Water Use Efficiency Programs Archives - Sonoma County Groundwater Sustainability Agencies

Leading by Example: Water Sustainability at Sonoma State University

A Well Aware Case Study

Sustainability as a Core Practice

building Sonoma State University (SSU) is focused on campus sustainability including working to modernize water distribution systems, utilizing recycled water, and applying an ecological philosophy to landscaping all to help reduce the campus’s groundwater demand in the Santa Rosa Plain Subbasin. One example of this commitment to sustainability, is the pledge that all new construction will be LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Silver Plus certified. Stevenson Hall, the very first academic building constructed on campus in 1967 and the heart of the campus, was remodeled in 2023 to LEED Gold standards with high-efficiency devices and toilets and drought tolerant landscaping.

Water Saving Infrastructure Upgrades

two water tanks In 2019, the campus replaced two original 1960 concrete water tanks with steel tanks. The concrete water tanks were used to store 500,000 gallons of water on campus – storage critical for campus resiliency – but the tanks were leaking and lacking the capacity needed to provide reliable access to water for the growing campus population. SSU replaced the antiquated concrete tanks with three steel tanks with increased capacity to 850,000 gallons. The new tanks, along with upgraded distribution systems have increased the efficiency of the domestic water system and saved over 1,000,000 gallons on campus over the last seven years. In addition, the new tanks now drain evenly preventing water stagnation and water quality complaints.

Reusing Water in Multiple Ways

purple sign that says "Sonoma State University irrigates with reclaimed water conserving our groundwater resource do not drink" SSU has prioritized utilization of recycled water, also called reclaimed water, on campus for non-drinking water uses. Almost the entirety of the campus is irrigated by recycled water and the fire prevention system utilizes recycled water. In addition, SSU has several buildings that use recycled water for toilet and urinal flushing, saving thousands of gallons of groundwater reserved for potable uses.

Transforming SSU’s Landscaping Through Hands-On Learning

Water sustainability is prioritized in SSU’s outdoor spaces as well. In 2024, Christa Irwin, SSU’s Landscape Manager, transitioned from San Francisco Recreation and Parks Department (SF Rec and Parks) to SSU. While at SF Rec and Parks, Irwin had received training from Rescape, a Bay Area-based non-profit focusing on regenerative approaches to landscaping and providing training for landscaper certifications. Irwin felt these principles were valuable and practical for her work and brought them with her to SSU, pushing for a Rescape project at SSU that involved training for staff, students, and managers on regenerative landscape and construction processes. The training culminated in a hands-on 2025 landscaping project that involved students, staff, and local volunteers. The project included demolition of over 5,000 square feet of existing turf and plant material, replacing old irrigation systems with drip irrigation, planting California native and wildfire resistant plants, replanting 24 citrus trees with increased mulch, and creating a rain garden around a storm drain to encourage slow sinking of stormwater and reduce the actual amount of water flow into the drain.

Before, during sheet mulching, and after

lawn person carrying cardboard and cardboard on ground lupine flowers

The result was a native garden that is eye-catching and sustainable to local wildlife in the middle of campus. The Project made use of local sources of organic compost and biochar (charcoal created from eucalyptus removed from East Bay Regional Parks) to help nurture the new plants and trees. Irwin estimated that the project will help to save 240,000 gallons of water per year and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by between 120-450 tons of carbon dioxide over the life of the project. The project also helps to address flooding and ponding across campus and reduce the bank erosion along nearby Copeland Creek, protecting campus infrastructure and riparian habitat for creek wildlife.

Advice for Project Funding and Local Resources

fruit trees Funding for projects can be a challenge for universities with many other competing priorities for limited funds. Irwin mentioned that it was difficult to find low or no-cost resources for the project and that it required a lot of coordination and research. Overall, the project has been transformative for landscape management on campus. Associate Vice President of Facilities Operations and Planning, Dana Twedell, took part in the trainings and found the regenerative approach incredibly important, stating that he would never again go into another construction project without a Rescape Certified Landscape Architect as part of the project team. Rescape offers a directory of qualified professionals on their website, rescapeca.org, as well as information on the various trainings and workshops offered.

SSU shows that water sustainability can be prioritized not just by individuals, but also by institutions, and that individuals like Irwin can advocate for groundwater sustainability within those institutions. If you are interested in resources for how to implement groundwater savings practices at your home or business, the Well Aware Program was established to connect groundwater well users with practical tools and resources to help with groundwater management and sustainability. Visit the Sonoma County GSA’s website, wellawaretoolkit.org for resources on design and planting suggestions or find a Qualified Water Efficiency Landscaper (QWEL) to advise on watering sustainably.

—————

Groundwater is an important resource to Sonoma County residents, serving as a primary drinking water source for 43,000 residents within the Petaluma Valley, Santa Rosa Plain, and Sonoma Valley groundwater basins. The three Groundwater Sustainability Agencies (GSAs), Petaluma Valley, Santa Rosa Plain, and Sonoma Valley, were created to help sustainably manage groundwater by supporting groundwater users, seeking to reduce groundwater demand, increase water use efficiency, and improve groundwater recharge. As part of this effort, the Sonoma County GSAs are highlighting sustainable practices across groundwater user sectors to show all the ways that Sonoma County is pitching in to protect groundwater. Funding for this project has been provided in full or in part from The Budget Acts of 2021 and 2022 and through an agreement with the State Department of Water Resources.

From Lawn to Learning Landscape: La Tercera’s Water-Wise Schoolyard

A Well Aware Case Study

Lawn Conversion to Climate-Appropriate Landscaping

painted water tank surrounded by native plants In Petaluma, La Tercera Elementary School (La Tercera)’s recent schoolyard transformation shows how institutions are actively stepping up to preserve groundwater. Prior to the schoolyard transformation, La Tercera’s campus featured several large irrigated lawn areas woven between concrete walkways. In addition to the high water demand required to keep the lawn healthy, the uneven terrain made maintenance challenging. Staff had to carefully maneuver lawn mowers around the surrounding concrete edges, increasing time and effort. Maintenance became even more complicated during the school year, as staff needed to prevent students from walking across the lawns while equipment was in use—creating both logistical and safety challenges.

In the summer of 2024, the school decided to partner with Daily Acts to convert the lawn areas into climate-appropriate landscaping. Daily Acts, with support from the Conservation Corps North Bay, supplied the labor to remove the lawn, hand dig rain gardens, and install drip irrigation for the new plants.

Leading by Example

colorful mural with the words "la tercera" Overall, 10,625 square feet of lawn was converted, reducing the school’s water demand from roughly 302,000 gallons per year to 34,000 gallons per year, which is an 88% reduction in demand. In addition, rain tanks were installed to collect rainwater for hand-watering, with capacity to hold up to 8,000 gallons of rainwater. Additionally, mulch was laid to encourage better soil health and help retain more moisture for the new plants in the rain gardens. These improvements are estimated to help recharge 4,215 gallons per year to the Petaluma Valley Groundwater Basin. Using on-site flow meters, the school is able to actively monitor and verify its water savings, turning conservation goals into measurable results.

Student Community-Led Design and Planting

The campus community played an important role in shaping the project, with students, staff, and parents all providing design guidance throughout the initial stages of the project. Design discussions were held at a PTA meeting, during staff meetings, and through lessons with different grade levels. The new schoolyard reflects those design discussions, weaving water conservation education and stewardship into the landscaping. Students got to play a hands-on role in helping to install the new plants in the schoolyard as well as designing and painting art on each of the rain tanks. circle of tree stump seats

The design of the schoolyard itself mirrors a riparian zone, beginning at the transitional kindergarten (TK) and kindergarten classrooms where a rain garden is fed by overflow from the rain tank. When the garden reaches its holding capacity, it overflows into the storm drain to return to the local creek systems. The captured water in the tanks can be used to hand-water plants in spring and fall. Teachers use the garden as part of the curriculum, helping the students get interactive conservation education while learning about the local water systems. Old tree stumps were used to create an outdoor classroom.

Since La Tercera is a Science Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) school, the campus community wanted to actively participate in collaborative local conservation efforts to demonstrate the value of a conservation mindset to students and help prepare them to be future environmental stewards. The integration of the campus community into the design process and installation helped to ensure that the conversion was successful and well-supported by all involved.

Advice and Resources

boot on shovel in dirt Though the project was a success, it took some time to adjust to the initial transition from lawn to drought-tolerant landscaping. Principal Catherine Larkin advised that patience was key and that results are not immediate as it takes plants some time to establish themselves. The reward is a beautiful climate-appropriate landscape featuring native plants that reduces groundwater demand, increases local recharge, and supports conservation lessons for the students.

The project utilized support from several local programs to help fund and procure materials for the project. Daily Acts’ Land Resilience Partnership (dailyacts.org/lrp), a California Department of Water Resources funded drought-resilience program supporting small-scale projects including turf conversions, provided much of the funding for the project, reducing the cost burden on La Tercera school administrative budget. The City of Petaluma’s Mulch Madness program (cityofpetaluma.org/mulch-madness) covered the cost of the mulch that was laid as part of the project. Those outside the City of Petaluma can visit wellawaretoolkit.org to see similar resources that are offered throughout Sonoma County in addition to access to Qualified Water Efficient Landscape (QWEL) professionals, planning and technical assistance, and maintenance manuals. Additional resources for those looking to convert their lawns to drought-tolerant landscaping can be found through the California Water Efficiency Partnership’s (CalWEP) Nonfunctional Turf toolkit (nonfunctionalturfca.org).

wheelbarrow painted water tank

—————

Groundwater is an important resource to Sonoma County residents, serving as a primary drinking water source for 43,000 residents within the Petaluma Valley, Santa Rosa Plain, and Sonoma Valley groundwater basins. The three Groundwater Sustainability Agencies (GSAs), Petaluma Valley, Santa Rosa Plain, and Sonoma Valley, were created to help sustainably manage groundwater by supporting groundwater users, seeking to reduce groundwater demand, increase water use efficiency, and improve groundwater recharge. As part of this effort, the Sonoma County GSAs are highlighting sustainable practices across groundwater user sectors to show all the ways that Sonoma County is pitching in to protect groundwater. Funding for this project has been provided in full or in part from The Budget Acts of 2021 and 2022 and through an agreement with the State Department of Water Resources.

Data-Driven Irrigation Helps Sonoma Vineyard Conserve Groundwater

A Well Aware Case Study

Vineyard Management at Vadasz Family Vineyard

vineyard and pond Tyler Klick from Redwood Empire Vineyard Management (REVM) is taking a data-focused approach to analyze vine stress to apply the appropriate amount of water to winegrapes to conserve as much groundwater as possible at the Vadasz Family Vineyard within the Sonoma Valley Groundwater Subbasin.

REVM, a vineyard management company operating in Sonoma, Napa, and Marin Counties, provides services including planning and consulting, site/vineyard development, farming, vineyard evaluations, and harvesting. At the Vadasz Family Vineyard, REVM has been a part of the site operations since 1997, helping to develop the site and plant the initial crop of grapes. Groundwater is the primary water supply for irrigation on the property, where two wells feed a reservoir that is used to pump water out to the vineyard.

Vine Stress Monitoring and Management

Klick was an early adopter of a more data-focused approach to irrigation. This approach informs the Water Manager on the appropriate timing to begin irrigating grapes based on the cues from the plants, usually beginning as late as July. Historically, vineyards used a calendar-based approach for irrigation timing which assumes grape vines need water based on the warm season. The data-informed approach to irrigation monitors vine stress based on soil moisture levels, ambient and leaf temperature,

porometer in box

weather, location, shoot length, growth stage, porosity, and stress index. Some of the tools used to collect precise data include neutron probes to track soil moisture and a porometer to evaluate the size of a plant’s stomata, or tiny holes in the leaf. Both tools give clues on when a plant needs water.

To irrigate only vines that need water, the Vadasz Family Vineyard installed irrigation bypasses supplying water based on soil type and plant need. These irrigation bypasses allow for precise irrigation to vines that need water and skip vines that do not need water. By using the irrigation bypasses, there is an estimated 5% reduction in groundwater demand.

vineyard rows soil moisture detector

The benefits of precisely applying water are two-fold for vineyards:

Meet the exact needs of the plants to help safeguard the sustainability of the groundwater supply, using only what is needed.
Help to improve wine quality, ensuring high quality crops for winemakers.

Advice and Resources

Klick encourages others interested in implementing similar conservation measures to start measuring, collecting, and tracking data by using porometers, or other plant stress monitoring devices. By collecting this data and seeing when the plants are under water stress, you can determine when irrigation is truly needed throughout the year.

The data-focused approach to irrigation reduces groundwater demand by applying irrigation only when necessary. Being highly efficient not only benefits the wine quality but helps to conserve groundwater for all users within the basin and is a sustainable practice. The Sonoma County GSAs offer a directory of resources on the wellawaretoolkit.org website that can help connect agricultural groundwater users with more information on tools, technical assistance, and funding opportunities.

—————

Groundwater is an important resource to Sonoma County residents, serving as a primary drinking water source for 43,000 residents within the Petaluma Valley, Santa Rosa Plain, and Sonoma Valley groundwater basins. The three Groundwater Sustainability Agencies (GSAs), Petaluma Valley, Santa Rosa Plain, and Sonoma Valley, were created to help sustainably manage groundwater by supporting groundwater users, seeking to reduce groundwater demand, increase water use efficiency, and improve groundwater recharge. As part of this effort, the Sonoma County GSAs are highlighting sustainable practices across groundwater user sectors to show all the ways that Sonoma County is pitching in to protect groundwater. Funding for this project has been provided in full or in part from The Budget Acts of 2021 and 2022 and through an agreement with the State Department of Water Resources.

From Lifeless Lawn to Rain Garden: HOA Saves Water through Community Redesign

A Well Aware Case Study

Conversion of Lawn to Rain Gardens and Communal Space

The Martin Farms HOA in Petaluma took on the challenge to convert their irrigated lawn into a community rain garden, significantly reducing its water demand. The Martin Farms HOA community is built around the Martin Farmhouse, a 120-year-old farmhouse on the United States National Register of Historic Places and a Heritage Home of Petaluma. Developers built out 16 additional homes between 2008 and 2011 to create the Martin Farms HOA community.

Martin Farms HOA in 2024 and in 2026 after converting the lawn

Large house and dead grass Large house and garden

The Martin Farmhouse had about 3,500 square feet of lawn that was rarely used by residents. Eileen Abajian, the Secretary of the HOA, wanted to help transform the landscape into a more sustainable and functional space. In pursuit of this goal, Abajian signed up as a block captain for Cool Petaluma, a local program dedicated to addressing the effects of climate change by gathering neighborhood teams to lead collaborative projects. This role brought her in contact with local non-profit organization, Daily Acts, which supports drought resilience projects, such as turf conversion and rain garden installations. Abajian partnered with Daily Acts to begin designing a new landscape to replace the lawn, which had been using up to 19,340 gallons of water a month.

Since the lawn area was not regularly used or watered with the drought, the area was in rough shape with dead spots and hard packed adobe soil. Daily Acts worked with Abajian and The Water Folk, a local landscape architecture firm, to ensure the design captured the priorities of all the residents, which included a gathering space for the annual fireworks, an immersive walkway through the rain

Pathway in garden

garden, a social path for people experiencing homelessness to cross safely without affecting the landscape, and pollinator plants to encourage greater ecological benefits.

Converting the lawn took five days in late 2024 – turf was removed, sheet mulch was laid, and new climate-appropriate plants were planted. The rain garden flourished within a year of installation and reduced water demand by 70%. The conversion has improved soil health, leading to better recharge of water to the groundwater basin.

Lower Maintenance, Better Aesthetics and Added Community Building

Abajian commented that maintenance has become much easier, with no mowing and less leaf blowing, reducing nuisance noise and resulting in dramatic water savings.

Residents have begun a monthly “Weed and Wine” Day, where they gather for routine weeding and maintenance around the garden while enjoying refreshments. The conversion has aesthetically improved the property and provided a visual break from busy East Washington Street.

Advice and Resources

bee on flower While much of the project cost was covered by grants managed through Daily Acts and their Land Resilience Partnership Program (dailyacts.org/lrp), there were still

some costs that needed to be covered by the HOA. Many residents would not welcome any increases in fees, so Abajian had to be creative to help figure out where the funds could come from. Ultimately, the HOA’s reserve budget was tapped to fund the project at no additional cost to the residents and over time the energy and water savings and lower maintenance requirements will lead to cost savings for the residents. Abajian recommended that others in similar situations contact her to discuss how she navigated this process with her HOA management company. Abajian emphasizes that projects like this are important to exemplify that you can make a difference where you are.

The HOA also took advantage of the City of Petaluma’s Mulch Madness program (cityofpetaluma.org/mulch-madness) to cover the cost of the mulching materials. The program provides free sheet mulching materials (compost, cardboard, and mulch) and delivery of materials to support conversion to drought-tolerant mulched landscape.

The Sonoma County Groundwater Sustainability Agencies’ website, wellawaretoolkit.org provides links to a number of other local resources including landscape design templates, access to Qualified Water Efficient Landscape (QWEL) professionals, planning and technical assistance, and maintenance manuals. Abajian added that the Santa Rosa Tool Library (borrowtools.org) has been a great resource, allowing the HOA to mulch other parts of the community without needing to invest in a set of tools.

Complying with Regulations

path through garden

Beyond the dramatic water savings, the turf conversion positions the HOA ahead of the curve in complying with California Assembly Bill 1572 (AB 1572), which prohibits the use of potable water to irrigate nonfunctional turf that serves no recreational or community purpose. By January 1, 2029, all HOAs in California will be required to stop irrigating nonfunctional turf in their common areas with potable water. Resources for converting lawns to drought-tolerant landscaping, finding funding for projects, and understanding compliance timelines can be found through the California Water Efficiency Partnership’s (CalWEP) Nonfunctional Turf toolkit (nonfunctionalturfca.org). This proactive approach ensures long-term regulatory alignment while demonstrating environmental leadership.

—————

Groundwater is an important resource to Sonoma County residents, serving as a primary drinking water source for 43,000 residents within the Petaluma Valley, Santa Rosa Plain, and Sonoma Valley groundwater basins. The three Groundwater Sustainability Agencies (GSAs), Petaluma Valley, Santa Rosa Plain, and Sonoma Valley, were created to help sustainably manage groundwater by supporting groundwater users, seeking to reduce groundwater demand, increase water use efficiency, and improve groundwater recharge. As part of this effort, the Sonoma County GSAs are highlighting sustainable practices across groundwater user sectors to show all the ways that Sonoma County is pitching in to protect groundwater. Funding for this project has been provided in full or in part from The Budget Acts of 2021 and 2022 and through an agreement with the State Department of Water Resources.

a stream between two natural, planted bioswales on a rural property

From Pasture to Percolation: One Resident’s Effort to Recharge Groundwater

A Well Aware Case Study

The Connection Between Recharge and Rural Residents

a man squats and poses in his naturalistic landscaping Individual residents can play an important role in protecting and enhancing our precious groundwater supply. In Sebastopol, within the Santa Rosa Plain Groundwater Subbasin, Martin Mitchell is doing just that. Mitchell is restoring his property in an effort to revitalize the land, support the return of native species, and recharge the groundwater basin. Mitchell wants to show others the value of sustainable living through changes they can implement on their own properties.

Restoring Soil Health and Groundwater Recharge

Mitchell purchased his 4-acre property in August 2020 and set out to transform the land from unproductive turf to a vibrant native landscape. Prior to his purchase, the property was a depleted horse pasture, which often flooded and ran off down the sloped property due to the soil lacking organic matter, carbon, and the ability to retain water. Mitchell sought to improve the soil health first, rebuilding the top layer with wood chips and cardboard which also helped to recarbonize the soil. He estimates he has added 4,000 yards of chips or two million pounds of pure organic matter.

a stream between two natural, planted bioswales on a rural property In 2022, Mitchell began excavating to create bioswales, to collect stormwater runoff and help to recharge groundwater to the basin. Native plants made up much of the bioswales, including:

Douglas iris
Coyote brush
Coffeeberry
Sticky monkey flower
Pacific wax myrtle
Buckeye

These help to filter out pollutants in the water ensuring healthy water quality of the recharged water. His most productive bioswale, dubbed his “Quail Swale”, consists of several plants with fibrous root networks to filter contaminants and is about 70 feet long, three feet wide, and about three feet deep. In combination with his other two swales, they have a recharge potential of upwards of 50,000 gallons or more per year. He also has seen an increase of native animal species, including quail, weasels, killdeer, and frogs.

Leading by Example

a garden with orange poppies and other native plants Mitchell hopes to serve as an example, showing that individual residents can make a difference and be a vital part of a sustainable future. He wants to remind people to be mindful of what they are planting and how it affects the environment. Mitchell is hoping to make his property an educational center for others to visit and get inspired to make their own changes. Future projects include planting a native orchard on a yet to be used portion of his land, currently home to his flock of black belly sheep, who rebuild the soil by cycling nutrients and fertilizing the soil. He is constructing a no-emissions, off-grid, solar-powered multiple-purpose building with an ADU and a gray water system that will be fed from his laundry machine. Several other tanks on site can be filled with up to 300 gallons and used during droughts to reduce the burden on the groundwater basin. Mitchell is in the process of building a more permanent home, using shipping containers that will include solar panels to reduce his energy demands.

Advice and Resources

Mitchell’s work is great example of how to transform unproductive turf into spaces that not only help reduce outdoor water demands, but support groundwater recharge and help the Sonoma County GSAs achieve their sustainability goals. Mitchell advised those who are looking to make similar changes to seek people with expertise to help guide the process. While Mitchell’s educational background is in gardening, he felt that the guidance of a naturalist and working with Permaculture Artisans were hugely important to his success. The Sonoma County GSA’s website, wellawaretoolkit.org, offers several similar resources to help those looking to improve their landscapes, including design templates, best practice guides, and connecting with Qualified Water Efficient Landscaper (QWEL)-certified landscapers.

Groundwater Conservation and Recharge

Restoring soil health promotes plant growth and helps to recharge the groundwater basin by allowing more water to percolate to the basin. Creating bioswales featuring native plants help to filter the water of debris and pollutants so it drains down to the basin. Bioswales on the property will help to recharge thousands of gallons of water to the groundwater basin while adding a beautiful, native landscape. If creating swales is not an option, another way that landowners can slow rain runoff and reduce invasive weeds is by putting arborist chips on contours.

—————

Groundwater is an important resource to Sonoma County residents, serving as a primary drinking water source for 43,000 residents within the Petaluma Valley, Santa Rosa Plain, and Sonoma Valley groundwater basins. The three Groundwater Sustainability Agencies (GSAs), Petaluma Valley, Santa Rosa Plain, and Sonoma Valley, were created to help sustainably manage groundwater by supporting groundwater users, seeking to reduce groundwater demand, increase water use efficiency, and improve groundwater recharge. As part of this effort, the Sonoma County GSAs are highlighting sustainable practices across groundwater user sectors to show all the ways that Sonoma County is pitching in to protect groundwater. Funding for this project has been provided in full or in part from The Budget Acts of 2021 and 2022 and through an agreement with the State Department of Water Resources.

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.

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

Small plant with black irrigation line planted in dirt

Water Use Efficiency Assessment & Pilot in Santa Rosa Plain

To achieve and maintain sustainable groundwater conditions within the Santa Rosa Plain Subbasin we need to look at both water supply augmentation and demand reduction. One of the demand reduction programs the Santa Rosa Plain 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 Santa Rosa Plain basin that prioritizes actions to reduce water demands for private well users. In 2025 the Well Aware Pilot Program was launched in Santa Rosa Plain. 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 | Santa Rosa Plain 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.

Water Use Efficiency Assessment & Pilot in Petaluma Valley

To achieve and maintain sustainable groundwater conditions within the Petaluma Valley basin we need to look at both water supply augmentation and demand reduction. One of the demand reduction programs the Petaluma 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 Petaluma Valley basin that prioritizes actions to reduce water demands for private well users. In 2025 the Well Aware Pilot Program was launched in Petaluma 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 | Petaluma 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.