Project of Concern: Water Resources - Irrigation with Healdsburg's Municipal Wastewater:  The vineyard lands along Westside Road that border the Russian River and Dry Creek overlay a very high quality drinking water aquifer.  Dry Creek is a municipal water delivery system, bringing water from Warm Springs dam down to its confluence with the Russian River, and then the river conveys drinking water to the Sonoma County Water Agency's collectors near Wohler Bridge.

Thus, Healdsburg's Agricultural Recycled Water Project is a project of concern.  This drinking water aquifer serves over 700,000 Sonoma County Water Agency (SCWA) customers in Sonoma and northern Marin Counties, water users from the City of Healdsburg wells, not to mention a significant number of domestic wells along the Dry Creek and Russian River valleys. 

The proposed significant expansion of Healdsburg's Agricultural Recycled Water Project, potentially with fewer protections for groundwater supplies, is a concern.  History and status provided below: 

Wells and Wastewater Irrigation:  Many properties, whether located on the west or east side of Westside Road, have wells on the land overlying the aquifer along Dry Creek and the Russian River. Property owners with wells in the western hills tap into small, confined aquifers. Trucking or piping wastewater for cannabis irrigation is a concern for these watershed areas. 

• The valley lands to the east of Westside Road are primarily zoned LIA - Land Intensive Agriculture - and the vineyards overlying this robust aquifer require little irrigation - the season often does not begin until June.  See Field Study results. 
  
  
• The western hills and bench lands are generally water scarce areas with grazing lands or oak woodland open space. A number of cannabis grow operations are seeking permits in these areas. Hillside land is primarily zoned RRD - Rural and Resource Development.  These watershed lands perform important functions such as filtering and storing rainwater, as well as reducing stream siltation.

For a full history, and to learn more about Healdsburg's Wastewater Irrigation plans, go to 2019 Update.  

Project of Concern: Friends of Felta Creek Timber Harvest:  In the Spring of 2017, a Timber Harvest Plan (THP) was submitted to the California Department of Forestry (CalFire) on a 160-acre property - known as Fox Meadow. This watershed property includes a critical segment of the headwaters of Felta Creek. The THP proposed aggressive logging which will a) remove fire resistant redwood trees and leave fir trees; thus, increasing fire risk, and b) have significant impacts to endangered species habitat. Despite rigorous objection from the community, scientists, public officials and others, CalFire approved the THP.

Friends of Felta Creek filed a lawsuit as their only option to prevent degradation of the forest and watershed. In late August 2018 the Sonoma County District Court ruled in favor of Friends of Felta Creek’s petition, putting a temporary halt to the Timber Harvest Plan.  The Applicant is preparing a modified THP; and the Friends of Felta Creek are working with investors to purchase this property and put it in a conservation easement.  (Website in development)

Projects of Concern: Cannabis Use Permits with impacts on watershed areas> Go to County Website for most recent information.  SonomaCounty.ca.gov/Cannabis (contact the Cannabis Hotline 707.565.2420 or [email protected])
    The Palmer Ridge Neighborhood Association has taken the lead on addressing technical and permit-related issues.  

Past Project of Concern: Syar's Gravel Mining Operations: On May 14, 2014 the California State Mining and Geology Board held a hearing to review the Executive Officer's report designating areas throughout the State for possible mineral extraction.  The report designated areas within the Middle Reach of the Russian River as possible sources for aggregate for both terrace mining and in-stream mining.  The report also designated areas in Alexander Valley and Dry Creek Valley for in-stream mining. WASA Board members attended the hearing and submitted comments to update the State's records regarding terrace gravel mining restrictions in the Middle Reach.

To send eMails to County Officials or Board of Supervisors, and for information on all our local newspapers for editorials, go to TAKE ACTION > Contact List 

Objective of infoZone: The Westside Area InfoZone is a site for sharing information about projects that may impact our neighborhoods.  The objective is to get information to our neighbors quickly so each person can make a decision as to what action to take. We strive to ensure the information is factual, yet if you find an error, please contact us and we will either correct the information or post the alternative point of view.  Documents or recommendations approved by the Boards of our community organizations (See About Section) will be identified as the group's official POSITION.