On July 25, Senior Program Manager Hannah Ake attended a field tour hosted by Sonoma County Water Agency, highlighting the critical role of water data in managing resources to meet diverse needs effectively.

Water Data for Habitat Restoration

Sonoma Water demonstrated how water data supports local habitat restoration and enhancement efforts. Attendees visited several active stream gauges, including the Russian River Jimtown gauge and the Dry Creek Yoakim Bridge gauge. Dry Creek is home to endangered coho salmon and threatened Chinook salmon and steelhead. Environmental staff from Sonoma Water pointed out various salmon habitat restoration sites along the creek. In partnership with private landowners, Sonoma Water built shallow salmon refuge sites in different areas along the creek and measured their success through long-term monitoring of individual salmon. They learned these refuge sites are critical to the species’ reproductive success, and the sheltered sites are frequently used under high-flow conditions.

Building Community Trust and Diverse Partnerships

Sonoma Water’s success in habitat restoration projects is rooted in its ability to build trust through local, federal, and, most importantly, private and community partnerships. These partnerships enable community members and private landowners (like wineries and farms), to contribute to local landscape restoration while helping Sonoma Water meet state and federal environmental goals. This collaborative approach ensures sustainable and effective water management, benefiting the environment and the community. By leveraging water data and fostering strong partnerships, Sonoma County Water Agency exemplifies how integrated efforts can lead to successful water management and environmental restoration projects.