🌱 Russian River Water Curtailments + Prescribed Burns Over Summer

Hello, my friends! I'm here in the nick of time with your weekend edition of the Healdsburg Daily — filled with water news, fire news and an abundance of exciting events in town. Hope you all have a great one. See you on the other side...

First, your weekend weather:

• Friday: Sunny and breezy. High: 78 Low: 50.
• Saturday: Lots of sunshine and some wind. Hottest day of the weekend. High: 86 Low: 51.
• Sunday: Mostly sunny, with more wind. High: 77 Low: 48.
• Monday: Mostly sunny again. High: 73 Low: 46.

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Air over Healdsburg:

Here are the top 3 stories today in Healdsburg:

1. It's that time of year again! Healdsburg farms, vineyards, businesses and other properties with permission to pull their water straight from the Russian River will reportedly be instructed to limit their river-water intake as soon as next month. However, this year's restrictions are expected to be more flexible than in summer 2021, when there was a full-on moratorium — especially in the "upper river," where we are. According to the North Bay Business Journal: "The luxury of time has allowed this year’s plans to reflect a more refined, nuanced approach to cutbacks, based in part on public input, water regulators say. [They're] optimistic a voluntary sharing agreement among those who pull supplies directly from the Russian River and some tributaries could stave off some pain." A state water board member tells the Journal that "a sharing agreement, if broadly joined, 'kind of lets everybody get through the drought together.'" And to that end, a new "framework for emergency curtailments" approved by the state board Tuesday reportedly "reserved space for that sharing agreement while also outlining a more precise way to hone cutbacks in the upper river based on differences in hydrology and demand." (Bay City News via Patch & North Bay Business Journal; paywall)
2. I mentioned this yesterday, but the accolades keep rolling in for Healdsburg's recent history of excellent water savings in town. A recent report in the San Francisco Chronicle ranks the City of Healdsburg as the No. 1 water-saver in California, compared to more than 350 other towns and water agencies. We've reduced our water use nearly 40 percent over the past two years, the report shows. "Congrats Healdsburg residents!" the city says. Fifth on the list is Cloverdale — and dead last is the City of El Segundo down in Los Angeles County. You can run through all the rankings on the Chronicle's website. (City of Healdsburg via Facebook & San Francisco Chronicle; paywall)
3. Prescribed burns will continue through summer, according to the Northern Sonoma County Fire District, which protects all of Healdsburg's rural — and very flammable — outskirts. Here's their full announcement: "Our fuel reduction crew has worked 6,747 hours from January 1 to April 30 (4 months) and assisted with burn piles at Cloverdale’s Porterfield Creek Open Space, Fitch Mountain, and North East Geyserville. We have prescribed burn nearly 20 acres during the winter months with more planned for the summer when vegetation and weather conditions are favorable. Yes you read that correctly, we are going to do prescribed burns this summer. We will only burn when conditions are in our favor and no wind is predicted the days following the burn. This winter has had some very dry and warm weather, as a result throughout California there have been many fires. In our District we have only had 3 fires. Two caused by escaped control burns and one caused by downed powerlines. Only 3 fires is a great achievement by you. Your diligence and awareness has ensured we haven't had more fires." (Northern Sonoma County Fire District)

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This weekend in Healdsburg:

Friday, May 13

• Spring Sidewalk Sale in Downtown Healdsburg (May 13-15, All Day)
• Mattress & E-Waste Recycling Event at Healdsburg Community Center (May 13-15, 9AM-5PM)
• Healdsburg Library Family Storytime at Giorgi Park (11AM-12PM)
• Purls of Joy Healdsburg Grand Reopening (May 13-15, 11AM-5PM)
• Epicurean Alfresco Lunch at Jordan Winery (May 13-15, 12:30-2:30PM)
• Healdsburg Running Company Presents: Sharks & Minnows Kids Game at Badger Park (5PM)
• Friday Evening Wine & Song at Hudson Street Wineries, Featuring Free Pizza & Music by Adults in the Room (5-8PM)
• Spike Sikes & His Awesome Hotcakes Live at Coyote Sonoma (7-10PM)
• "The Book of Will" Shakespeare Story at the Raven Theater, Feat. Ticket Drawing for Oregon Shakespeare Festival in Ashland (7:30PM)
• SR Laws & The Heartsleeves Live at the Elephant in the Room (8-11PM)

Saturday, May 14

• Cornelia De Lange Syndrome Awareness Day in Healdsburg (All Day)
• Healdsburg Running Company Saturday Run With San Francisco Running Company, With Finish at the Junction (8AM)
• Healdsburg Saturday Farmers Market (8:30AM-12PM)
• Cloisonne Jewelry Making Class at Healdsburg Center for the Arts (May 14-15, 9:30AM-4:30PM)
• COVID Vaccine Clinic at Healdsburg Elementary School's Fitch Mountain Campus (10AM)
• Sonoma-Marin Saving Water Partnership Presents: Virtual Eco-Friendly Garden Tour (10AM)
• Memorial Mass for Mary Josephine Foley Mahoney at St. John's Catholic Church (11AM)
• Read to a Dog at Healdsburg Library (Weekly, 11AM-12PM)
• Community Picnic at Healdsburg Plaza (12-3PM)
• Chalk Hill Artist Residency Open Studio: "Celebrating the Power of Partnerships" (1-4PM)
• "Grassroots Baseball" Book Signing at Healdsburg Center for the Arts (5-7:30PM)
• Live Jazz at Hotel Healdsburg: SambaNoma (5-8PM)
• Community Child Care Council of Sonoma County (4Cs) 50th Year Anniversary Gala at the Villa, Featuring 1950s Hollywood Theme (5:30PM)
• Clerestory, Men's Chorale From San Francisco, Live at THE 222 (7PM)
• Russian River "Christo Voyage" Opening Ceremony: Moonlight Sunset Paddle, Feat. Live Music by Brian Francis Baudoin on the Beach, Paddle to Badger Park & Champagne Toast (6PM)

Sunday, May 15

• Maison Porcella Pop-Up Brunch at Lioco Wine Tasting Room on Matheson (10AM-2PM)
• New Horizons Band of Sonoma County Spring Concert at Healdsburg Community Church (2PM)
• Food Truck Sunday at Bacchus Landing: Holy Chile Mole (4-7PM)

Monday, May 16

• Corazón Healdsburg Taller de Presupuesto y Ahorros / Business Workshop at Healdsburg Community Center (10AM-12PM)
• Healdsburg City Council Meeting (6PM)
• Worldwide Readings for Ukraine at the Raven Theater: "Return to Sender" (7:30PM)

Healdsburg pics of the day, Star Wars edition:

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You're officially in the loop for today! I'll be back next week with more. ❤️

— Simone Wilson

About me: I was born and raised in Healdsburg, CA, where I was the editor of the Healdsburg High School Hound's Bark. I have since worked as a local journalist for publications in San Diego, Los Angeles, New York City and the Middle East. I'm currently a senior product manager for Patch.

Have a news tip or suggestion for an upcoming Healdsburg Daily? Contact me at simone.wilson@patch.com