Sonoma Co. Readies For 'Extreme Drought' Town Hall

BY KATY ST. CLAIR

SONOMA COUNTY, CA — Sonoma County will hold a virtual town hall on Thursday night about drought conditions in the Russian River watershed, which Sonoma Water describes as the third-driest water year on record for the county.

According to drought.gov, which monitors national drought conditions, this has been the eighth-driest January on record for Sonoma County, down over 8 inches from normal.

California has ranked Sonoma County in its "extreme drought" category, along with other northern counties such as Humboldt, Trinity, Siskiyou and Mendocino. Being categorized as "extreme" means areas are at risk for fires year-round, water supplies are inadequate for agriculture, urban needs, and wildlife, and reservoirs are "extremely" low.

The town hall will be moderated by Supervisor and Sonoma Water Director David Rabbitt and will feature officials from the California State Water Resources Control Board, the National Marine Fisheries Service, the California Department of Water Resources, Santa Rosa Water and the Sonoma County Farm Bureau.

Discussion will include drought forecasts, water conservation, impacts, and water use restrictions.

To attend the virtual town hall, visit here.

The event begins at 6 p.m. Thursday.

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