State funds water projects in Sonoma County

By Brett Wilkison, The Press Democrat, 10/17/13

About $3 million in state grants have been tentatively awarded for six water management and conservation projects in Sonoma County.

The projects are among 32 in the Bay Area and along the North Coast that shared more than $25 million from state bond funds for water projects, the Sonoma County Water Agency said Wednesday.

Those in Sonoma County include:

• $202,000 for the county Water Agency's education and consumer incentive programs, including rebates for turf removal and irrigation controllers.
• $825,000 for flood control and restoration work on Capri Creek in Petaluma.
• $1.02 million to expand the pipeline network delivering recycled water in Sonoma Valley.
• $307,750 for the Gold Ridge Resource Conservation District for restoration efforts in the Green Valley and Dutch Bill creek watersheds.
• $259,000 for the Gualala River Watershed Council to reduce erosion from roads in the Lower Rockpile basin.
• $190,000 for the Fish Friendly Farming and Ranching programs in the Russian, Navarro and Gualala river watersheds.

The funds, overseen by state Department of Water Resources, are from Proposition 84, passed by voters in 2006 to support water quality, flood control and restoration efforts.

A final decision on the awards is expected next month.

About $3 million in state grants have been tentatively awarded for six water management and conservation projects in Sonoma County.

The projects are among 32 in the Bay Area and along the North Coast that shared more than $25 million from state bond funds for water projects, the Sonoma County Water Agency said Wednesday.

Those in Sonoma County include:

• $202,000 for the county Water Agency's education and consumer incentive programs, including rebates for turf removal and irrigation controllers.
• $825,000 for flood control and restoration work on Capri Creek in Petaluma.