Sonoma Water is preparing for a potentially challenging winter season by identifying vulnerable infrastructure, completing priority maintenance, evaluating essential water and wastewater systems, and coordinating preparedness and response activities across the agency and with regional partners.
Our focus is on taking practical steps now to reduce risk, maintain essential services and prepare to respond as conditions change.
View the Mirabel Dam - a seasonal inflatable dam on the Russian River operated by Sonoma Water
Sonoma Water assesses infrastructure and operational needs to identify potential storm-related risks and prioritize appropriate protective measures. Some improvements may be implemented through seasonal maintenance, while others may necessitate additional planning, funding, permits, or longer-term projects. Preparedness is an ongoing process, and priorities may be adjusted in response to changes in weather forecasts, site conditions, and operational requirements.
Flood protection facilities and waterways are inspected and maintained to function as intended during wet weather. Seasonal work includes vegetation management, sediment and debris removal where appropriate, infrastructure inspections, and checks of monitoring equipment and stream gauges. Field crews evaluate areas that may need additional maintenance or protective measures.
Winter storms may affect facilities, equipment, access routes, and the systems necessary to maintain essential water and wastewater services. Sonoma Water conducts thorough assessments of potential vulnerabilities and plans for operational challenges, including flooding, equipment failures, and access disruptions. These efforts help identify measures to minimize service interruptions and ensure readiness to respond should impacts occur.
Sonoma Water is coordinating preparedness activities across divisions and with Sonoma County and other regional partners to share information, coordinate operations and prepare for potential storm impacts. Coordination helps agencies make informed decisions as conditions change and respond to impacts that may extend across jurisdictional boundaries.
Before the storm
Staff review forecasts, reassess priority risks, check readiness, complete feasible protective actions and coordinate operational needs.
During the storm
Staff monitor changing conditions, assess impacts, communicate emerging issues and implement appropriate operational and emergency actions. Coordination may be expanded as needed.
After the storm
Staff assess damage and operational impacts, restore affected services, document lessons learned and identify additional corrective or mitigation actions. The timing and scale of these activities will depend on actual conditions, operational requirements and incident impacts.
For official evacuation instructions, emergency alerts, road closures and incident announcements, visit SoCoAlert and Sonoma County Emergency Readiness, Response and Recovery.
Sonoma Water will use this preparedness page to communicate agency-specific readiness activities, significant progress and relevant seasonal updates as the 2026–2027 wet season progresses.
Weather and Rainfall
- National Weather Service Weather/Flood Advisories for the Region
- Sonoma OneRain Website - Interactive map with live data from county-wide streamflow and rainfall gauges.
River Conditions
- Sonoma Water Russian River Flood Forecast Hotline: (707) 526-4768
- Russian River Flood Forecast - NOAA: Guerneville
- Russian River Flood Forecast - NOAA: Healdsburg
- Russian River Flood Forecast - NOAA: Hopland
Russian River Levels and Flow Data
- California Data Exchange Center provides real-time river level data and forecasts for the Russian River and Dry Creek.
- California Department of Water Resources - Division of Flood Management provides data for Russian River flows.
- Russian River Flood Stages - View a graphic illustrating flood stage levels for Hopland, Healdsburg and Guerneville.
- U.S. Geological Survey provides data on river levels and flows from stream gauges maintained along Dry Creek and the Russian River. Data is provisional and subject to change, although it is the most accurate information available.
Reservoir Levels and Discharge Rates
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers provides hourly and daily information about reservoir levels and discharges for both Lake Mendocino (Coyote Valley Dam) and Lake Sonoma (Warm Springs Dam).
Sonoma County Emergency Information
- 2-1-1 Sonoma - An information and referral call center connecting Sonoma County residents with non-emergency health, human, and disaster resources. Available by phone by calling 2-1-1 and searchable online 24/7, its comprehensive database connects residents to accurate and up-to-date information and services. Visit www.211sonoma.org.
- Sonoma County Road Conditions Map
Sonoma Water Flood Protection and Infrastructure
- - Central Sonoma Watershed Project Four flood protection reservoirs on Santa Rosa Creek, Matanzas Creek, Paulin Creek and Brush Creek in Santa Rosa.
- Forecast-Informed Reservoir Operations - FIRO is a flexible water management approach that uses weather forecasting to help water managers retain or release water from reservoirs.
- Sonoma Water Stream Maintenance Program - Our team works in and around 85 miles of engineered flood control channels and streams throughout Sonoma County.
- Sonoma Water Pre-Winter Stream Maintenance - Map of the streams Sonoma Water works in and around.