New Footbridge Improves Trail System and Protects Creek

Completed bridge over Little Carson Creek. For more pictures, see our Facebook album.

Over a three-week period in February, crews from MMWD’s Watershed Maintenance staff and Conservation Corps North Bay built a beautiful log footbridge over Little Carson Creek on the east side of Kent Lake. The new bridge, located at the foot of Little Carson Trail in an area called Big Trees Grove, was built to keep foot traffic out of the creek. It is part of a larger project designed to improve water quality and fisheries habitat while creating a safer and more sustainable hiking trail. Other future elements of the project include converting a 100-year-old logging road to a trail and removing two culverts to minimize road-related sediment delivery to Little Carson Creek and Kent Lake.

The base and footings of the footbridge were made from a large, 48-inch diameter, 50-foot long redwood tree that had fallen many years ago near the work site. Based on the tree’s rings, MMWD Watershed Maintenance Supervisor Carl Sanders estimated its age at over 300 years old when it fell. Using ropes and cables, the crews were able to drag the tree 200 feet upstream without damaging the stream and its banks.

The handrails, made from a smaller redwood tree, are attached to the log base by mortise and tenon joinery. The completed bridge enhances the natural beauty of the grove and allows hikers to cross the stream safely without damaging the stream and its banks.

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MMWD’s 2013 Water Main Flushing Program Starts Today in San Geronimo and Ross Valleys

An MMWD employee “flushes” a water main by releasing high velocity water from a hydrant.

MMWD’s annual water main flushing program to help maintain water quality gets underway today, January 9, in Fairfax. The 2013 program also includes the San Geronimo Valley, San Anselmo and Ross. Flushing will occur most Wednesdays through March 13 between approximately 8:00 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. Water main flushing is recommended by the California Department of Public Health to remove sediment buildup in transmission and distribution pipelines because the sediment can impair water quality.

Each year MMWD “flushes” approximately 20 percent of its water mains. To flush a water main, selected hydrants along a section of the main are opened. The high velocity of the released water scours the main, removing any collected sediment. After the chloramine is removed by dechlorination tablets, the water is released onto the street and enters the storm drain system. Flushing averages about 15 minutes for each hydrant.

In the past, MMWD performed flushing at night to minimize the impact on residents. In 2011 the district began flushing the pipes during the day to save the overtime costs of sending crews out at night. This year the district will again be flushing the mains in the daytime to reduce costs without compromising water quality.

In addition to water in the street, during flushing customers may notice effects on their own plumbing, including slight pressure drops, air in the lines or “dirty” water. If you notice these effects, we recommend restricting water use during flushing and then running the cold water for a short time afterward to remove any loosened sediment in the pipeline. Be assured the temporary discoloration is not a health concern.

2013 Water Main Flushing Schedule

January 9: Western Fairfax

January 16: Southeastern Fairfax; San Geronimo Valley Floor (Lagunitas/Forrest Knolls); Upper Woodacre

January 30: Town of Woodacre; Cascade and Scenic areas of Fairfax; Oak Avenue in San Anselmo

February 6: Sir Francis Drake Boulevard from Butterfield to “the Hub”

February 13: The Alameda, Oak Springs and Fawn Drive in San Anselmo; Sky Oaks area of Fairfax

February 27: Sleepy Hollow; Scenic Avenue in San Anselmo

March 6: Downtown Ross and San Anselmo

March 13: Oak Manor and top of Fairfax Manor in Fairfax; Sir Francis Drake Boulevard in Ross; Laurel Grove in San Anselmo/Ross

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Back to School with Water Wonders

by Robin McKillop

If you’re a busy parent, you already know that it’s back-to-school time! While you’re gearing up for another great school year, don’t forget to encourage your child’s teacher to participate in MMWD’s environmental education programs. They’re fun! They’re free! They’re educational!

Last year, MMWD’s Water Wonders environmental education programs provided outreach to thousands of students at 48 public and private schools in Marin. Though our programs, students sang and danced at musical watershed assemblies, learned about local ecology and water supply by hiking at Lake Lagunitas, pretended to be water drops in a water cycle game, removed French broom from watershed lands, hatched trout eggs and released fish, worked to restore and protect habitats, searched for water leaks at their homes, replaced wasteful showerheads with new water-conserving ones, and created amazing artwork to celebrate MMWD’s centennial. Our fact sheet provides more information about our 2011-12 programs.

During the 2012-13 school year, MMWD is pleased to continue to offer high quality environmental education opportunities to schools in our service area. Our Water Wonders brochure provides detailed information about all of our programs. This year, we are especially pleased to offer free “Historical Highlights” posters in commemoration of MMWD’s 100th anniversary, as well as Water Quality Lab tours for high school science classes. If you’d like your child to participate in any of our programs, encourage your child’s teacher to sign up soon. As always, our programs are offered on a first-come, first-served basis, free of charge. In addition, bilingual (English-Spanish) classroom presentations and assemblies are available.

MMWD’s Watershed, Water Conservation, Public Information, and Laboratory staff are looking forward to another great year teaching your children all about one of our most precious natural resources: water.

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2012 Annual Water Quality Report Now Available Online and in Print

In recognition of MMWD’s centennial anniversary this year, the cover of our 2012 Annual Water Quality Report features a historical photo of Alpine Lake from the district’s archives.

The Marin Municipal Water District has released its 2012 Annual Water Quality Report, which shows, once again, that the water provided by MMWD meets, and in fact surpasses, all state and federal health regulations. The report is available in print and online in both English and Spanish.

The water quality information is reported annually in compliance with requirements established by the California Department of Public Health and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and as a policy of MMWD to inform our customers of the contents of their drinking water and water quality standards.

State and/or federal regulations require drinking water suppliers to test for 125 contaminants and to include in the report the test results for any contaminants found and at what levels. The regulations encompass both primary standards for contaminants that affect health and secondary standards for contaminants that affect the odor, taste and appearance of the water. Each year MMWD conducts over 120,000 water quality tests from watershed to faucet.

About 75 percent of the district’s water supply comes from rainfall collected in seven reservoirs on Mt. Tamalpais and in west Marin. The remaining 25 percent is imported under a contract with the Sonoma County Water Agency.

In recognition of MMWD’s centennial anniversary this year, the cover of the report features a 1920 photo of Alpine Lake from our archives. MMWD received its charter on April 25, 1912, making it the first municipal water district in California. The construction of Alpine Dam between the summer of 1917 and the spring of 1919 was one of the first acts of the newly formed district.

We are currently mailing this year’s report to all of our approximately 60,000 customers in central and southern Marin as a bill insert. In addition, we recently sent the report in a special mailing to over 48,000 apartment dwellers and others who do not receive a water bill. Printed copies in English or Spanish also can be requested from the MMWD Water Quality Lab at (415) 945-1550.

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Environmental Science on Display in MMWD’s Water Quality Laboratory

by Jason Mitchell and Larry Grabow

Senior Chemist Jason Mitchell prepares Tamalpais High School students for their lab tour with some background information about MMWD and where their water comes from.

For the past seven years during the month of February, MMWD’s Water Quality Laboratory has provided tours to local high school and college students. The majority of students have come from sections of the Advanced Placement (AP) Environmental Science course at Redwood High School, but students also have hailed from the school’s general science courses. In addition, the laboratory has provided tours for the College of Marin Environmental Studies classes, and this year for the first time tours were provided to Tamalpais High School’s Environmental Science sections.

The 45-minute tour includes general information about the water district, background on drinking water regulations, the testing and instrumentation involved with providing the required data to meet those regulations, and information about environmental analyses in general.

During and after the tour students are encouraged to ask questions related to drinking water quality. This year’s questions involved recent events of concern such as radioactivity in the drinking water supply following the earthquake and tsunami in Japan (MMWD was not affected), and algae-related taste and odor prevention during the summer months. The two teachers heading the high school programs, Mitch Cohen from Redwood High School and John Ginsburg from Tamalpais High, also asked questions related to the curriculum in their courses such as disinfection and fluoridation. Although the 8:00 a.m. tour groups looked a little tired, all the groups were attentive and had smart questions and comments.

Students from Redwood High School get a firsthand look at some of the high-tech instruments the district uses for water quality testing.

Here is an excerpt from an e-mail from Mitch Cohen from Redwood High School after the tours in 2011:

Dear MMWD Management,

I am writing to thank you for your continuing support of high school science education. For the 4th straight year, my Advanced Placement Environmental Sciences Classes have had the opportunity to tour your water quality testing lab. It is a unique opportunity for students to be able to see a functioning laboratory that deals with the concepts we are covering in class. Thanks again to Jason Mitchell and all of the MMWD management for providing this ongoing opportunity to your high school neighbors.

Much Obliged,
Mitch Cohen
Redwood High School Science Department

If you are a teacher interested in bringing your class for a tour, please contact Senior Chemist Jason Mitchell to learn more. Tours are best suited to AP science students and are offered on a limited basis as staff time allows.

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MMWD Flushing Water Mains in Southern Marin through March 22

Water main flushing

If you see large quantities of water running down the street in Mill Valley, Marin City or Sausalito in the coming weeks, it is probably no cause for alarm: The Marin Municipal Water District’s annual water main flushing program is currently underway in southern Marin. Water main flushing is recommended by the California Department of Health Services to help maintain water quality by removing sediment buildup in transmission and distribution pipelines.

Each year MMWD “flushes” approximately 20 percent of its water mains. To flush a water main, selected hydrants along a section of the main are opened. The high velocity of the released water scours the main, removing any collected sediment. The water is released onto the street, the chlorine is removed by dechlorination tablets, and the water enters the storm drain run-off system. Flushing takes about 15 minutes for each hydrant.

In the past, MMWD performed flushing at night to minimize the impact on residents. Last year the district began flushing the pipes during the day to save the overtime costs of sending crews out at night. This year the district will again be flushing the mains in the daytime to reduce costs without compromising water quality.

During periods of flushing, customers may notice large quantities of water in the street, as well as slight pressure drops, air in the lines or “dirty” water in their own plumbing. If you notice these effects, we recommend running cold water through an outdoor tap or garden hose for a short time to remove any loosened sediment in the pipeline. This water can be safely used on plants.

Flushing began January 12 in Mill Valley and is scheduled to continue most Thursdays through March 22 in Mill Valley, Marin City and Sausalito. Click here for a complete schedule.

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Bay Area Receives $30.9 Million from Prop. 84 for Regional Plan and Water Projects

Funding to Pay for Conservation, Recycling, Habitat Restoration and More

The San Francisco Bay Area has been awarded $30,093,592 in Proposition 84 funds to carry out projects to improve Bay Area water resources. This award complements $842,556 in planning funds from Proposition 84 to update the Bay Area Integrated Regional Water Management Plan.

Proposition 84, passed by voters in 2006, provides $5.4 billion for habitat restoration, water resources improvements and water quality benefits. Of this total, integrated regional water management (IRWM) programs in California will receive $1.0 billion in funding, of which $138 million is dedicated to the San Francisco Bay Area. The $30.9 million in implementation and planning funding announced this past week is the first allocation of the $138 million of Proposition 84 IRWM funds for the Bay Area.

“Proposition 84 funds make possible high-priority water resources management projects in the Bay Area,” noted Paul Helliker, General Manager of the Marin Municipal Water District (MMWD) and current Chair of the Bay Area Coordinating Committee. The Committee is the regional oversight group for IRWM programs in the Bay Area, composed of representatives of water supply, wastewater treatment, and flood control agencies and environmental regulatory, resource management and non-governmental organizations. Helliker added, “Over the next 20 years, water resources management agencies are planning tens of billions of dollars of investments in infrastructure and ecosystem improvements, and these state grant funds fill important niches.”

Integrated Management Plans

The Bay Area IRWM Coordinating Committee has received $842,556 to revise the Bay Area Integrated Regional Water Management Plan. The IRWM Plan was adopted in 2006 by Bay Area counties, cities, water and sanitation districts, flood control agencies and non-profit agencies to define priorities for regional water management projects and guide state grant funding decisions. The plan update, expected to be completed in 2013, will incorporate the latest information on climate change impacts, and will include a compilation of best practices to adapt to rising sea levels and changes in precipitation. The Marin Municipal Water District will be managing the plan update, on behalf of the Coordinating Committee.

Implementation Projects

$30,093,592 of the Proposition 84 funding announced last week will be dedicated to various water resources projects that were proposed for funding in January of 2011 by the Coordinating Committee. The Bay Area Clean Water Agencies (BACWA), a joint powers partnership among wastewater management agencies in the Bay Area, and a principal partner in the Bay Area Coordinating Committee, will manage this grant. The funding will be used for the following programs and projects:

Project	Total Cost	Prop. 84 Grant Funding
Water Conservation
Regional Water Conservation Program	15,359,557	8,952,685
Water Recycling
* North Bay
Marin Municipal WD Peacock Gap Recycled Water Extension	10,136,000	500,000
Las Gallinas Valley SD Novato South Service Area Project	11,631,000	500,000
North Marin WD Novato North Service Area Project	11,392,000	500,000
Sonoma Valley CSD Recycled Water Stage 1 Project	5,000,000	500,000
Napa SD State Hospital Pipeline Construction Stage 1 Project	3,057,000	500,000
* East Bay
EBMUD East Bayshore Phase 1A-I-80	2,186,000	741,000
CCCSD Concord Recycled Water Project	4,200,000	1,030,000
DSRSD Central Dublin Recycled Water Distribution and Retrofit Project	4,100,000	1,130,000
* South Bay
South Bay Water Recycling Industrial Expansion and Reliability	5,503,000	2,485,000
* West Bay
San Francisco PUC Harding Park Recycled Water Project	8,436,000	2,114,000
Wetland Ecosystem Restoration Projects
Sears Point Restoration	18,306,981	1,250,000
Bair Island Restoration	3,185,375	1,250,000
Pond A16/17 Restoration	9,300,000	1,250,000
Regional Green Infrastructure Program
San Pablo Avenue Green Infrastructure Spine	4,220,882	2,315,882
Hacienda Avenue Green Street Improvements	4,632,556	1,999,999
Napa Valley Rainwater Harvesting	328,335	250,000
Water Quality Improvement/Flood Management/Ecosystem Restoration in Disadvantaged Communities
Stream Restoration in the North Bay	265,000	200,000
Floodplain Mapping for Disadvantaged Communities	841,550	656,550
Stormwater and Flood Control Improvements Pilot Project in Bay Point	185,000	160,000
Richmond Shoreline and San Pablo Flood Control	315,000	85,000
Pescadero Creek Flood Reduction and Habitat Improvement	103,000	103,000
Pescadero Creek Steelhead Monitoring	154,810	119,310
Floodplain and Watershed Restoration in East Palo Alto	310,800	230,000
Steelhead and Coho Indicator Monitoring	503,166	378,166
Watershed Partnership Technical Assistance	203,289	150,000
Program Administration	843,000	743,000
Total	$124,699,301	$30,093,592

Other Proposition 84 Funding for Bay Area Projects

Also allocated from the Bay Area Proposition 84 funds is $1,775,000 to pay for two other Bay Area projects in eastern Contra Costa County—the Pittsburgh Recycled Water Pipeline and ecosystem restoration projects that are part of the County’s Habitat Conservation Program. These funds, as well as $449,843 to update the East Contra Costa County plan, will be managed by the Contra Costa Water District.

The total amount allocated to date from the $138 million in Proposition 84 IRWM for Bay Area projects is $33,160,991.

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North Bay Receives more than $7 Million in Proposition 84 Funding for Water Resources Improvements

MMWD awarded $1.36 million for water recycling and conservation

The North Bay has been awarded more than $7 million in integrated regional water management (IRWM) funds under State Proposition 84. This funding is a part of the overall $33.2 million that has been allocated to Bay Area agencies from the $138 million available for the Bay Area in State Proposition 84.

Proposition 84, passed by voters in 2006, provides $5.4 billion for habitat restoration, water resources improvements and water quality benefits. Of this total, integrated regional water management (IRWM) programs in California will receive $1 billion in funding, of which $138 million is dedicated to the San Francisco Bay Area. The $33.2 million in implementation and planning funding announced today is the first allocation of the $138 million of Proposition 84 IRWM funds for the Bay Area.

“North Bay water resources managers have been collaborating for many years to define the top priorities for ecosystem restoration and water resources improvements,” noted John C. (Jack) Gibson, President of the Board of Directors of the Marin Municipal Water District Board and Chairman of the North Bay Watershed Association, a group of 16 regional and local public agencies. “We are very pleased that North Bay partners have been successful in securing these grant funds, which will provide critical support for priority projects,” Gibson added.

The $7-plus million for the North Bay will support the following programs:

• Water conservation rebate and education programs in Solano, Napa, Sonoma and Marin counties;
• Five recycled water projects in Marin, Sonoma and Napa counties;
• Restoration of wetlands at Sears Point;
• Rainwater harvesting pilot projects in Napa;
• Stream restoration work in the North Bay;
• Regional projects on flood plain mapping, steelhead trout monitoring and watershed partnerships that will include North Bay organizations.

Marin Municipal Water District Projects

As part of the funding announced today, $500,000 in Prop. 84 funds will go to the Marin Municipal Water District (MMWD), to assist in financing an expansion of MMWD’s recycled water system. The addition to the system includes a new pipeline to bring water to the Peacock Gap Golf Course in San Rafael and to other customers along the way. The total cost of the system expansion is estimated to be $10.1 million, with funding to be provided from various sources. MMWD’s recycled water system, operating since 1981, serves more than 350 customers in San Rafael, including parks and other large landscapes, office buildings, car washes, commercial laundries and many others.

An additional $862,500 in Prop. 84 funds will go to MMWD to provide matching funds for water conservation program rebates. These funds will offset some of the cost of high-efficiency toilets and washing machines, as well as weather-based irrigation controllers and water efficient landscaping.

“MMWD continues to diversify its portfolio of sustainable water supply strategies,” said MMWD General Manager Paul Helliker. “This round of funding from Prop. 84 will help us reduce the demand on our reservoirs and on the supplies we purchase from the Sonoma County Water Agency.”

Integrated Regional Water Management Plan

The Bay Area received $842,556 to revise the Bay Area Integrated Regional Water Management Plan. The IRWM Plan was adopted in 2006 by Bay Area counties, cities, water and sanitation districts, flood control agencies and non-profit agencies to define priorities for regional water management projects and guide state grant funding decisions. The plan update, expected to be completed in 2013, will incorporate the latest information on climate change impacts and will include a compilation of best practices to adapt to rising sea levels and changes in precipitation. The Marin Municipal Water District will be managing the plan update, on behalf of the Coordinating Committee.

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2011 Annual Water Quality Report Available Online or in Print

The results from our most recent round of annual water quality tests show, once again, that the drinking water provided by MMWD is of superior quality. Details can be found in our 2011 Annual Water Quality Report, which documents that MMWD water meets, and in fact surpasses, all state and federal health regulations. We are proud to state that MMWD has never failed to meet health standards.

The 2011 report is available in English and in Spanish both online and in print.

In order to keep the report simple and relevant, state and/or federal regulations specifically require drinking water suppliers to report test results for detected contaminants only. The contaminants reported include primary standards for contaminants that affect health; secondary standards for contaminants that affect the aesthetic properties of water, such as odor, taste and appearance; and certain additional contaminants for which standards do not exist. Each year MMWD conducts over 120,000 water quality tests from the watershed to the faucet.

The water quality information is reported annually in compliance with requirements established by the California Department of Public Health and the US Environmental Protection Agency and as a policy of MMWD to inform customers of the contents of their drinking water and water quality standards.

Printed copies of the report in English or Spanish can be requested from the MMWD Water Quality Lab at  (415) 945-1550.

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Redwood High Students Tour MMWD’s Water Quality Lab

Earlier this spring, five Advanced Placement Environmental Science classes—about 130 students—from Redwood High School visited our Water Quality Lab. MMWD Senior Chemist Jason Mitchell conducted tours for each of the classes.

The students learned where our water comes from (about 75 percent from local reservoirs) and how it is tested to ensure compliance with regulations set by the Environmental Protection Agency and the California Department of Public Health. The students had a chance to see the high-tech equipment we use to test for everything from alkalinity to zinc. The district conducts over 120,000 water quality tests every year, from watershed to faucet.

The students asked lots of great questions, such as whether there is fluoride in our water (yes) and if we need to filter our water (no). The students’ teacher, Mitch Cohen, wrote about their visit:

I am writing to thank you for your continuing support of high school science education. For the 4th straight year, my Advanced Placement Environmental Sciences Classes have had the opportunity to tour your water quality testing lab. I particularly want to thank and commend Jason Mitchell for doing a fantastic job in guiding our tours . . . It is a unique opportunity for students to be able to see a functioning laboratory that deals with the concepts we are covering in class. Thanks again to Jason and all of the MMWD management for providing this ongoing opportunity to your high school neighbors.

Because our Water Quality Lab staff are so busy, they are not able to offer regular tours of the lab. But they do their best to accommodate requests from teachers when they can. Tours are best suited to AP science students. For information, contact Lab Manager Larry Grabow.

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