Sonoma County Groundwater

08/31/2026

Our hyper-local management of groundwater in Sonoma County involves three separate agencies, overseeing three different groundwater basins, but together they have one, unified mission and coordinate their efforts, all working to ensure groundwater in these areas is protected and available for beneficial use by residents, farmers, businesses, plants and animals today, and for years to come.

08/10/2026

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.

Read about it and see more pictures here: https://petalumavalleygroundwater.org/from-lawn-to-learning-landscape-la-terceras-water-wise-schoolyard/

Daily Acts

08/06/2026

Groundwater may be out of sight, but it shoud not be out of mind. Groundwater is an essential natural resource for 43,000 people in Sonoma County every single day. And the rest of people who mainly get their water transmission from other sources, also rely on groundwater for a portion of total water supply. Plus the natural environment needs it, and agriculture, businesses and more. Let's all work together to project it for now and generations in the future!

08/05/2026

Petaluma Valley Groundwater Sustainability Plan Draft Periodic Evaluation Available for Public Review: July 21-August 24, 2026
A 30-day comment period as well as two public meetings (Advisory Committee and Board Meetings) provide the opportunity for stakeholders to provide comments on the report. Submit comments via email to [email protected]
Access the Draft Report here: https://petalumavalleygroundwater.org/periodicevaluation

Periodic Evaluation of the Groundwater Sustainability Plan The Petaluma Valley Groundwater Sustainability Agency is currently conducting a Periodic Evaluation of the Groundwater Sustainability Plan (GSP), as required by the State of California under the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA)....

08/05/2026

Good news! Valley of the Moon Water District, a member agency of the Sonoma Valley GSA, recently completed its Aquifer Storage and Recovery project. The project was funded by a $3 million Department of Water Resources state grant to improve local water reliability. Key aspects included drilling two feasibility locations, injecting surplus drinking water underground during wet periods, and recovering it during dry months. This is the kind of resilience our community is building for our shared, sustainable local water system future!

07/13/2026

The public is invited to review and comment on the First Periodic Evaluation Report for the Santa Rosa Plain Groundwater Sustainability Plan (GSP). Periodic Evaluations are required every five years to ensure that GSP remains current, effective, and aligned with the best available data and regulatory guidance.

Public participation is a key component of the Periodic Evaluation process. A 30-day comment period as well as two public meetings (Advisory Committee and Board Meetings) provide the opportunity for stakeholders to provide comments on the report.
July 13-August 17: The public is invited to submit comments during the month of July and August via email to [email protected]

Monday, Sept. 21, 3:00 – 5:00 PM: Discuss revisions and present revised draft at the GSA Advisory Committee Meeting, City of Santa Rosa Utilities Field Office, 35 Stony Point Road, Santa Rosa.

Thursday, Oct. 8, 1:00 – 3:30 PM: Final draft presented for Board approval, GSA Board of Directors Meeting, City of Santa Rosa Utilities Field Office, 35 Stony Point Road, Santa Rosa. Opportunity for public comment

Access documents for review here: https://santarosaplaingroundwater.org/periodicevaluation

Periodic Evaluation of the Groundwater Sustainability Plan The Santa Rosa Plain Groundwater Sustainability Agency is currently conducting a Periodic Evaluation of the Groundwater Sustainability Plan (GSP), as required by the State of California under the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA)...

06/23/2026

Restoring Soil Health and Groundwater Recharge in Sebastopol:
Mitchell purchased his 4-acre property in August 2020 and set out to transform the land from unproductive turf to a vibrant native landscape. Read more about this transformation! https://santarosaplaingroundwater.org/from-pasture-to-percolation-one-residents-effort-to-recharge-groundwater/

05/20/2026

Together, our community can safeguard our groundwater resources. The GSA is here to help manage, coordinate and lead those efforts forward, for all of us.

05/02/2026

Next weekend! What could be better than in inside look at some wonderful gardens? Enjoy! Register to get the detailed itinerary: https://www.savingwaterpartnership.org/eco-friendly-garden-tour/

¡El próximo fin de semana! ¿Qué mejor que poder visitar algunos jardines maravillosos? ¡Disfrútalo! Regístrate para recibir el itinerario detallado: https://www.savingwaterpartnership.org/eco-friendly-garden-tour/

04/28/2026

Permit Sonoma is now seeking to fill their seat on the Petaluma Groundwater Sustainability Agency Advisory Committee. Applications due May 1, 2026.

Interested in groundwater sustainability in the Petaluma Valley?

The Petaluma Valley Groundwater Sustainability Agency is accepting applications for its Advisory Committee. This is an opportunity to help guide groundwater planning, policies, and long-term sustainability efforts.

To apply, you must live or work in the Petaluma Valley, or represent an organization with a presence in the groundwater basin.

Apply by May 1, 2026.

Email your application to [email protected]

More Info: petalumavalleygroundwater.org

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¿Te interesa la sostenibilidad del agua subterránea en el Valle de Petaluma?

La Agencia de Sostenibilidad de Aguas Subterráneas del Valle de Petaluma está aceptando solicitudes para su Comité Asesor. Es una gran oportunidad para participar y ayudar a tomar decisiones sobre el futuro del agua en tu comunidad.
Para aplicar, debes vivir o trabajar en el Valle de Petaluma, o representar a una organización con presencia en la zona.
La fecha límite es el 1 de mayo de 2026.

Envía tu solicitud a: [email protected]

Mas informacion: petalumavalleygroundwater.org