Community Corner

Marin Water Enacts Tough New Restrictions

Spray irrigation in Marin will be limited to one day a week and drip irrigation to two days a week.

Drought conditions exposed a cracked lakebed at the Nicasio Reservoir in Marin County in December 1976. The Marin Municipal Water District erected Seeger Dam on Nicasio Creek in 1961, which created the shallow 845-acre reservoir in the Nicasio Valley, 26-
Drought conditions exposed a cracked lakebed at the Nicasio Reservoir in Marin County in December 1976. The Marin Municipal Water District erected Seeger Dam on Nicasio Creek in 1961, which created the shallow 845-acre reservoir in the Nicasio Valley, 26- (Photo courtesy of California Department of Water Resources/Bay City News)

MARIN COUNTY, CA — New irrigation restrictions adopted by the Marin Municipal Water District board of directors Tuesday limit spray irrigation in the county to one day a week and drip irrigation to two days a week.

The new cutbacks revise previously passed restrictions from May that limited spray and drip irrigation to two and three days a week, respectively, along with other regulations such as prohibiting watering between 9 a.m. and 7 p.m.

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Board of directors vice president Larry Russell said in a statement that water demand doubles during the summer, in large part due to lawn irrigation.

"This drought is unprecedented and we're asking all of our customers to use as little water as they can," Russell said.

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The U.S. Drought Monitor currently classifies Marin County under exceptional drought, a stage at which wildlife death is widespread, fires are commonplace and water quality is poor.

Marin Water has declared a water shortage emergency and set a goal of 40 percent water use reduction to combat the drought.

Residents may choose which two days to use drip irrigation, however spray irrigation is limited to the following days:

Monday: Ross, Tiburon, Belvedere, San Geronimo, Forest Knolls, Lagunitas

Tuesday: San Rafael, Unincorporated Marin County Wednesday: San Quentin, Sausalito, Corte Madera, San Anselmo

Thursday: Mill Valley

Friday: Woodacre, Larkspur, Fairfax, Greenbrae, Kentfield

Spray irrigation is banned on Saturdays and Sundays.

Violating water restrictions can result in a written warning, $25 or $250 fine, depending on the number of violations.


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