Redwood Valley seeks deeper cuts to water use

Redwood Valley water district officials want water users to conserve even more because of near record low Russian River inflows to Lake Mendocino.

"We're now asking for a total 40 percent cutback in water consumption over last year," said Bill Koehler, general manager of the Redwood Valley County Water District. Koehler said customers have complied by slashing use by at least 30 percent.

Koehler said the Redwood Valley district, which serves about 6,000 residents, is hopeful predictions of rain next week are accurate.

"If we can get some good rain over the next few weeks, the current crisis mode will ease," said Koehler.

The district has enough water in reserve to meet current needs over the next month in the event of more dry weather, Koehler said. After that, however, customers will face mandatory restrictions.

Koehler said district directors this week voted to adopt a new ordinance that will allow the board to act quickly if mandatory cutbacks become necessary. Besides asking for water conservation, the board also voted to cut off water deliveries to the valley's agricultural users, although demand this time of year is minimal.

"Everyone seems to be doing what they can to help out," said Koehler.

About 50 local residents showed up for Tuesday's meeting to hear renewed warnings of mandatory cutbacks in the event the lake's level drops below the district's ability to draw water.

The district is the only water entity that pumps water directly from the lake. A contract for surplus water with the Sonoma County Water Agency, which controls lake levels by making releases downstream for fisheries, requires the Redwood district to cut its draw by 50 percent after reaching a certain point.

About 1.24 inches of rain fell on the Lake Mendocino watershed last week, which helped slow the rate of decline in lake levels. Since then, the lake's level has remained "somewhat steady," Koehler said.

If a significant amount of rain falls, it can quickly account for major changes in the lake's water storage.

Koehler recalled that in 2002 -- the last time lake levels were this low -- a couple of major storms dumped plenty of rain in the region.

"Two weeks later, water was actually being dumped from the lake for flood-control reasons," said Koehler.