Overview of the Russian River Watershed Association presented to North Bay Watershed Association

1. Overview of theRussian River Watershed Associationpresented to North Bay Watershed Association Virginia Porter, RRWA Executive Director February 4, 2011

2. Presentation Outline • RRWA Overview • RRWA Facts • Watershed Facts • RRWA’s Role in the Watershed • RRWA Structure • RRWA Programs • Stormwater • Wastewater • Water

3. Ukiah Cloverdale Healdsburg Windsor RRWA Facts • 9 Member Agencies • 7 cities • County of Sonoma • SCWA • Executive Director and staff contracted: Virginia Porter Consulting with RMC and ECON • Formed in 2003 Santa Rosa Rohnert Park Cotati

4. RRWA’s Mission RRWA is an association of local public agencies in the Russian River Watershed that have come together to coordinate regional programs for clean water, fisheries restoration and watershed enhancement.

5. Watershed Facts • 128 miles of Russian River + many tributaries • ~1,500 sq. miles in Sonoma & Mendocino Counties • Two major reservoirs • Connected to Eel River through Potter Valley Project • Home to ~400,000 people • Wide variety of land uses and habitats

6. RRWA’s Role in the Watershed • RRWA exists to serve the interests of our member agencies • RRWA meetings are open to the public • RRWA partners with other groups in the watershed

7. regional partners individual citizens regulatory agencies local non-profits RRWA’s Role in the Watershed

8. RRWA Structure • Board of Directors - member agency elected officials and managers • Technical Working Groups – member agency staff • Executive Director • Virginia Porter • RRWA staff • RMC – Phoebe Grow • ECON – Andy Rogers and Sara Lahnam • Administrative Agency - City of Ukiah • Annual Work Plan • Executive Director Services • General Benefit Projects • Special Benefit Projects • Budget – 100% from member agencies

9. RRWA Programs - Examples • Stormwater Awareness/NPDES Permit Support • Stormwater Training – Construction QSP/QSD • Residential Fats, Oils and Grease Control • Mercury Pollution Prevention • Safe Medicine Disposal • Trash Program • Russian River Friendly Landscape Guidelines • Liaison with Regional Board – TMDL, permits • Grants & Funding Support - IRWMP • Outreach and Education

10. Stormwater Awareness/NPDES Permit Support

11. RRWA Stormwater Training

12. Trash Program – Stormwater permit compliance

13. 2009 Storm Water and Watershed Awareness Survey • Baseline survey conducted in 2005 • Update and comparison to 2005 baseline survey • Provide statistically valid results • Unincorporated Sonoma County • Healdsburg • Windsor • Rohnert Park

14. Stormwater SurveyResearch Purpose & Objectives Three informational components • Resident behavior and knowledge • Car washing • Motor oil disposal • Applying yard fertilizer • Yard waste disposal • Dog waste disposal • Pool & spa maintenance • Resident knowledge ofwatershed area • Demographics

15. Regional Board Liaison • Quarterly meetings with RWQCB • RRWA Board and staff • RWQCB EO and staff • Regular attendance at meetings • Comment letters on permits and project • Collaboration with staff • Coordination on training and programs • QSP/QSD • Russian River-Friendly Landscape Guidelines

16. Comment Letters - Santa Rosa Urban Water Recycling

17. Comment Letters – Healdsburg Wastewater/Reclamation Permit • Letter submitted September 17, 2010 • Permit approved with some changes October 28, 2010

18. Russian River Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL)

20. Residential FOG Source Control #1 culprit in causing sanitarysewer overflows! Purpose: Targeted outreach to areas experiencing sanitary sewer overflows due to blockages caused by buildup of fats, oils and grease in the lines

21. Mercury Pollution Prevention • Presentation to student dental assistants at Santa Rosa Junior College • Coordination with SCWMA on Recycling Guide • Thermometer Exchange (over 1,500 collected!)

22. Safe Medicine Disposal • Pharmacy and law enforcement office drop-off locations for unused/unwanted medication • 30 drop off locations in the watershed • RRWA coordinates and promotes

23. Safe Medicine Disposal • Bus ads up in Sonoma Co. Transit buses • Radio ad campaign • Recycling guide feature

24. Russian River-Friendly Landscape Guidelines

25. RRFLG Launch Event – Nov. 16,2010

26. Board Meetings and Functions

27. Board Workshop Panel Presentation – Potter Valley Project – 9/2010 Panelists: • William Hearn - NMFS  • Jeffrey Jahn– NMFS • Don Seymour – SCWA • Paul Kubicek  – PG&E • Craig Geldard - PG&E • Janet Pauli – MCIWMP • David Keller – Friends of the Eel River • Guinness McFadden – Potter Valley farmer

28. Grants & Funding Support • North Coast IRWMP • MOMU Signatory • Hosted RR area project prioritization meeting • RRWA regional project development • Other funding source tracking

29. Outreach Material Bulk Order • Door hangers/grease scrapers • Stormdrain labels • Creek identification signs • Cost savings through bulk purchase

30. Outreach and Education • Environmental Column • Student Video Contest • RRWA Website • Sponsorship of clean-up events

31. Upper Russian River Cleanups

32. New Programs in FY 11-12 • Agricultural Recycled Water Irrigation Standards – with WateReuse and RWQCB • Laguna TMDL collaboration and comments • Watershed map page on web site – Google Maps based

33. Benefits of Association Approach • Sharing resources • Costs • Technical expertise • Staff • Regional consistency • Methods • Message • Watershed perspective • Expanded roll for each project

34. Thank you!

35. BACK-UP SLIDES