Integrated Regional Watershed Management
A water needs assessment in the Springs and Petaluma
[En Español abajo]
Southern Sonoma County Integrated Regional Watershed Management DAC Water Needs Assessment (click for pdf)
In 2019-20, Sonoma Ecology Center, along with Daily Acts Organization of Petaluma, partnered with our communities in southern Sonoma County to conduct outreach and needs assessments on an all-important issue: water.
Our purpose was to collect information about the water-related issues and needs facing disadvantaged communities (DACs) in Petaluma and Sonoma Valley. Working under California’s taxpayer-funded Integrated Regional Watershed Management (IRWM) planning process, and with local partners including La Luz, Sonoma Valley Community Health Center, Altamira Middle School, McDowell Elementary School, Hanna Boys Center and others, SEC conducted bilingual outreach targeting the Latinx community in Sonoma Valley, including releasing a bilingual survey, attending community events, and facilitating listening sessions. We also reviewed existing reports and other data, drawing conclusions on the water-related habits and needs in the Springs community.
Conclusions drawn from that data are now available in a report: “Southern Sonoma County Integrated Regional Watershed Management DAC Water Needs Assessment.” An executive summary of the report is provided in English and Spanish below.
One major finding of the report is that many Latinx residents in Petaluma and the Springs are relying on more-expensive bottled water, with over a third of those surveyed saying they used bottled water exclusively for drinking. SEC Planner and Grants Development Manager Minona Heaviland, who led the IRWM outreach program in Sonoma Valley, said this may be due to a mistaken idea within the Latinx community that local tap water is unsafe. SEC and partners are considering a communications effort to convince residents that tap water in the Springs is safe to drink, which should lead to a reduction in plastic waste and saved money for the community.
The Bay Area Disadvantaged Community Involvement Program (BA DACIP), funded by Proposition 1 in 2014, is being managed by San Francisco Estuary Partnership (SFEP) and is a key element of the California Department of Water Resources’ IRWM planning process. More about BA IRWM can be found at bayareairwmp.org.
Read the full report:
IN ENGLISH
EN ESPAÑOL
Southern Sonoma County Integrated Regional Watershed Management DAC Water Needs Assessment
Executive Summary
Sonoma Ecology Center (SEC) and Daily Acts Organization (DAO) partnered with our community in Southern Sonoma County to conduct outreach and needs assessments to collect information about the issues and needs related to water facing our disadvantaged communities (DACs) in Petaluma and Sonoma Valley.
Outreach Methods and Data Collection
- Conducted bilingual outreach and survey
- Targeted Latinx outreach
- Attended events to engage community members April 2019 – January 2020
- Reviewed existing reports
- Facilitated listening sessions with partners
- Made direct observations
Collected information about the following:
- Drinking water
- Well water
- Rain water or flooding
- Trash, dumping, and pollution
- Community improvements
Community Partners: La Luz, Teen Services, Sonoma Valley Community Health Center, North Bay Organizing Project, Vía Esperanza, Altamira Middle School, Redwood Empire Food Bank, McDowell Elementary School, and Santa Rosa Junior College, Springs Municipal Advisory Council, Hanna Boys Center, and Burbank Housing.
Southern Sonoma County Needs Assessment Findings Summary
Tap Water: Many people, especially in the Latinx community, do not trust tap water for drinking. They are choosing to purchase bottled water, or to filter their tap water in place of drinking tap water as delivered. In both Petaluma and the Springs communities, only 11% said they exclusively drink tap water.
Well Water: Of the few responses from people using well water, most of them did not report any issues with the water quantity or quality.
Storm Water Management: For both Petaluma and the Springs community, over 65% of responses indicated that street flooding was the most common rain water issue observed. This was followed by trail or sidewalk flooding, and then concern about erosion and other flooding. Sewer overflow from manholes was observed by some respondents in both communities.
In Sonoma Valley, Sanitary Sewer Overflows (SSOs) of from 10,000 to over 100,000 gallons have occurred in the Springs in the neighborhoods between Hwy 12 and Sonoma Creek. Many overflows have occurred in this area over the last 10 years, some close to schools. Addressing this storm water and waste water management issue is a priority for southern Sonoma County.
Pollution and Dumping Issues: In both Petaluma and the Springs, respondents identified small litter, dumping of larger items, and homeless camp waste as the primary pollution issue the community is aware of. Animal waste was also considered to be an issue.
Desired Community Improvements: The highest priority for community improvements identified for both communities were more parks and more creek cleanups. This was closely followed by playgrounds and trails. In the Springs the priority for playgrounds was slightly higher, and in Petaluma, the priority for trails was slightly higher. Both communities also expressed interest in rain barrels, public landscaping, and other improvements.
Sur de Sonoma Manejo de Agua Regional Integrada Evaluación de Necesidades de Agua en DAC
Resumen Ejecutivo
Centro de Ecología de Sonoma (SEC en inglés) y Organización de Daily Acts (DAO en inglés) se trabajaron con nuestra comunidad en el sur del condado de Sonoma para hacer asistencia comunitaria y evaluaciones de necesidades para recopilar información sobre los problemas y las necesidades relacionadas con el agua que enfrentan nuestras Áreas de la Bahías (DAC en inglés) en Petaluma y Sonoma Valley.
Métodos de asistencia comunitaria y recogita de datos
- Llevaron a cabo asistencia comunitaria y encuesta
- Priorizaron asistencia comunitaria en la comunidad Latinx
- Asistieron a eventos para involucrar a los miembros de la comunidad de abril de 2019 a enero de 2020
- Revisaron los reportes existentes
- Facilitaron sesiones de escucha con compañeros de comunidad
- Hicieron observaciones directas
Recogieron información sobre:
- Agua del grifo
- Agua de pozo
- Agua de lluvia o inundaciones
- Basura, vertederos y contaminación
- Formas de mejorar la comunidad
Compañeros de comunidad: La Luz, Teen Services, Sonoma Valley Community Health Center, North Bay Organizing Project, Vía Esperanza, Altamira Middle School, Redwood Empire Food Bank, McDowell Elementary School, and Santa Rosa Junior College, Springs Municipal Advisory Council, Hanna Boys Center, and Burbank Housing.
Resumen de Resultados de la evaluación de necesidades en el Sur de Sonoma
Agua del grifo: muchas personas, especialmente en la comunidad de Latinx, no confían en el agua del grifo para beber. Eligen comprar agua embotellada o filtrar el agua del grifo en lugar de agua potable tal como se entrega. Tanto en Petaluma y en la comunidad de Springs, solo el 11% dijo que bebe exclusivamente agua del grifo.
Agua de pozo: de las pocas respuestas de las personas que usan agua de pozo, la mayoría de ellos no informaron ningún problema con la cantidad o calidad del agua.
Manejo de aguas pluviales: tanto para Petaluma como para la comunidad de Springs, más del 65% de las respuestas indicaron que las inundaciones en las calles fueron el problema de agua de lluvia más común observado. Esto fue seguido por inundaciones en senderos o aceras, y luego preocupación por la erosión y otras inundaciones. Algunos encuestados observaron el desbordamiento de alcantarillas de las alcantarillas en ambas comunidades.
En el valle de Sonoma, se han producido Desbordamientos de Alcantarillado Sanitario de 10,000 a más de 100,000 galones en los manantiales en los vecindarios entre la carretera 12 y el arroyo Sonoma. Se han producido muchos desbordamientos en esta área en los últimos 10 años, algunas cercas de las escuelas. Abordar este problema de gestión de aguas pluviales y aguas residuales es una prioridad para el sur del condado de Sonoma.
Problemas de contaminación y vertido: tanto en Petaluma y en la comunidad de Springs, los encuestados identificaron la basura pequeña, el vertido de artículos más grandes y los desechos de los campamentos sin hogar como el principal problema de contaminación que la comunidad conoce. El desperdicio animal también se consideró un problema.
Mejoras deseadas en la comunidad: La mayor prioridad para las mejoras en la comunidad identificadas para las dos comunidades fueron más parques y más limpiezas de arroyos. Esto fue seguido de cerca por parques infantiles y senderos. En la comunidad de Springs, la prioridad para los parques infantiles era ligeramente mayor, y en Petaluma, la prioridad para los senderos era ligeramente mayor. Ambas comunidades también expresaron interés en barriles de lluvia, paisajismo público y otras mejoras.