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Thursday, March 2, 2006 "I think it would be a good idea." (when asked what he thought of Western civilization) Mahatma Gandhi Born on this Day Dr. Suess Desi Arnaz Doc Watson Tom Wolfe Mikhail Gorbachev John Irving Eddie Money Karen Carpenter Laraine Newman Jay Osmond Jon Bon Jovi Heather McComb and Robert Iler. On this Day in 1861: The U.S. Congress created the Territory of Nevada. Thinking about a condition assessment program? Do it the smart way! Read the newest paper on the Asset Management page on using risk principles to structure your CA program. After all, if you didn't care about risk, you probably wouldn't be doing CA at all -- so use risk to fight risk, and spend your customers' money wisely. Sent to more than 23,000 readers nationwide... and thousands more via our lineup of online ads like the one above that appears on watertechonline.com Latest postings: San Gabriel Basin Water Quality Authority: Director of Finance Elsinore Valley Municipal Water District: Backflow and Cross Connection Specialist Western Municipal Water District: Field Services Technician I/II - Meter Reader Orange County Water District: Hydrogeologist Orange County Water District: Senior Electrical and Instrumentation Technician Want more? See all postings. Today's News —  CalFed Call for proposals for the 2006 CALFED water use efficiency grants program (Bureau of Rec. News Release, 3/1) "The Bureau of Reclamation announces the availability of $2.4 million in Federal funds from the CALFED Water Use Efficiency Grants Program for agricultural and urban grants to implement water use efficiency projects." —  Water Supply Lodi weighs water treatment plant (Lodi Sentinel, 3/2) "The Woodbridge Irrigation District is nudging Lodi to build a water treatment plant as a way to use the 6,000 acre-feet it sells the city each year, rather than using it to bolster groundwater levels." Funds sought for San Joaquin River water deal (Fresno Bee, 3/2) "The Bush administration's top water official said Wednesday he was 'cautiously optimistic' about a potential deal to resolve the future of the San Joaquin River." Environmental groups sue CLWA (The Signal, 3/1) "Two environmental groups are suing the Castaic Lake Water Agency over its adoption of a master plan for the region’s water supply, alleging that it relies on “paper water” and potentially unreliable deliveries of water from the state." Water prompts suit over L.A. County growth (LA Times, 3/2) "Santa Clarita Valley water agencies can't deliver enough water for the rapidly growing northern frontier of Los Angeles County and increased demand will only reduce stream flows along the 100-mile Santa Clara River, a coalition of environmental groups charge in a lawsuit." Huntington Beach desal plant clears hurdle (Orange County Register, 3/1) "In the culmination of a years-long battle, Huntington Beach officials voted early Tuesday to allow what would be the largest seawater desalination plant in the country." Madera County moves to buy water firm (Fresno Bee, 3/1) "The Board of Supervisors opened the door Tuesday for an Oakhurst-based maintenance district to seek federal money for a future purchase of privately owned Hillview Water Co." —  Levees Another $3.5 billion sought for levees (Associated Press, 3/2) "Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger on Wednesday threw a new wrinkle into negotiations over his public works bond plan, asking lawmakers to approve another $3.5 billion for levee repairs." Police helicopter to keep eye on levees (Sacramento Bee, 3/1) "The FLIR infrared camera can pick up ground temperature changes caused by water leakages in the Sacramento River and American River levees. The seepages can signal larger problems that could lead to the levees' failure to contain water, said Sgt. Terrell Marshall, a Sacramento Police spokesman." Gov. finds friendly ear for levee aid (Los Angeles Times, 3/1) "Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger on Tuesday sought to make the case for Congress and the White House to provide federal aid to shore up the state's levees, even in a time of tight federal budgets." California seeks disaster funds for delta repairs (San Francisco Chronicle, 3/1) "California's Republican governor and two Democratic senators joined forces Tuesday to ask for $23.55 million in emergency federal funds for levee repairs in the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta." —  Surface Water San Diego plans to appeal La Jolla beach ruling (SD Union Tribune, 3/2) "San Diego is appealing a judge's order requiring excavation of the beach at Children's Pool in La Jolla in hopes of solving a bacterial problem caused by harbor seals." Klamath water quality focus getting sharper (Eureka Times Standard, 3/2) "Water quality agencies are mid-stream in developing plans to help clean up the Klamath River's water, considered imperative to boosting salmon and other fish populations." —  Clean Water Act Feds oversteps bounds in water protections (Arizona Daily Star, 3/2) Opinion. "When the U.S. Supreme Court considered questions last week about the federal government's authority under the Clean Water Act, certain interest groups immediately trotted out their scare tactics, claiming any curtailing of federal power would leave our nation's water dirty and our rivers so polluted they would catch fire." —  Wastewater LOAPUD settles sewage dispute (Chico ER, 3/2) "A 30-year-old dispute over the operations and maintenance of the Lake Oroville Area Public Utility District has been settled." —  Endangered Species Act A move to ease pesticide laws (SF Chronicle, 3/1) "A little-noticed section of a congressional bill to overhaul the Endangered Species Act would give federal regulators a five-year pass from seeking expert scientific advice from wildlife agencies on the harmful effects of pesticides on rare animals and plants, a move environmentalists say would further threaten hundreds of animals including several in the Bay Area." —  Workshop Olivenhain offers free gardening workshop (Olivenhain News Release, 3/2) "The Olivenhain Municipal Water District (District) is holding a free gardening workshop for residents in its service area on Saturday, March 11 from 9:00 A.M. to 12:00 P.M at the District Headquarters.  This class will cover ornamental plants that are California friendly, use less water and require less maintenance than their thirsty counterparts."   —  Local/Agency News Escondido considers water, sewage rate hikes (NC Times, 3/2) "Whether a farmer or a family of four, everyone should pay for what they use. That's the philosophy behind a proposal to raise Escondido's water and sewer rates over the next several years." PUC may order Fontana water rate probe (Inland Valley Daily Bulletin, 3/2) "Reduced rates or refunds could be the result of an investigation that may be ordered today by the state Public Utilities Commission into the Fontana Water Co." Weaning Vallecitos water officials from the trough (SD Union-Tribune, 3/1) "When two elected directors of the Vallecitos Water District attended an industry conference in Mission Valley last fall, they stayed at a hotel even though they lived within commuting range." Early start to irrigation on hold due to weather (Modesto Bee, 3/1) "Given Monday's storm, coupled with the promise of more rain — and possibly snow — over the next few days, the Modesto and Turlock irrigation districts may wait until mid-March before filling irrigation canals." —  Everything Else Homes in England forced to get water meters (BBC, 3/1) Thank to Francie Kennedy for this one: "A water company in Kent has been given the go-ahead to force 65,000 householders to install water meters"   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