Marin Readies For Rainy Season

MARIN COUNTY, CA — Despite a historic drought, Marin is readying for the possibility of a wet winter.

And if recent history is any guide, heavy rains could arrive at any time.

Last fall, an atmospheric river unloaded more than three inches of rain in parts of Marin, and earlier this year a rare June storm unloaded on the North Bay county.

“…the possibility of an atmospheric river storm remains a reality and poses a flood risk for the community,” the county said in a news release.

The county’s Department of Public Works and its contracted agencies have been working to complete the annual storm season preparations that are critical for flood mitigation and stormwater drainage, the county said.

“We stress the importance of the public being prepared for emergencies, and we take that same approach to our own work,” Marin County DPW Water Resources Manager Liz Lewis said in a statement.

“Preparing for storm season is a major undertaking and requires a year-round commitment. By the time there’s any significant rain on the horizon, we’ve generally been finished with the prep work for weeks.”

Storm season preparations, which are usually completed by fall, cover a wide range of work on storm drain systems, creeks, levees, tide gates, and pump stations.

Tasked with this responsibility in parts of Marin, the Marin County Flood Control and Water Conservation District identifies issues and manages facilities and channels in eight flood control zones across Marin.

Marin residents are encouraged to sign up for the Marin County Sheriff Office’s Alert Marin notification system.

The service provides the public with time-sensitive alerts targeted toward specific addresses or neighborhoods.

Residents who have already registered should review their contact information to make sure it is up to date.

Alert Marin is different from the Nixle notification service, which provides general safety announcements and/or post-disaster information.