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Wednesday, February 1, 2006 Quote of the Day: "Suburbia is where the developer bulldozes out the trees, then names the streets after them." Bill Vaughn Born on this Day: Clark Gable, Boris Yeltsin, Sherman Hemsley, Rick James, Bill Mumy, Sherilynn Fenn, Pauly Shore, Princess Stephanie, and Lisa Marie Presley. On this Day in 1790: The U.S. Supreme Court convened for the first time in New York City. 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: Rancho California Water District: Customer Service Manager Brown and Caldwell: Principal Engineer - Infrastructure Orange County Water District: Engineer City of Irvine: Management Analyst I/II Helix Water District: Safety/Risk Administrator Want more? See all postings. Pic of the Week Cone Valves can really make a dramatic show of flow (Photo by Mike McMaster, City of Pleasanton Utilities Dept.) "This photo shows the new valves just installed and working at Calaveras Reservoir, 1997 San Francisco Water Department-picture taken during a tour of the new facilities by Mike McMaster then from the City of Pleasanton Utilities Department. Just as your finger comes off the end of the hose and you get more flow, flow from the valve is shown here is at 65% open and becomes less dramatic when opened more." according to Mike McMaster, Operations Superintendent, North Marin Water District. Do you have a photo you'd like to submit? Send us an e-mail. Today's News —  Water Supply States OK drought plan for Colorado River (Salt Lake Tribune, 2/1) "The seven Colorado River Basin states Tuesday apparently overcame a final intramural feud and will send a letter to Interior Secretary Gale Norton this week indicating that they have reached a basic agreement on how the river will be managed under drought conditions." Report details water conditions through 2030 (Contra Costa Times, 2/1) "California faces major difficulties in supplying water to a growing population while maintaining a vibrant agricultural economy and a healthy environment. But the latest state water plan says it can be done." See the report from DWR by CLICKING HERE. Lake Skinner plant to close for upgrade (Riverside P/E, 2/1) "Temecula-area water officials are hoping for rainy skies and cool temperatures beginning Sunday, which is when a treatment plant that serves much of southwest Riverside County and San Diego County will be shut down for 11 days." Montebello recycled water pipeline gains support (Pasadena Star-News, 1/31) "A regional water district has proposed a $50.3 million, 11.4-mile pipeline to deliver recycled water from the Los Angeles County Sanitation Districts to the Montebello golf course and a proposed Vernon power plant." —  Water Quality Regulators look to rid valley's water of salt (Modesto Bee, 2/1) "State water regulators began in earnest Tuesday to search for solutions to one of the Central Valley's most pressing problems — the buildup of salt in groundwater and surface water." Water fleas used in homeland security measure (Associated Press, 1/31) "Much as coal miners used canaries to detect toxic gases in mines, the city will use a type of water flea to test reservoirs for toxins that could be dumped by terrorists." USEPA issues new perchlorate guidance (Waterweek, 1/31) "New USEPA guidance for mitigating perchlorate contamination recommends a preliminary clean-up goal of 24.5 micrograms/L, which is equal to the drinking water equivalent level (DWEL) established by the agency last year based on a National Academy of Sciences review of perchlorate health risks." —  Strategic Growth Plan Legislative hearings on strategic growth plan (DWD News Release, 1/31) "Director Snow testified today to the Senate Natural Resources and Wildlife Committee, and the Assembly Water, Parks and Wildlife Committee on Governor Schwarzenegger's Strategic Growth Plan.  To see the presentation to the Assembly, CLICK HERE.   —  Stormwater Storm drain proposal delayed (NC Times, 2/1) "The county has delayed a plan to condemn a half-acre of a Menifee family's property to study alternatives that could spare the family from losing any land to be used for a flood channel." Yearly damage $8 million on Orestimba Creek (Modesto Bee, 2/1) "Orestimba Creek looks innocent enough as it trickles out of the Diablo Range and meanders toward the San Joaquin River. But it's not nearly as benign when winter storms persist." Flood agency GM quits, takes new post (Sacramento Bee, 2/1) "The general manager of the state Reclamation Board stepped down Tuesday, just four months after Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger purged the state's top flood-control agency of its board members." Flood discourse mired in politics (Sacramento Bee, 1/31) Column: "If politics were logical, Californians and those they elect to office would embrace the hurricane-spawned floods that devastated New Orleans as a warning about what looms for Northern California lowlands — if we continue to push habitation into flood-prone areas with inadequate protections." Flood control governor? (Sacramento Bee, 1/31) Editorial: "Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger hopes to create a legacy of improving Central Valley flood protection, yet the other day his Republican allies in the Assembly nearly sidetracked a simple bill to link planning with known flood dangers." No change in Pajaro River's path (Monterey Herald, 1/31) "The Pajaro River held its course Sunday, calming fears that the highest tide of the year would force the river down its former channel into the north harbor at Moss Landing and across Highway 1." Is Santa Maria susceptible to flood? (Santa Maria Times, 1/30) "It's easy to forget that Santa Maria is protected by a levee, since the Santa Maria River is dry for much of the year, but the levee and its health are always on the mind of Tom Fayram, who oversees its operation and maintenance." —  Wastewater Septic tank owners in Los Osos not flushed out (SLO Tribune, 2/1) "Water quality regulators will wait until Feb. 9 -- the latest allowed by law -- to publicly identify the 50 homes in Los Osos that will be forced to pump their septic tanks." —  Meetings Orange County residents invited to tour construction site for new water purification plant (OCWD News Release, 1/31) Feb. 4. "As part of an ongoing effort to provide Orange County residents with information about the GWR System and the construction of the water new purification facility on Ellis Avenue, officials from Orange County Water District will host a tour of the construction site and the existing water purification plant." Upper District offers free ultra low flush toilets (OCWD News Release, 1/31) Feb. 4. "On Saturday, February 4th, the Upper San Gabriel Valley Municipal Water District will be providing free, ultra low flush toilets (ULFT) to San Gabriel Valley residents who live within the District’s boundaries." —  Local/Agency News El Centro City to conduct hearing on water rates (IV Press, 2/1) "The El Centro City Council will go through a second formal process of conducting a public hearing and adopting a resolution to increase water and wastewater rates after an error in a report confused the effective date of each increase." Alta proposes water-rate increase (Fresno Bee, 1/31) "Ballots will be sent out to landowners in the Alta Irrigation District today on a proposal to increase rates to enable the district to balance its operational and maintenance needs for the next five years." —  Everything Else AWWA and AWWRF announce the publication of a new research report: Improved Exposure Assessment on Existing Cancer Studies (AWWA, 1/31) "The objective of this study was to reanalyze two well-conducted, peer-reviewed epidemiology studies in Iowa and Ontario, that reported an increased risk of bladder cancer associated with chlorinated drinking water and trihalomethanes (THMs). Is the risk of cancer from DBPs in chlorinated drinking water greater or less than currently thought? Can specific cancer-causing compounds be identified? Can DBP formation be accurately predicted?" 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