Valley of the Moon Water District
Celebrates ASR Grand Opening

SONOMA VALLEY, Calif. On July 28, 2026, Valley of the Moon Water District welcomed project partners, public officials, members of the media, and community representatives to celebrate the completion of the Park and Verano Aquifer Storage and Recovery Project.
The Valley of the Moon Water District ASR Grand Opening brought together representatives from the California Department of Water Resources, the San Francisco Bay Regional Water Quality Control Board, the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors, Sonoma Water, the Sonoma Valley Groundwater Sustainability Agency, EKI Environment & Water, Weeks Drilling, and the District’s Board and staff.
“This project represents an important investment in the long-term reliability and resilience of our community’s water supply,” said Valley of the Moon Water District Board President Steve Caniglia. “On behalf of the Board, I want to recognize the District staff and project partners whose expertise and persistence brought this project into operation, as well as the Department of Water Resources for making this investment in Sonoma Valley.”
The event began at the District office with opening remarks from General Manager Matt Fullner, followed by a presentation from District operations staff. The presentation walked attendees through the project’s development, including construction of the two facilities, the pilot study used to confirm the project’s feasibility, and the systems and procedures now used in day-to-day operation.
Guests then traveled together to the Park site, where the ASR system was actively injecting water into the aquifer. Attendees saw real-time water-quality monitoring equipment in operation, viewed the District’s Human-Machine Interface and Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition system, and spoke directly with District staff about how the facility is operated and monitored.
The tour continued at the Verano site. Although the facility was not operating during the visit, staff explained how it is designed to place water into a deeper portion of the groundwater basin that has experienced declining groundwater levels. Staff also discussed the operational similarities and differences between the Park and Verano facilities.
Aquifer storage and recovery allows the District to store water underground when supplies are available and recover it later during droughts, periods of peak demand, or emergencies. The Park and Verano project will help improve local water-supply reliability, reduce pressure on the groundwater basin during dry periods, and strengthen the District’s drought and emergency resilience.
Approximately $3 million in funding from the California Department of Water Resources’ Urban and Multibenefit Drought Relief Grant Program made the project possible. Its successful completion also required years of technical evaluation, pilot testing, regulatory coordination, design, construction, and hands-on work by District staff and project partners.
“This project is an excellent example of what can be accomplished through collaboration, persistence, and a shared commitment to long-term water-supply reliability,” said General Manager Matt Fullner. “It gives the District another important tool for responding to drought and emergencies while supporting the sustainable management of Sonoma Valley’s groundwater resources. We are proud of what our staff and project partners accomplished, and grateful to DWR for providing the funding that made it possible.”
The grand opening marked an important milestone for the District and also demonstrated the potential for future ASR expansion. Continued investment and regional partnerships could allow aquifer storage and recovery to play an even greater role in Sonoma Valley’s long-term water-supply strategy.

Valley of the Moon Water District provides reliable public water service to approximately 23,000 residents in Sonoma Valley. Through responsible planning, infrastructure investment, and regional collaboration, the District works to protect public health and provide a resilient and sustainable water supply for the community.