Page 30 - Sonoma County Gazette December 2017

Working to Protect our Waterways in this Rainy Season
As the rainy season starts, multiple state, regional and local agencies are preparing for the potential impacts of the recent wild res on our communities.
Drinking water is safe and continually monitored, but because the county’s natural watersheds lter drinking water, it is critically important that ash, debris and other pollutants are prevented from entering stream systems to the maximum extent possible. In addition, creeks and streams within burned watersheds have elevated risk of ooding, debris ow and landslides due to increased rain runo and potential for sediment and debris to ll and block channels and culverts.
There are 617 streams in the areas affected by re in Sonoma County.
KBBF Recognized for Community Outreach
As Sonoma County begins the process of recovering and rebuilding after
the wild res that ravaged many neighborhoods and parklands, organizations continue to do vital outreach to the community. KBBF was the sole source of continuous Spanish-language and bilingual coverage of the res and related stories for those tumultuous rst two weeks. Since the re, the station’s building has also served as a donation point and distribution center to people in need.
Now, the Healthcare Foundation of Northern Sonoma County has stepped up to recognize KBBF and Alicia Sanchez, the president of the station’s Board of Directors, for all the hard work and on-the-ground reporting the volunteers performed. The Healthcare Foundation focuses exclusively on the northern end of the county, from northern Santa Rosa to the Mendocino border. With
its emphasis on access to health and mental health services, as well as early childhood development, it does a lot to support the area’s Latino residents.
Its annual philanthropy luncheon, in December, will include awards for Sanchez as well as James Gore and KSRO’s Pat Kerrigan.
Debbie Mason, the CEO of the Healthcare Foundation, credits KBBF with keeping “...our community healthy and well during the re disasters.”
A Smashing Trunk or Treat
The wild res were not completely contained when Halloween was approaching. The organizers of KBBF’s annual Trunk or Treat festivities wondered if the event should go on considering all the heartache and worry in the community. They then decided that it was exactly what families needed to boost their spirit and come together for something positive. Clearly, KBBF’s supporters and neighbors agreed. The parking lot was full of people checking out low-riders, wearing costumes, enjoying foods, listening to music, and watching performances by Windsor Bloco and Aztec dancers.
Connecting with Young Scientists at
North Bay Science Discovery Day
KBBF also sta ed a table at the yearly Science Fair hosted at the Fairgrounds. The station did live broadcasting with educators on site as well as the participants.
How to Donate to KBBF
Fans and supporters of KBBF have three ways they can donate to the station. 1. Send a check by mail to Bilingual Broadcasting Foundation, Inc. (BBFI), P.O.
Box 7189, Santa Rosa, CA 95407.
2. Bring a check by the station, located at 1700 Corby Avenue, Suite B, SR, 95407 3. Donate online, either with a one-time gift or a recurring monthly
contribution. For more information, consult kbbf.org/donate/
Several local agencies are working collaboratively and independently,
to assess and reduce the risk of ooding and to prevent re-related debris, pollutants and sediment from burned areas from being carried into storm drains, creeks and rivers. Because of investment in data tools over the last several years, these agencies are rapidly performing hydrologic modeling to evaluate threats to the watersheds and to help establish priorities for recovery actions. Using data from NASA and other sources, agencies are able to track sources of pollution in the watershed that have the highest likelihood of moving into stream systems during this winter’s storms.
The mutual goal is to protect human health, critical infrastructure (bridges, roads, culverts, ood protection facilities), wildlife, and the natural environment including streams and waterways. Efforts include:
● In urban areas, the City and the County in coordination with the Regional
Water Board are cleaning and checking storm drains, and installing straw wattles and sandbags to prevent debris from entering storm drains. In addition, plans are being developed to capture, store, and treat storm water runoff from the most impacted urban areas. The Water Agency is evaluating impacts to flood management facilities and planning for additional maintenance and possible different operations to responds to increased debris, sediment and flow.
● In rural areas, the County is checking and installing debris-capture devices in culverts and ditches along rural roadways. The Open Space District is assessing district-owned properties within the burned areas for hazardous conditions including downed and damaged trees and areas where erosion may affect streams and watersheds.
● The Water Agency, Regional Water Board, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratories and US Geological Survey are developing a water quality monitoring strategy to assess water quality conditions in local waterways.
● The Regional Water Board is also working with local erosion control and sediment control companies to determine supplies they have on hand, and how they can assist local agencies in quickly mobilizing. Several companies (The Wattle Guys and Stevenson Equipment) have donated supplies and equipment to agencies in this effort to keep potentially toxic ash from entering creeks and streams.
Information on what property owners can do to reduce erosion and help prevent flooding will be shared at sonomacountyrecovers.org/ shortly.
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