CARMEL J. ANGELO CONTACT INFORMATION Chief Executive Officer 501 Low Gap Road • Room 1010 Clerk of the Board Ukiah, California 95482 TELEPHONE: (707) 463-4221

FAX: (707) 463-7237 Email: [email protected] COUNTY OF MENDOCINO Web: www.co.mendocino.ca.us/bos BOARD OF SUPERVISORS

July 22, 2014

Sonoma County Water Agency Board of Directors 575 Administration Drive, Room 100 A Santa Rosa, CA 95403

RE: Releases from Lake Mendocino Coyote Valley Dam

Dear Chair Rabbitt and Directors,

The Mendocino County Board of Supervisors has taken action to engage with the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) regarding the Sonoma County Water Agency’s (SCWA) decision to not renew the Temporary Urgency Change Petition (TUCP) that expired on June 30, 2014. We are deeply concerned that Lake Mendocino will be de-watered by fall of this year. Because of cumulative inflow to Lake Pillsbury, an entirely separate body of water from Lake Mendocino and as dictated under Decision 1610, Lake Mendocino is currently being operated under “Dry” water supply conditions. This means releases of up to 150 CFS each day from Lake Mendocino despite the extreme drought our County and the rest of California is facing.

The Mendocino County Drought Ad Hoc Committee discussed this issue with the SWRCB Water Rights Division staff during a conference call on July 2. Staff indicated that only SCWA could process a TUCP to prevent significant depletions of Lake Mendocino. The SWRCB recommended the Russian River Flood Control District or the County of Mendocino to communicate with Sonoma County and urge a refiling of the TUCP.

The Russian River Flood Control District has communicated with two SCWA directors that such depletions in storage in Lake Mendocino will cause serious impacts to human health and welfare. Additionally, there is a concern that there will not be the needed flows for fishery protection in the Upper Russian River watershed in late fall if the current releases continue. The water impounded in Lake Mendocino is the sole water supply for communities in the Upper Russian River watershed above the confluence of Dry Creek where releases provide instream flows to the Lower Russian River. There has been no response to date from the SCWA Water Agency Directors to address these concerns.

The current average rate of 150 Cubic Feet per Second (CFS) being released per day from Lake Mendocino translates into almost 97 Million gallons per day that leave Mendocino County. That amount is enough to give our entire County population of 90,000 people a 3-week supply of water at 200 gallons per day per household. This is assuming a 4-person household and meeting the bare minimum health and hygiene needs of 50 gallons per person per day as recommended by the California State Water Resources Control Board.

THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS

CARRE BROWN JOHN MCCOWEN JOHN PINCHES DAN GJERDE DAN HAMBURG First District Second District Third District Fourth District Fifth District

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With the historic drought we are experiencing today, we are asking for the SWRCB’s intervention with respect to the present water releases under your control from Lake Mendocino. This request is based upon the newly adopted emergency regulations to prevent wasteful water practices by users and water agencies throughout the State.

Sincerely,

John Pinches, Chair

CC: Russian River Flood Control Mendocino County Inland Water and Power Commission Congressman Jared Huffman Assemblymember Wes Chesbro Senator Noreen Evans CA Secretary of Resources John Laird CA State Drought Task Force