Creek Water Offset

Sebastopol, California | Design Technician

Context: In partnership with Gold Ridge Resource Conservation District in Sonoma County, this project enhances summer streamflow, improves farm water security, and serves as a demonstration site for water sustainability and climate change resiliency. By augmenting creek flows, the project also supports local endangered fish species, such as salmon, which require a minimum of 6 inches of water depth for their juveniles to survive.

Task: The objective was to define the property's annual water demand and assess potential surfaces for rainwater capture to support the creek's restoration.

Approach: A 50,000-gallon tank system was designed to capture winter stormwater for summer use. With the region receiving 30-40 inches of rainfall annually, the project harnesses runoff from two impermeable structures: an old photovoltaic system and a work shed roof. Due to the photovoltaic system's low elevation, a subsurface transfer tank is used, pumping water to a metal storage tank, enhancing water security and supporting creek restoration.