<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN">
<HTML><HEAD>
<META http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=windows-1252">
<META content="MSHTML 6.00.2900.2963" name=GENERATOR>
<STYLE></STYLE>
</HEAD>
<BODY bgColor=#ffffff>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>
<DIV class=Section1>
<P class=MsoNormal style="LINE-HEIGHT: 150%; TEXT-ALIGN: center"
align=center><B><FONT face="Univers (W1)" size=5><SPAN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 16pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 150%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Univers (W1)'; LETTER-SPACING: -0.2pt">Sonoma
County Water Agency<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns =
"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="LINE-HEIGHT: 150%; TEXT-ALIGN: center"
align=center><B><FONT face="Univers (W1)" size=5><SPAN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 16pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 150%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Univers (W1)'; LETTER-SPACING: -0.2pt">Press
Release<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><B><U><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; LETTER-SPACING: -0.2pt">For Immediate
Release</SPAN></FONT></U></B><SPAN
style="LETTER-SPACING: -0.2pt">
<B><SPAN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">CONTACTS:</SPAN></B><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN-RIGHT: -0.5in"><B><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; LETTER-SPACING: -0.2pt">November 14.
2006
</SPAN></FONT></B>Brad
Sherwood
<B><SPAN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; LETTER-SPACING: -0.2pt"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN-RIGHT: -63pt"><B><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; LETTER-SPACING: -0.2pt">
</SPAN></FONT></B><SPAN style="LETTER-SPACING: -0.2pt">Programs Specialist
</SPAN>(707) 521-6204 <B><SPAN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; LETTER-SPACING: -0.2pt"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN-RIGHT: -63pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">
</SPAN></FONT><FONT size=1><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt">
<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" align=center><B><FONT
face="Times New Roman" size=5><SPAN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 16pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" align=center><?xml:namespace
prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" /><st1:place
w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName w:st="on"><B><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=5><SPAN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 16pt">North</SPAN></FONT></B></st1:PlaceName><B><FONT
size=5><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 16pt"> <st1:PlaceType
w:st="on">Coast</st1:PlaceType></SPAN></FONT></B></st1:place><B><FONT
size=5><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 16pt"> Recommended to Receive
$25 Million for Water Management, Environmental Restoration Projects
<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><B><I><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-STYLE: italic"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></I></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" align=center><B><I><FONT
face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-STYLE: italic">State Recommends
$25 Million for Integrated Regional Water Management Projects;
<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></I></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" align=center><B><I><FONT
face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-STYLE: italic">Additional
Proposition 84 Funds are Anticipated <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></I></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">Santa Rosa, CA – The Sonoma County Water Agency (Agency)
announced today that $25 million in state grant funding has been recommended to
the North Coast from the 2004 water bond, Proposition 50 and an additional $37
million will be allocated to the Region from the recently approved Proposition
84. The funding will be used for water supply reliability, clean water, water
recycling, environmental restoration and fisheries, and watershed planning
projects included within the North Coast Integrated Regional Water Management
Plan (IRWMP). <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">On November 13, the California Department of Water
Resources and the State Water Resources Control Board released its <FONT
color=black><SPAN style="COLOR: black">preliminary funding recommendations for
the Integrated Regional Water Management Implementation Grant Program.
</SPAN></FONT>Ranking first on the recommendation list is $25 million for
projects within the North Coast Integrated Regional Water Management Plan.
<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">“The incentive provided by Proposition 50 funding has
led to regional planning efforts throughout the state that will help to improve
water supplies, water quality, and the natural environment of California,” said
John Woodling, Chief, Conjunctive Water Management Branch, California Department
of Water Resources. “The <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName
w:st="on">North</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType
w:st="on">Coast</st1:PlaceType></st1:place> integrated regional plan is an
extraordinary effort to bring together interests from a large and diverse area
for mutual benefit. It effectively incorporates the water management
approaches we are trying to encourage in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:State
w:st="on">California</st1:State></st1:place>.”<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">The plan was developed by a consortium of cities,
counties, tribes, non-governmental organizations, watershed groups and
interested stakeholders from the counties of Del Norte, Siskiyou, Modoc,
Humboldt, <STRONG><U>Trinity,</U></STRONG> Mendocino and <st1:place
w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Sonoma</st1:City></st1:place>. The coalition
has spent the last three years working to create the comprehensive plan that
will enhance the beneficial uses of water, recover salmonid populations and
promote intra-regional cooperation throughout the North Coast Region.
<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">“This regional plan is the product of a tremendously
dedicated team of representatives from seven northern counties. They shared
their knowledge and energy to create one of the most encompassing water-related
documents in the State.” said Humboldt County Supervisor and Chair of the North
Coast IRWMP Policy Review Panel Jimmy Smith. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">Jake Mackenzie, Vice Chair of the North Coast IRWMP
Policy Review Panel and Councilmember for the City of <st1:place
w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Rohnert Park</st1:City></st1:place> added, “The
North Coast IRWMP team is deeply honored to be the top ranked application in the
State. We feel that this is the result of the combined efforts and extraordinary
commitment of our Technical Peer Review Committee, support staff, project
proponents, stakeholders and Policy Review Panel.”<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">The Agency initiated the effort to prepare an IRWM plan
for the North Coast Region. The Agency Board of Directors funded the
initial development of the plan and directed staff to work with a network of
agencies in seven counties to reach consensus on the funding priorities for the
region. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">“The $25 million received for the North Coast IRWMP is
monumental for the Agency and the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName
w:st="on">North</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType
w:st="on">Coast</st1:PlaceType></st1:place>,” said Paul Kelley, Chairman of the
Sonoma County Water Agency Board of Directors. “Receiving this funding
demonstrates the importance of regional cooperation and the commitment of the
Agency and the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName
w:st="on">North</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType
w:st="on">Coast</st1:PlaceType></st1:place> to work together to for the
sustainable management of our natural resources.”<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">Local projects benefiting from funding include:
upgrades to the Graton wastewater treatment facility; the construction of
new sewer collection, treatment and disposal for the community of Monte Rio;
habitat restoration and enhancement for seven federally-protected salmon,
steelhead and plant species through the implementation of Sonoma County’s Water
Recycling and Habitat Preservation Project; and the development of a watershed
management plan for the Russian River.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">Catherine Kuhlman, Executive Officer of the North Coast
Regional Water Quality Control Board said, "The IRWMP process has been
phenomenal. The <st1:PlaceName w:st="on">North</st1:PlaceName>
<st1:PlaceType w:st="on">Coast</st1:PlaceType> projects put together from
participants from Modoc to <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City
w:st="on">Sonoma</st1:City></st1:place> will have an incredible and positive
effect on our waterways."<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">Development of the plan also enabled several <st1:place
w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName w:st="on">North</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType
w:st="on">Coast</st1:PlaceType></st1:place> communities to secure funding
through other state grant programs. Taken together, funding from
Propositions 40 and 50 will total some $38 million. Proposition 84,
approved by the voters on November 7<SUP>th</SUP>, will add an additional $37
million in funding for North Coast Regional Plan projects and up to $45 million
for restoration of coastal salmon and steelhead populations.
<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><B><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">David Lewis, Chair of the North Coast IRWMP’s Technical
Peer Review Committee and Watershed Management Advisor for the <st1:place
w:st="on"><st1:PlaceType w:st="on">University</st1:PlaceType> of <st1:PlaceName
w:st="on">California Cooperative Extension</st1:PlaceName></st1:place> stated,
"This grant award will be a wonderful extrinsic acknowledgement of our effort
and needed boost to our regional capacity. What should not be overlooked,
however, is the intrinsic value that our process has had in increasing our
capacity and understanding to do regional water resource planning. The
willingness of project proponents and the Region’s Policy Review Panel and
committee members to identify and develop a plan to address shared project and
county issues made this possible. This plan and our motivation to
implement it is a benefit derived from the process that matches in value the
grant support we stand to receive."</SPAN></FONT><FONT face="Courier New"
size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Courier New'"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><B><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">For more information regarding the <st1:place
w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName w:st="on">North</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType
w:st="on">Coast</st1:PlaceType></st1:place>’s Integrated Regional Water
Management Planning effort please visit <A title=http://www.northcoastirwmp.net/
href="http://www.northcoastirwmp.net/">www.northcoastirwmp.net</A>.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" align=center><I><FONT
face="Times New Roman" size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-STYLE: italic"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></I></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" align=center><B><FONT
face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">###<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" align=center><I><FONT
face="Times New Roman" size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-STYLE: italic"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></I></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" align=center><I><FONT
face="Times New Roman" size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-STYLE: italic">Sonoma County Water Agency provides
water supply, flood protection and sanitation services for portions of
<st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Sonoma</st1:City></st1:place> and Marin
counties. Visit us on the Web at <A
href="http://www.sonomacountywater.org/">www.sonomacountywater.org</A>.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></I></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P></DIV></FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>