The Greenway is part of City’s Water Infrastructure
The Southeast Greenway is more than just a beautiful open space—it’s also a vital resource for Santa Rosa’s water infrastructure.
This summer, the City of Santa Rosa Water Department and the Santa Rosa Plain Groundwater Sustainability Agency are working together to test an existing well on Martha Way. The goal is to evaluate the feasibility of storing and recovering drinking water in the underground aquifer. Valuable information will be gathered to assess how the land under the Greenway can protect our water supply for use during droughts, emergencies, or times of high demand.
Starting mid-July, crews will be out on the property to complete the following:
- Pump about 3 million gallons of water into the ground, and later recover it
- Use temporary fencing, water tanks, and equipment on-site
- Run a generator to power the project
- Follow all strict environmental regulations to protect the land
Work is expected to conclude in October. There are no anticipated impacts to nearby creeks or groundwater levels, but these will be closely monitored. The project is funded by a grant from the California Department of Water Resources and will help the City consider water banking projects in the future.
Learn more at santarosaplaingroundwater.org/asr-martha.
Photo courtesy of Greg Cox