March 2, 2026 

Hello Landowners,

In February, Sonoma County Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO) distributed an official notice regarding the proposed Alexander Valley Water District. This mailing was issued directly by the County as part of its formal review process and is separate from prior communications shared by the Russian River Property Owners Association. The notice was sent to all landowners within the proposed District boundaries, as well as to properties located within 300 feet of those boundaries.

To determine whether your property is located within the proposed District area, please use our interactive mapping tool below:

Mapping Tool:
https://oe-i.maps.arcgis.com/apps/instant/lookup/index.html?appid=5b3b56437dcc4683bfbfc63184556f7c

 

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NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

 NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN by the Sonoma Local Agency Formation Commission that the Commission will hold a public hearing on Wednesday, April 1, 2026, at or after 2:00 p.m., in the Sonoma County Administration Building, 575 Administration Drive, Room 102A, Santa Rosa, California.

 The purpose of the hearing is for the Commission to consider the following matter:

 File No. 2025-03: Proposed formation and establishment of a sphere of influence of the Alexander Valley Water District, a California Water District governed by landowners, to provide a variety of services to landowners within the proposed district boundary

 The proposal was initiated by landowners representing over 50% of the land area within the proposed district boundary.

 The affected territory includes lands overlying the Alexander Valley Groundwater Basin, excluding the City of Cloverdale, the City of Healdsburg, the Rains Creek Water District, Sonoma County’s County Service Area 41, publicly owned lands, and tribal trust lands in northern Sonoma County. A map of the affected territory is included in the Plan for Service filed by the applicants, available on the Sonoma LAFCO website at www.sonomalafco.org and on the petioners’ website at www.avwater.org

 Proponents of the formation are seeking LAFCO approval to provide these services: cooperation with local, regional and state agencies towards the conjunctive management of surface and groundwater resources through data management, optimization of groundwater recharge, conservation, and infrastructure financing. The proposed District would participate in a Groundwater Sustainability Agency if one were formed for the basin.

 Specific activities for the proposed district include:

 Expand and manage the Russian River voluntary water sharing program.

1. Participate in any new Eel River-Russian River diversion project.
2. Expand local groundwater investigation and management.
3. Pursue Alexander Valley groundwater recharge program.

 Owners of property included in the District would be subject to special taxes or assessments to support district operations. If the Commission approves or conditionally approves the proposal, landowners within the proposed or amended boundary will be asked to vote on three measures: approval or denial of the formation, approval or denial of special taxes or assessments to support the operation of the district, and votes for an initial slate of district directors.

 Copies of all related documents are on file and may be reviewed at the office of the Sonoma Local Agency Formation Commission and on its website at sonomalafco.org under Proposals and Projects. For questions, call Sonoma LAFCO: (707) 565-2577.

 By: Mark Bramfitt, Executive Officer                                                   Date: February 11, 2026