Russian River Weekly Update 10/13/26

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Mendocino County vineyard, October 2026 by E Salomone
Mendocino County vineyard, October 2026 by E Salomone

 Reservoir Storage & Operations:

Water supply information provided by Sonoma Water (find more water storage info here).

Data on current water storage levels in Lake Mendocino, Lake Pillsbury, and Lake Sonoma, with their respective changes over the week.

The Water Supply Condition changed from Dry  to Normal on October 1st. This resulted in an increase of minimum instream flow requirements on the Upper Russian River from 75 cfs to 125 cfs until October 16th when it increases to 150 cfs. The Lower Russian River minimum instream flow requirement changed from 85 cfs to 70 cfs until October 16th when it increases to 125 cfs. The October 1st Dry storage threshold value is 58,000 ac-ft in Lake Mendocino. More information: https://www.sonomawater.org/2025rrbiopresops

The graph shows Lake Mendocino's water storage levels from 2019 to 2026, highlighting changes in acre-feet over time.
The graph shows Lake Pillsbury's storage levels and projected targets from 2019 to 2026, measured in acre-feet.
The graph shows Lake Sonoma's storage levels from 2019 to 2026, indicating fluctuations in acre-feet over time.

 

El Niño

 

Mendocino County Inland Water & Power Commission Seeks Executive Director

The Mendocino County Inland Water & Power Commission (IWPC) is seeking an Executive Director. The role presents a unique opportunity to make a significant regional impact at a pivotal moment as IWPC advances multiple high-profile initiatives with expanded resources and strong professional support. For more information, visit the job listing webpage here.

 

DWR Release of Draft 2026 Sustainable Groundwater Management Grant Program Guideline Amendment and Proposal Solicitation Package

The California Department of Water Resources (DWR) is pleased to announce the release of the Draft 2026 Sustainable Groundwater Management Grant Program Guideline Amendment and Draft 2026 Proposal Solicitation Package (PSP). DWR will host two public workshops to provide an overview of the program, review key components of the Draft 2026 Guideline Amendment and Proposal Solicitation Package, and to accept public comments Link to notice

 

California Water Data Consortium - The State and Future of Telemetry in California, Wednesday, October 21, 2026 | 12:00 – 1:30 PM

Telemetry, the automatic collection and transmission of data through cellular, radio, or satellite communications, can make water data faster and easier to access while reducing the burden of manual reporting. With the State Water Board's launch of the California Water Accounting, Tracking, and Reporting System (CalWATRS) in 2025, California is better positioned to receive that data in near real time. But telemetered monitoring networks can also be costly and complex to install and maintain. Register Here

On October 21, members of the California Water Data Consortium's Telemetry Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) will share their recommendations to the State Water Board. You'll hear:

  • Where telemetry investments are most critical, effective, and cost-efficient
  • What the TAC learned from bringing water rights holders, water users, agencies, nonprofits, and researchers to the same table
  • What the future might hold for telemetry in California

The session will include time for live Q&A, so bring your questions. The event will be recorded and posted to our YouTube channel.

 

In the press:

 

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