focused on getting small-scale farmers information on Sonoma County’s groundwater and sustainability plan while also zooming in on practical on-farm water efficiency management practices farmers could employ. It was a great mix of all things water, a topic that only increases in significance for California farmers every season.

Event organizer and CAFF’s Sonoma County Groundwater Community Engagement representative Reyna Yagi said the event aimed not just to help farmers understand the current groundwater challenges facing Sonoma County, but also to provide practical management strategies and technology that farmers could literally take home with them.

three people representing the local Groundwater Agency pose for a photo “Groundwater can be a complicated and heavy topic, especially with the state legislation, the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) in effect, but we want folks to have access to the people and resources that can help them navigate the sometimes murky waters. And just as importantly, we wanted these local organizations to hear directly from farmers as well as cross-pollinate with each other on the topic of groundwater and irrigation.”

The event took place at Laura’s Apples, an orchard in Sebastopol that has been navigating different irrigation hurdles and is using sensors to aid in her water management needs. To start off the workshop, participants were given a presentation on Sonoma County groundwater by Santa Rosa Plain GSA Administrator Andy Rodgers and GSA Plan Manager Marcus Trotta. They covered SGMA, groundwater use and conditions across the county, and the Sonoma County Groundwater Sustainability Plans. The GSA was awarded grant funding to administer various sustainability focused and educational programs, like the “Level Up”! well level monitoring program, “Flow Smart” flow meter program, and newer Well Aware water use efficiency (WUE) program. All these programs are free and aim to help users understand their well levels and use, identify leaks and contribute helpful data to understand overall groundwater sustainability.

After, participants broke up into smaller groups to rotate through three different presenter stations:

Keith Abeles, Soil and Water Specialist, Sonoma RCD: presented on increasing water-holding capacity in your soil to maximize water use efficiency, like building soil organic matter to increase soil health.
Ellie Andrews, Specialty Crops Advisor, UCCE: presented and live demonstrated stem water potential as one of the most accurate & reliable methods to assess tree water status. It is a direct measurement of tree water stress – telling you how thirsty your tree is.
Helaine Berris, Water and Soil Advisor, UCCE: Gave an intro to Cloud-Based Soil Moisture Monitoring. Using the technology sensor already installed on the farm property, Helaine walked participants through how the sensors worked, the set up, and how to interpret the data.

Participants took a brief break to enjoy fresh lemonade from Farmer Laura’s lemons before diving into the DIY activity for the day: make your own tensiometer. A tensiometer is a sensor that measures soil water tension as a proxy for soil moisture. It measures how tightly the water is held in the soil, reflecting the amount of force a plant must exert to extract that water for use. As soil dries, the soil water tension increases, and plants must use more force to extract it. Tensiometers are easy, accessible tools for agricultural water management, helping farmers to irrigate at optimal times, reduce overwatering, and reduce plant stress. The DIY sensor showcased to farmers a low-cost, easy tool they could make themselves and use right now.

“This workshop was a great opportunity to showcase a range of accessible tools for measuring soil moisture, from DIY tensiometers made with hardware store materials to cloud-based monitoring with instant data visualization. Each option has pros and cons in cost, data retrieval, and maintenance. My goal was to present these tools so farmers can decide what fits best for their operation’s water management needs” says Helaine.

A sold-out workshop and positive reception from farmer participants. Most farmed annual vegetable crops and/or orchard crops with interest and questions on appropriate and affordable water infrastructure and practices to retain soil moisture. This showed a thirst for these topics and a desire from our small farmers that they want more technical, accessible help navigating water management.

Reyna adds, “Our small farmers face many different hurdles in facing declining groundwater levels in Sonoma County. Many depend on shallow irrigation wells and generally lack access to means to dig deeper wells or truck in water in times of drought. Compounded by the fact a large portion don’t own their land makes investment in better water infrastructure challenging. But nonetheless many small Sonoma County farmers are committed to conservation practices and show a strong desire to keep improving water management.”

CAFF began partnering with the GSA in Summer of 2024 alongside other local partners as another outreach arm to network with the small and underrepresented farming community on GSA programs, resources and general help navigating. The GSA is working diligently to reach out to every type of user out there to get to know more about groundwater. Find your basin, free program information, and sign up for a helpful newsletter and more at www.sonomacountygroundwater.org.

Are you a farmer with questions on groundwater? Contact Reyna Yagi at CAFF: reyna@caff.org

This workshop was funded in part by the Department of Water Resource’s URCTA Program.

Photography credits: Lan Ngo

4 Well Aware tips for watering 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.

a man's hand holds a yellow rectangular device and measures well water level

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.

Those who attended represented six different wells, asked lots of questions and learned a bit about the history and geology of the basin. Participants were curious about ways to protect groundwater supply, too. Amy noted, “We talked about what we can do as property owners and well users to help with groundwater recharge, like building berms and swales to slow water runoff during the rainy season and capture rainwater in various ponds and basins.”

The group plans to work together in October and participate in Level Up! as a group to check out the measurement tool and measure the water in their wells on the same day – and then keep doing this on a voluntary basis in the future.

If you would like to gather neighbors in one of our GSA groundwater basins to learn more about organizing a group LEVEL UP! day, please reach out to us at the GSA to set something up!

Urgent Groundwater Action Needed in Sonoma Valley: New Priority Areas Identified

map of sonoma valley with two areas outlined in red 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. This imbalance is further intensified by:
• Low-permeability geological formations that hinder natural recharge.
• The Eastside Fault, which may act as a barrier to groundwater flow.
• The growing impacts of climate change, including more frequent droughts and fewer, more intense storms that reduce effective groundwater recharge.

“Groundwater declines are a serious and growing problem,” said Marcus Trotta, Principal Hydrogeologist at Sonoma Water and Plan Manager for the GSA. “It’s a decades-in-the-making issue that no single solution or agency can fix alone. We need everyone’s help.” The most immediate significant impact of declining groundwater levels is loss of capacity on shallower wells in these areas. Additionally, if continued, other impacts such as seawater intrusion, land subsidence, or direct effects to ecosystems may occur in the future.

Community Meeting Held on May 1

A public meeting was held on May 1 in Sonoma Valley, giving residents an opportunity to learn about the current challenges, review data, and ask questions about potential solutions. The meeting included a Resource Workshop with many local organizations offering information on how individual well owners can help address the groundwater situation. A recording of the meeting presentation is available online.

Sonoma County District 1 Supervisor and Sonoma Valley GSA Board of Directors Vice-Chair Rebecca Hermosillo emphasized the importance of community collaboration: “The May 1 meeting was an important step for our community to gather and learn about the groundwater challenges we’re facing. We must all work together to take action and protect our water supply for the future.”

Steps Toward a Sustainable Future

The GSA is actively pursuing a range of voluntary and potential future mandatory solutions, including:
• Recycled water pipelines to reduce irrigation demand on groundwater.
• Voluntary well metering programs like Flow Smart to help users track and manage usage.
• Water conservation incentives through programs like Well Aware.
• Long-term recharge projects, such as Aquifer Storage and Recovery (ASR) and seasonal stormwater capture.
• Potential policy tools under consideration including updated well permitting, mandatory metering (excluding typical rural residential users), and groundwater trading systems.

Residents, farmers, and businesses are encouraged to:
• Join the Level Up! program to help monitor their own well groundwater levels.
• Apply for a free Flow Smart meter, valued at $4,500–$6,000. (a limited number still available)
• Leverage resources, tools and strategies provided through the Well Aware program
• Stay engaged with GSA events and decisions.

a front yard garden with yellow and orange flowering native plants

Earth Day 2025: Growing a Sustainable Groundwater Supply

Each year, we welcome the rainy season to nourish our gardens. But when the rain fades, we rely on the water from the tap to keep them green and thriving. In Sonoma County, many turn to groundwater as their primary source once the skies dry up.

Groundwater forms as rainwater and surface water seep into the earth, filling tiny pores and cracks in underground rock formations. In Sonoma County, this vital resource sustains farmers, businesses and rural residents who rely on wells. The Sonoma County Groundwater Sustainability Agencies (GSAs) oversee groundwater management in the Petaluma Valley, Sonoma Valley and Santa Rosa Plain, ensuring their long-term sustainability. Collectively, these basins supply approximately 26,647 acre-feet—8.7 billion gallons—of groundwater annually. To secure a reliable supply for the next 50 years, the GSAs are implementing projects and programs outlined in their sustainability plans. Local groundwater users are encouraged to participate in these efforts through new initiatives designed to protect and sustain this shared resource.

Level Up!: Tracking seasonal fluctuations in groundwater supply levels

Level Up! is a voluntary groundwater monitoring program that empowers well owners to track their groundwater levels each spring and fall. This data is integrated into the Sonoma County Groundwater Data Dashboard alongside official monitoring well data, providing a clearer picture of seasonal groundwater availability. By participating, well owners contribute valuable information that helps the community better understand and manage this critical resource.

Flow Smart: Understanding the demand for groundwater across Sonoma County

While Level Up! helps track groundwater levels, Flow Smart empowers well owners to understand their water use. Unlike those who receive water from public providers, many groundwater users have little insight into their actual consumption. To change that, the GSAs are offering free flow meters to well owners in the three basins. These devices provide precise water usage data, helping users manage their well water more efficiently, detect leaks, and monitor well performance. Additionally, the data collected will enhance the GSAs’ understanding of local groundwater use, supporting long-term sustainability efforts.

Well Aware: Tools everyone can use for sustainable groundwater use

Well Aware is a new program that will provide tools for building local groundwater sustainability and water conservation via a series of workshops, materials and consultations. Keep an eye out for the launch of Well Aware later in 2025!

In the meantime, if you are interested in water-saving strategies for your home and garden, find practical tips online at SavingWaterPartnership.org, which offers a Water Smart Plant Picker program for plant selection and listings of qualified water efficient landscapers. ResilientLandscapesCoalition.org offers recommendations for resilient gardens that save water, protect us from fire and promote biodiversity, and the Sonoma County Master Gardeners, through University of California Cooperative Extension, offer a free consultation program called Garden Sense, providing customized water and plant advice.