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Tuesday, March 7, 2006 Quote of the Day:  "I think a hero is an ordinary individual who finds strength to persevere and endure in spite of  overwhelming obstacles." Christopher Reeve Born on this Day: Willard Scott, Daniel J. Travanti, Michael York, Tammy Faye Bakker, John Heard, Lynn Swann, Bill Brochtrup, Taylor Dayne, and Rachel Weisz. On this Day in 0322 BC:  Aristotle, the Greek philosopher, died. 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: Lake Arrowhead Community Services District: Engineering/Planning Project Manager Lake Arrowhead Community Services District: Water Conservation and Grant Coordinator Mesa Consolidated Water District: Senior Water Systems Operator City of Santa Cruz: Plant Operator I/II Marina Coast Water District: Operations Engineer Want more? See all postings. BC EXCLUSIVE CWA: A Watershed Moment "A showdown over water quality is simmering in the nation's highest court, as justices consider the definition of "navigable waters" — a decision that could dilute the authority of the Clean Water Act." Today's News —  Water Supply Rain helps drown Ventura's conservation request (Ventura County Star, 3/7) "Water officials Monday lifted their week-old urgent request for extra conservation efforts in southern and eastern Ventura County."   Recycling proposed for Victorville landscaping (SB Sun, 3/7) "Civic leaders are drawing up a proposal to use reclaimed, aqueduct and construction water to serve parks, schools and other landscaped areas in fast-growing west Victorville." Draft EA available for SCVWD water project (Bureau of Rec. News Release, 3/7) "The Bureau of Reclamation announces the availability of the Draft Environmental Assessment (EA) for a water banking program that would allow the Santa Clara Valley Water District (SCVWD) to bank a portion of its Central Valley Project (CVP) contract supply in Semitropic Water Storage District (Semitropic) facilities, for use by SCVWD at a later date." —  Floods and Levees Private levee, private land, private woe (San Francisco Chronicle, 3/7) "A failing system of levees more than a century old was responsible for flooding Monday that inundated vineyards and farmland and briefly closed Highway 121 in Sonoma County." Levee breach in Sonoma County floods farmland (Oakland Tribune, 3/7) "A Sonoma County levee that failed in the New Year's Day flood broke again Monday morning, threatening a half-dozen homes and a winery on surrounding farmland, according to weather and traffic authorities." Los Osos services district to pay for flood repair (SLO Tribune, 3/7) "Because of an ongoing conflict with its insurance company, the Los Osos services district will pay at least $20,000 out of its own funds to fix six homes that were damaged after a water main ruptured in November." Louisiana delegation studies Dutch levees (Associated Press, 3/7) "The beleaguered engineers trying to shore up the city's flood protection say they learned a major lesson during a tour of Dutch levees and floodgates: It's unfair to compare projects here to those in the Netherlands, where the government has spent billions of dollars on flood control." What to do in two feet of water? (Chico ER, 3/7) "Two pairs of Chico area men had very different experiences Monday morning as floodwaters inundated roads around Butte County, closing at least 15 of them." Group questions damage figure from flooding (Redding Record Searchlight, 3/6) "The Shasta Area Red Cross used figures from Hurricane Katrina to predict the level of damage caused by a stream overflowing in South Redding — a method a charity watchdog group says was misleading." Tempting fate: Trees vs. levee (Sacramento Bee, 3/5) "Sacramento's Mayhew levee could be a poster child for the challenges that often surround simple urban flood-control projects. " —  Salton Sea Raise for SSA chief; boost for sea plan (Imperial Valley Press, 3/5) "The Salton Sea Authority, its future still in question as it runs out of money, has granted its executive director, Ron Enzweiler, a 5 percent raise amid a renewed authority campaign for its sea restoration plan." A visit to California's accidental lake (Redland Daily Facts, 3/4) "The Salton Sea shimmers in the sun, brown foam and white bubbles skimming its surface. At 367 square miles, the inland lake is the largest in California and offers more than its share of natural beauty." —  Other Surface Water Study will delve deep into Morro Bay (SLO Tribune, 3/7) "The $3.5 million ecosystem management program will examine components of the bay’s environment in what could be a model for the rest of the nation." USGS reports low pesticide levels in streams (WaterWeek, 3/6) "A 10-year study by the US Geological Survey (USGS) of pesticide levels in US streams and aquifers concludes that pesticides 'are seldom at concentrations likely to affect humans.'" China to spend a billion to repel wetland rats (Reuters, 3/6) Another from Mark Moss: "China will target a 7.5 billion yuan ($934 million) fund at repelling an invasion of rats eating their way across fragile wetlands on the Tibetan plateau, the China Daily said on Friday." San Joaquin's route debated (Fresno Bee, 3/5) "About 100 miles downstream of Friant Dam, the San Joaquin River trickles to the foot of an imposing concrete barrier with gates blocking the river." —  Wastewater EMWD: Wastewater projects receive funding (Riverside P/E, 3/7) "Major wastewater projects in the San Jacinto, Temecula and Perris valleys are among those receiving funding from a $160 million bond sale just concluded by the Eastern Municipal Water District." Petaluma facility uses wetlands to treat sewage (San Francisco Chronicle, 3/7) "Petaluma residents soon will help local wildlife simply by flushing their toilets." —  Bond Proposal Bonds or bust? (Sacramento Bee, 3/6) Editorial: "The Legislature and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger have until March 10 to agree on any bond proposals for voters to consider on the June ballot." —  Local/Agency News Galt wastewater guru named city's top employee (Lodi Sentinel, 3/6) "John Griffin is Galt's guru when it comes to the city's sewer treatment plant." —  Everything Else Antarctica is shrinking (Nature.com, 3/6) Thanks to Sue Shimer for this one: "First Greenland, and now Antarctica. Research shows that both of these massive ice sheets are getting smaller." 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