To: Board of Directors, Sonoma County Water Agency
Department or Agency Name(s): Sonoma County Water Agency
Staff Name and Phone Number: Steve Hancock / 547-1988
Vote Requirement: Majority
Supervisorial District(s): First and Third Districts
Title:
Title
2020 Sonoma Water Flood Response Plan
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Recommended Action:
Recommended action
Adopt a resolution adopting Sonoma County Water Agency’s Flood Response Plan as required by Department of Water Resources’ Flood Emergency Response Projects grant program. (First and Third Districts)
end
Executive Summary:
In Sonoma County, multiple authorities have flood response obligations because many of the rivers and streams throughout the County cross multiple jurisdictions. However, primary responsibility for flood response within Sonoma County lies with the County of Sonoma and the nine incorporated cities therein. The Flood Response Plan presented for adoption today outlines the Sonoma County Water Agency’s (Sonoma Water) planned response to flood emergencies within the areas of Sonoma County where Sonoma Water has flood management obligations. If adopted by our Board of Directors, the plan will be a standalone document and distributed to the City of Santa Rosa and the Sonoma County Department of Emergency Management (DEM) for information and situational awareness.
The purpose of the plan is to provide information, policies, and procedures that will guide and assist Sonoma Water in efficiently preparing for and responding to flood emergencies. The plan addresses flood preparedness, regular on-going maintenance of stream channels, and other related subjects. When used in conjunction with other local emergency plans, this plan will facilitate multi-agency and multi-jurisdictional coordination, particularly among Sonoma Water, the County of Sonoma, local municipalities, special districts, and state and federal agencies in flood emergency operations.
Discussion:
HISTORY OF ITEM/BACKGROUND:
In August 2016, Sonoma Water’s General Manager was authorized to execute an agreement with the Marin County Flood Control & Water Conservation District to receive a pass through of regional Proposition 84 Flood Emergency Response Projects grant funding. The $85,000 grant to Sonoma Water funded activities that included developing a California Department of Water Resources-approved flood safety plan; coordinating and delivering regional training exercises on emergency management techniques and practices specific to flood response activities; and collecting storm/flood data for the Nathanson Creek area by installing and monitoring one weather gage. The weather gage was installed on October 15, 2016, and has been continuously collecting precipitation data at 10-minute intervals, measuring precipitation in hundredths of an inch. The Flood Response Plan has been prepared in conformance with Water Code section 9650, and consistent with AB 156 Guidelines. It was submitted to the Department of Water Resources for review on January 31, 2020, and was approved with no changes on June 10, 2020. Sonoma Water staff are developing a virtual training course curriculum and will make it available to regional partners to participate remotely in July 2020.
This item requests adoption of the Flood Response Plan prepared by and for Sonoma Water as required by California Department of Water Resources Flood Emergency Response Projects grant program.
SONOMA COUNTY WATER AGENCY’S FLOOD RESPONSE PLAN
The major storms, or atmospheric river type of events, that result in widespread North Bay flooding almost always impact Marin, Napa, and Sonoma Counties, collectively, due to the geography and how these large storms develop, grow, and move across the landscape. Sonoma Water is responsible for maintaining over 75 miles of streams throughout Sonoma County, and has numerous facilities to help reduce the risk of flooding, including Spring Lake, Matanzas Creek Reservoir, Piner Creek Reservoir (on Paulin Creek), Brush Creek Middle Fork Reservoir, and Spring Creek Reservoir.
This Flood Response Plan outlines the Sonoma Water’s planned response to flood emergencies within areas of Sonoma County where it has flood management obligations. The purpose of the plan is to provide information, policies, and procedures that will guide and assist Sonoma Water in efficiently responding to flood emergencies. The plan addresses flood preparedness, regular on-going maintenance of stream channels, and other related subjects. This plan allows implementation of the California Standardized Emergency Management System (SEMS). When used in conjunction with other local emergency plans, this plan will facilitate multi-agency and multi-jurisdictional coordination, particularly among Sonoma Water, the County of Sonoma, local municipalities, special districts, and state and federal agencies in flood emergency operations. Multiple entities have flood response obligations in Sonoma County, since many of the rivers and streams throughout Sonoma County cross multiple jurisdictions. However, primary responsibility for flood response within Sonoma County lies with the County of Sonoma and the nine incorporated cities.
PROJECT AREA COVERED BY THE PLAN
The project area for this Flood Response Plan includes the Central Sonoma Watershed Project. The Central Sonoma Watershed Project is a comprehensive flood management system for which Sonoma Water has authority. The Central Sonoma Watershed Project encompasses a total watershed area of 863,000 acres, located in eastern Santa Rosa. The principal flood protection facilities comprising the Central Sonoma Watershed Project were planned, designed and constructed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Soil Conservation Service (now called the Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS)) in partnership with Sonoma Water beginning in 1958. Additional components of this project were constructed over the ensuing 25 years. Project components included the construction of flood control structures and the straightening, shaping, and stabilization of waterways. The project alleviates flooding in the Santa Rosa urban area. The Central Sonoma Watershed Project includes five flood protection facilities that were built in the 1960s to reduce flooding in the Santa Rosa area. These facilities include:
1. Santa Rosa Creek Detention Reservoir (also known as Spring Lake)
2. Matanzas Creek Detention Reservoir
3. Piner Creek Detention Reservoir (on Paulin Creek)
4. Brush Creek Reservoir (Middle Fork)
5. Spring Creek Diversion Structure
6. Santa Rosa Creek Diversion Structure (Vortex Tube)
Sonoma Water’s plan addresses flood response activities for Sonoma Water’s flood control facilities located within the Central Sonoma Watershed Project, and will be coordinated with local government agencies, and the County of Sonoma’s Sheriff and Emergency Management departments. The Flood Response Plan will improve Sonoma Water’s ability to monitor and respond during major storm events. The plan also will provide valuable information to flood emergency first responders and partnering agencies during major storm events.
COORDINATION WITH LOCAL AND STATE EMERGENCY PLANS
In preparing the Flood Response Plan, Sonoma Water has incorporated relevant safety components of the Sonoma County Operational Area Emergency Operations Plan; considered the flood risk assessment contained in the Sonoma County Water Agency Local Hazard Mitigation Plan; reviewed the State Emergency Plan last updated October 1, 2017, by the California Office of Emergency Services; and has ensured that the Sonoma Water Flood Response Plan is well coordinated with the State Emergency Plan.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no fiscal impact related to adoption of Sonoma Water’s Flood Response Plan. The development of the plan was funded by the Department of Water Resources’ Proposition 84 Flood Emergency Response Program grant, and was budgeted under Sonoma Water’s General Fund account in fiscal years 2017-2018 and 2018-2019.
NEXT STEPS
The Sonoma Water Flood Response Plan includes the following actions:
1) Articulates Sonoma Water’s advisory role in regional flood responses with the Sonoma County Department of Emergency Management (DEM) and Operational Area Emergency Operations Center (OA EOC).
2) Identifies the emergency management organization to respond to a flood emergency affecting Sonoma Water’s critical infrastructure (water, wastewater, and flood protection facilities) and the associated local communities.
3) Identifies infrastructure to protect, and policies, responsibilities, and procedures to follow during a flood emergency.
4) Identifies operational concepts and procedures associated with field response to flood emergencies and the recovery process.
a. Adoption of the plan would promote public safety and the protection of property and structures. In addition, it meets the obligations of the grant agreement authorized in 2016.
Prior Board Actions:
08/09/2016: Authorized actions to implement the Proposition 84-funded Flood Emergency Response Projects grant from California Department of Water Resources
Fiscal Summary
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Narrative Explanation of Fiscal Impacts:
There is no fiscal impact related to adoption of Sonoma Water’s Flood Response Plan. The development of the plan was funded by the Department of Water Resources’ Proposition 84 Flood Emergency Response Program grant, and was budgeted under Sonoma Water’s General Fund account in fiscal years 2017-2018 and 2018-2019.
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Narrative Explanation of Staffing Impacts (If Required):
N/A
Attachments:
Resolution
Related Items “On File” with the Clerk of the Board:
Sonoma County Water Agency Flood Response Plan - June 2020