Author: Senior Program Manager Sonya Milonova
During a visit to the Russian River watershed, our team, along with members of the State Water Resources Control Board’s (SWRCB) Telemetry Research Unit (TRU), met with local farmers to hear from them and gain a firsthand understanding of their water monitoring practices. The TRU is a collaborative team supported by the California Water Data Consortium, focused on advancing technical studies related to water telemetry. This visit was part of a larger effort to assess existing water monitoring networks, identify gaps, and design a telemetry field study tailored to the region’s needs.
Through collaboration, research, and trust-building, the Telemetered Water Monitoring Project exemplifies how state agencies and communities can work together to address California’s pressing water management challenges.
Members of the State Water Resources Control Board’s Telemetry Research Unit, the California Water Data Consortium, and Sonoma County Water Agency stopped at Lake Sonoma during a visit to the Russian River watershed. Photo credit: Cynthia de la Fuente
Listening to the Challenges on the Ground
As we visited various farms, we saw how water is diverted from the Russian River and monitored with flow meters. Farmers described the obstacles they face, like failing and hard-to-maintain meters that sometimes record inaccurate readings. When meters fail, farmers may “lose data without realizing it until the next time someone comes out.” Many farmers juggle dozens of meters across multiple sites, making maintenance and calibration an ongoing struggle.
Another common frustration is the complexity of reporting requirements. One farmer, who manages five “colors” of water—a term for describing different water rights and sources, such as groundwater and recycled water—highlighted how time-intensive annual reporting can be. Time spent managing water monitoring and reporting efforts often detract from the essential work of farming.
A TRU staff member examines a meter on an underflow well near the Russian River. Photo credit: Sonya Milonova
Telemetry Opportunities and Questions
Some farmers acknowledged that telemetry offers significant potential benefits, like reducing manual data collection and providing real-time alerts for meter malfunctions. This technology could help them streamline reporting and improve decision-making by providing near real-time data. However, concerns remain about costs, data reliability, and whether telemetry might lead to more regulation and enforcement. Others question whether telemetry, on its own, can fully address the range of challenges they encounter.
A Region in Transition
The Russian River watershed is undergoing significant changes, including the decommissioning of the Potter Valley Project and the removal of dams. These shifts will disrupt the diversion of Eel River water to the Russian River, making accurate water monitoring more critical than ever. As a senior manager from the Sonoma County Water Agency aptly puts it, “We will need to know where every water molecule is.”
The TRU’s Telemetry Study: A Collaborative Solution
The TRU’s Telemetry Study, running from 2025-2027 and supported by the Consortium, aims to establish best practices for telemetered water monitoring networks. This research initiative seeks to generate consistent, reliable, usable, and interoperable data at the watershed scale, providing local decisionmakers and the SWCRB with insights into the costs and trade-offs of various approaches.
The TRU and the Consortium are both prioritizing collaboration with local communities, ensuring the Telemetry Study addresses real-world challenges without imposing undue burdens. Farmers and organizations who participate in the voluntary program will receive new telemetered water monitoring equipment, free maintenance during the study period, and assistance with configuring their systems for potential integration with state data reporting systems.
A TRU staff member takes notes at a diversion structure on the banks of the Russian River with the General Manager of the Russian River Flood Control & Water Conservation Improvement District. Photo credit: Sonya Milonova
Grounded in Global Expertise and Community Feedback
The Consortium’s recommendations for the Telemetry Study draw on extensive research, including interviews with global experts who shared best practices for telemetered water monitoring networks. Equally important is the feedback collected from the Russian River community. By prioritizing local engagement, the TRU and the Consortium aim to build trust and develop solutions that reflect the needs of those directly affected.
Learn More and Get Involved
For more information on the TRU and the Pilot Project, visit the SWCRB Telemetry page and the Consortium’s Telemetered Water Monitoring Project page.