A couple of weeks ago, Paul Gullixson reported on the editorial board’s meeting with opponents of the Sonoma County Water Agency’s urban water management plan. Monday, we met with representatives of the agency to hear their side of the story.

The agency makes a good case, arguing that its planning and conservation efforts are on the cutting edge of what is being done statewide. In fact, the agency has even met with representatives of Lawrence Livermore Laboratory to discuss global warming and how it might possibly affect water supply in the North Bay.

More than anything, what came out of this and other meetings, is an awareness of the multitude of studies and activities currently under way regarding water use and reuse. There are dozens. In fact, one lobbyist we met with recently said he counted at least 30 different local efforts, all focused on different (but often overlapping) water issues — from ground water in the Sonoma Valley to conservation in Petaluma to endangered species in the Russian River.

As a gift, the agency left with us one of its newest studies: The 7.5-pound draft environmental impact report of the North Sonoma County Agriculture Reuse Project.

— Ann DuBay