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Tuesday, January 10, 2006 Quote of the Day: "Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power." Abraham Lincoln Born on this Day: Sal Mineo, Jim Croce, Frank Sinatra Jr., Rod Stewart, Cyril Neville, George Foreman, Pat Benatar, Shawn Colvin, Evan Handler, Brad Roberts, Trini Alvarado, Chris Smith, and Josh Ryan Evans. On this Day in 1776: Thomas Paine published his pamphlet "Common Sense." Never read the text? Click here. Sent to more than 20,000 readers nationwide... and thousands more via our lineup of online ads like the one above that appears on watertechonline.com Latest postings: CO: Broomfield: Plant Operator or Trainee — Wastewater CO: Denver: Engineer III CO: Mancos: Public Works Operator Walnut Valley Water District: Utility Service Lead Walnut Valley Water District: Utility Service Worker Want more? See all postings. *****BC EXCLUSIVE*****            Bennett's Beacon For nearly 10 years, Dave Bennett and family have made their home at Kevich Light, a Wisconsin lighthouse on the shores of Lake Michigan. It's pretty cool, he says, and the sunsets are gorgeous. READ MORE>>> < This lighthouse was built by the Kevich family in 1981 and is certified by the U.S. Coast Guard. Today's News —  Colorado River Tentative pact on Colorado River (Salt Lake City Tribune, 1/7) "Peace - on the Colorado River, at least - is at hand. Representatives of the seven Colorado River Basin states announced Friday they have reached a tentative agreement about how the river will be managed during water shortages." Users meeting: State wins concessions (Las Vegas Review-Journal, 1/7) Thanks to Mark Briggs for this one: "Nevada won key concessions that should provide more water to a thirsty Clark County, as two days of closed-door talks on the future of the Colorado River wrapped up on Friday at Lake Las Vegas." Officials leave Colorado River talks with concept (Las Vegas Sun, 1/6) "Representatives for seven Western states that rely on the Colorado River said Friday that they are on track to meet next month's deadline for turning over a water-sharing proposal to Interior Secretary Gale Norton." —  Other Water Supply Stockton near deal on water dispute (Stockton Record, 1/10) "City officials have drafted a deal in which the city would pay its waterworks operator $4.9 million to settle the contractor's claim it is owed millions of dollars more to run the city's expanding water operations." California's water supply not endless (NC Times, 1/10) Commentary: "California's water plan, currently being updated, implies that our supply of water to support development is endless. This plan does not address the crucial question of what is the limiting supply of water and what is the implication of this water supply barrier on the population that can be supported?" Owens Valley residents, DWP locked in standoff (Los Angeles Times, 1/9) "The strange daily ritual started shortly after Los Angeles water authorities slapped a chain and lock on a wheel controlling a diversion gate on Pine Creek — the lifeblood of a mountain enclave known as 40 Acres." Vallejo drinking water at mercy of Delta levee (Vallejo Times Herald, 1/9) "A breached Delta levee wouldn't threaten life and limb in Vallejo, but drinking water could be jeopardized, officials say." A settlement near over San Joaquin River water (Fresno Bee, 1/9) Editorial: "Farmers and environmentalists have been clawing and scratching at each other for nearly two decades over the San Joaquin River and the water behind Friant Dam. As hard as it may be for some longtime observers to believe, a settlement may be in sight." Water rights of districts by Idyllwild under fire (Riverside Press-Enterprise, 1/8) "The Fourth of July is months away but sleepy Idyllwild might want to prepare for fireworks. Water is generating heat." Receding groundwater threatens Boston's legacy (ENN, 1/9) Thanks to Mark Moss for this one: "The dried-out wooden pilings beneath Lewis Lloyd's multimillion-dollar Beacon Hill town house were rotting out from under him." —  Water Quality Sutter boiling tap water (Marysville Appeal-Democrat, 1/10) "Residents in the community of Sutter were advised this weekend to boil their tap water or buy bottled water after a routine test detected bacteria in the system." LADWP: Hypocrisy in a bottle (Sacramento Bee, 1/9) Editorial: "Here's a case of a government agency that isn't exactly leading by example. Los Angeles' water department has spent a million bucks in the last two years trying to convince southlanders that the tap water truly is safe and tasty. Meanwhile, back at headquarters, the staff is drinking bottled water - and sticking ratepayers with the tab." —  Levees Panel urges immediate repair of delta levees (San Francisco Chronicle, 1/10) "The crumbling levees of the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta should be repaired immediately, water officials, scientists, business leaders and environmentalists urged Monday after hearing a report on a $40 billion catastrophe that a major earthquake could wreak on California's water system." Levee repair couldn't be timelier (Woodland Daily Democrat, 1/7) "Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's state-of-the-state pledge Thursday to put $6 billion toward California's ailing levees couldn't be more timely for local officials attempting to bail themselves out of flooded portions of the Suisun Marsh. " They're lobbying for levees (Marysville Appeal-Democrat, 1/8) "If there's flood control money to be had, you can bet that Yuba-Sutter officials will be lining up with hands outstretched." —  Wetlands and Surface Water Scenarios meant to ignite talks over Delta (Contra Costa Times, 1/10) "A leading expert on the crush of troubles plaguing the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta offered a half-dozen alternatives on how to fix the Delta to a Monday meeting of business leaders from the Bay Area and Southern California." OCWD gets millions for wetlands restoration (OCWD News Release, 1/9) "The U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced a federal grant for the State of California, associated with severe storms and flooding from last winter’s rains." —  Stormwater Ranking floods a murky subject (Santa Rosa Press Democrat, 1/9) "Before automated gauges were placed in the water, numbers painted on a Guerneville bridge pier recorded the height of Russian River floods. When the water got high enough, floods were measured on the wall of a real estate office a block from the river." Heavy rains underscore need to upgrade state's flood controls (Sacramento Bee, 1/9) Column. "Heavy Christmas week rains gave Californians a muddy taste of the potential danger that killer floods pose as the state's ever-increasing population packs into floodplains, thus becoming ever more dependent on aging and deteriorating river levees." Meek Dry Creek can roar (Modesto Bee, 1/7) "Warm sunlight danced atop the rivulet of cold water as it curled and zigged and snaked and zagged down the rolling countryside. This undistinguished slip of a stream is Dry Creek." —  Wastewater Fortuna plans wastewater rate workshop (Eureka Times Standard, 1/10) "The Friendly City hopes to remain just that, though friendliness will have its price. During an almost two-hour workshop, members of the Fortuna City Council have learned there was a strong possibility residential and business sewer rates could rise from 48 percent to 133 percent." Clear Creek sewer plant recovers after overflow (Redding Record Searchlight, 1/9) "A break in the rain has let Redding’s swamped Clear Creek sewer plant catch up with its treatment load." —  Local/Agency News Hearings open in water case (Inland Valley Daily Bulletin, 1/10) "The Fontana Water Co. made an opening pitch Monday for more money from its customers, but lawyers for parties fighting the company subsequently questioned data the company is using in its attempt to impose steep rate hikes." Public works proposal criticized (Monterey Herald, 1/10) "The state treasurer on Monday said Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's proposed $222.6 billion public works program is full of ''gimmicks,'' relying on billions in uncertain funding sources and proposed without clearly identified needs." He's flushed with success (OC Register, 1/9) "It wasn't enough for John Koeller to flush gummy bears down the toilet. No. In the name of science, he had to flush oatmeal and sausages and Cheerios and Play-Doh and toy water-wigglers before settling on the substance he now flushes with such gusto that he and his partner have become Canada's largest importer." About the California Water News The California Water News is a weekday e-mail with links to current news stories in the California water resources industry.  Subscription is free to qualified persons!  Please go to our subscription page to subscribe.  For more information, you can also see some frequently asked questions. Referrals to new subscribers are welcome, as are suggestions for new links, news stories, opinion pieces, and your agency's press releases.   Any documents you e-mail us may be published on our web site and linked to from the News, subject to editorial discretion. Ken Harlow Brown and Caldwell 400 Exchange, Suite 100 Irvine, CA 92702 714-689-4852