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Thursday, February 23, 2006 Quote of the Day: "Life has two rules: Number one, never quit; Number two, always remember rule number one." Duke Ellington (Thanks to Sonja Wassgren Morgan for this one!) Born in the Day: George Frederic Handel, W.E.B. DuBois, Norman Lindsay, Peter Fonda, Steve Priest, Eddie Dibbs, Ed ‘Too Tall’ Jones, Patricia Richardson, Brad Whitford, Howard Jones, Robert Collins, John Norum, and Kristin Davis. On this Day in 1995: The Dow Jones Industrial closed above 4,000 for the first time at 4,003.33. 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: Yuba County Water Agency: Hydroelectric Powerplant Operator Yuba County Water Agency: Assistant Power Systems Manager Inland Empire Utilities Agency: WWT Operator OIT to Gr. V San Bernardino Municipal Water Department: Director of Finance Tahoe-Truckee Sanitation Agency: Engineer Want more? See all postings. Today's News —  Water Bond/Water Plan Water bond proposal missing key supporter (Central Valley Business Times, 2/23) "Fix the levees. Protect and bolster California’s water supplies. But don’t ask us to pay for it with a special fee, says the Association of California Water Agencies." Schwarzenegger's water plan raises concerns (NC Times, 2/22) "San Diego County water leaders Tuesday said they weren't very happy with Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's plan to create a new water tax that would raise billions of dollars from local agencies and their ratepayers and give half of it to the state" —  Water Supply Tracy farmers may come up dry (Stockton Record, 2/23) "It seems city residents and businesses will be sufficiently hydrated again this year, while area farmers may need to do a little more rain dancing."  Council leans toward purple pipe approval (Daily Press, 2/22) Thanks to Debbie Benson for this one: "After a two-hour workshop on the importance of installing a "purple pipe" recycled water system, City Council members indicated the issue will be adopted by early March."   Early start to irrigation season foreseen (Modesto Bee, 2/22) "Barring a return of earthsoaking rains, the Modesto Irrigation District could begin filling canals March 3 — about two weeks sooner than the traditional mid-March starting date." Modesto official urges water alliance (Modesto Bee, 2/22) "Quality and quantity. When it comes to drinking water in Modesto, those living and working south of the Tuolumne River soon could be thirsting for both, warned the city's top water official." Brooktrails to ask state for more connections (Ukiah Daily Journal, 2/21) "By a 3-2 vote, the Brooktrails board has voted to ask the state to allow 10 more water connections to the community's overtaxed water system." —  Water Quality Repairs may affect Ventura County's water taste (LA Times, 2/23) "Some residents of western Ventura County may notice that their tap water smells or tastes a little funny once repair work begins this weekend on a major pipeline extending from Los Angeles County." Pendleton to treat high lead in water (SD Union Tribune, 2/23) "Camp Pendleton brass said yesterday it is on its way to resolving lead contamination of the base's southern drinking-water system." —  Levees Feinstein joins effort to protect the Delta (San Mateo County Times, 2/23) "Government officials' sudden election-year rush to brace California's infrastructure against age and disaster reached a near frenzy Wednesday, but without any deals and amid a new poll showing that voters are becoming skeptical." Delta's levees remain a top-flight concern (Alameda Times-Star, 2/22) "Government officials' election-year race to brace California infrastructure against age and disaster reached a near frenzy Wednesday, but no deals were struck, and a new poll showed voters are becoming skeptical." Congressional leaders to seek more funding (Sacramento Bee, 2/22) "A helicopter tour Wednesday of the region's river levees so punctuated the flooding risks in the capital that state Sen. Dianne Feinstein and other Congressional leaders vowed to seek emergency funding in Washington and to help Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger get a state bond issue passed." Group gives Central Valley levees poor grade (Sacramento Bee, 2/22) "If the Central Valley flood protection system was hoping to finish high school, it would need some serious tutoring." —  Stormwater Officials take to sky for flood risk survey (Sacramento Bee, 2/22) "Two contingents of high-ranking national politicians have scheduled helicopter tours to survey flood control problems facing Sacramento and the Central Valley. The first lifts off today just after lunchtime." —  Wastewater Safety of post-hurricane sludge in dispute (Washington Post, 2/23) "Floodwaters from Hurricane Katrina deposited arsenic, lead and petrochemical compounds across greater New Orleans in amounts that are potentially dangerous to human health despite federal and state assurances that the sludge is safe, according to a new study based on Environmental Protection Agency data." Mexico's water chief hints at Bajagua OK (San Diego Union-Tribune, 2/22) "Mexico's top water official said yesterday that his agency would probably back a controversial proposal by a San Diego company to build and operate a sewage treatment plant in Mexico." —  Fish Kill Firm pays fine for Carbonera Creek fish kill (Santa Cruz Sentinel, 2/23) "The firm involved in a county project that resulted in a fish kill in Carbonera Creek in 2004 has agreed to pay a $50,000 penalty, most of which will go toward local stream mitigation projects."  —  Local/Agency News Seaside water board opens for business (Monterey Herald, 2/23) "Birth pangs are often difficult. The emergence of the Seaside Groundwater Basin Watermaster board Wednesday was no exception." IID Directors spar over motion on Local Entity (IV Press, 2/22) "Imperial Irrigation District President Andy Horne was accused of grandstanding by a fellow director Tuesday as he called on the IID board to take a stand in support of the Local Entity." 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