An informational tour of the Copeland Creek watershed was hosted by the WATERS Coordinator Claudia Luke and Sonoma County Water Agency to discuss water, land, and Copeland Creek flooding challenges. The group also stopped briefly at site of the proposed detention basin east of Petaluma Hill Road. In attendance were SSU faculty and students, Sonoma County Water Agency, Rancho Adobe Fire District, City of Rohnert Park, Sonoma Resource Conservation District, City of Petaluma, Supervisor Susan Goren, Supervisor David Rabbitt, members of the local community, and others.
At right, Dr. Owen Anfinson discusses why flooding occurs at the site where Copeland Creek jumped its banks, flooded property in the area, and temporarily closed Lichau Road. Dr Anifinson's student Isaac Russo and Dr. Michelle Goman's student Jesse Gebauer are working on senior studies that characterize how the system functions so that solutions can be found.