The WELL team traveled to the city of Calistoga to co-host the Legislative Water Workshop on Friday, December 13, 2019, in partnership with State Assembly Member Cecilia Aguiar-Curry (AD-4) and former WELLo and current WELL Advisory Board Member Irais Lopez-Ortega, a Calistoga City Council Member. More than 30 leaders from across the region met to discuss water issues affecting Northern California. Workshop attendees were comprised of elected officials from four counties, including Sonoma, Napa, Lake, and Yolo.
Dr. Samuel Sandoval Solis, Associate Professor at UC Davis, provided an overview of groundwater in the region with an amazing 3D demonstration. Grant Davis, General Manager at Sonoma Water, outlined the mechanics of water supply operations and reviewed opportunities for regional collaboration. Phil Miller, Deputy Director of Napa County Public Works, addressed sustainable groundwater practices and supply management strategies. Lastly, Joaquin Esquivel, Chair of the State Water Resources Control Board, discussed the role of the board and California’s current water policies.
WELL is grateful to these water experts for sharing their knowledge with local leaders as well as to the event moderator, Michael Kirn, Calistoga City Manager. We would also like to thank those who attended for their engagement in and their passion about their community’s water resources. For those who were not able to attend but want to know what was discussed, we live-streamed the entire event to WELL’s Facebook page.