About Brown and Caldwell

Specialty Pages Asset Management Infrastructure Funding Water Resources BC News Exclusives Water in the West Water Mission in Iraq Big Changes for Little Walnut Creek Hurricane Katrina  Grizzly Water Veterans Road Warrriors: Water pros kick-start 'Buffalos' motorcycle gang Bennett's Beacon Going Coastal With Ellen Stern Harris

Staff Ken Harlow, Crusty Editor Jennifer Finley, Managing Editor (E-mail Jennifer)

Recent News 3/1/2006 3/2/2006 3/3/2006 3/6/2006 3/7/2006   Archives About this newsletter Reader kudos Reader FAQs

Resources Meetings Agency links Other links Blogs: Hill Water Issues blog Los Osos Sewer blog Notakeover.info Politics of water ScienceBlog.com Tothelastdrop

Wednesday, March 8, 2006 Quote of the Day: I went to a fight the other night, and a hockey game broke out. Rodney Dangerfield Born on this Day: Oliver Wendell Holmes, Alan Hale, Jr., Sue Ane Langdon, Lynn Redgrave, Mickey Dolenz, Carole Bayer Sager, Aidan Quinn, Camryn Manheim, Shawn Mullins, Freddie Prinze, Jr.,  and James Van Der Beek. On this Day in 1618: Johann Kepler discovered the third Law of Planetary Motion. 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: Plumas County: Director of Public Works City of Huntington Beach: SCADA Technician 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 Want more? See all postings. Pic of the Week Loveland Reservoir "This photo shows Sweetwater Authority's controlled water release from Loveland Reservoir in Alpine, to the Sweetwater Reservoir in Spring Valley, CA (a distance of about 17 miles via the Sweetwater River). The release began January 4, 2006, starting at 100 cubic feet per second (cfs) and then ramped-up to 300 cfs." Compliments of Sue King with the Sweetwater Authority. Do you have a photo you'd like to submit? Send us an e-mail. 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/Projects Permits lacking for Delta pumping (Contra Costa Times, 3/8) "California's largest water delivery system lacks the most basic permits required by the state's endangered species protection law, an association of anglers charged today in a formal lawsuit threat."  Orland hopes for $1.5 million for project (Chico ER, 3/8) "The project includes improvements to storm water drainage, sewer, water lines and roads. It would also include the addition of businesses in the area." Barstow project advances amid water worries (San Bernardino Sun, 3/7) "Despite neighbors' concerns that a major northside development using septic tanks could contaminate their well water, a 300-home housing project along the Mojave River will move ahead." Newhall County agency to vote on report (LA Daily News, 3/7) "The water agency that would serve a planned industrial park in Newhall will vote Thursday on a new report that shows there is enough water to supply the project, despite a lawsuit that claims the contrary." Moving on desal; Help, don't hinder deal (SD Union Tribune, 3/7) Editorial. "Like Carlsbad, Huntington Beach just approved a public-private partnership with Poseidon Resources Inc. to build and operate a desalination plant." —  Water Quality Studies of chloramine in water proposed (IBA, 3/8) "Marilyn Raubitschek can't take a bath or cook with tap water until she removes the disinfectant chloramine that causes sores on her skin. The scars on her legs are reminders that taking showers is now off-limits because of chloramine."  Hardness in water may not be health benefit (WQA News Release, 3/7) "The World Health Organization (WHO) is reviewing scientific literature to determine whether consumption of calcium and magnesium in drinking water leads to lower instances of cardiovascular heart disease." —  "The" Bond Proposal/Infrastructure Infrastructure is a hot topic as deadline looms (Rocklin and Roseville Today, 3/8) "Whoever would have thought that 'infrastructure', California's long-neglected investment in highways, levees, water storage and other vital public works, would have become the preoccupation of Capitol politicians from the governor down?" Opposition to water-bill fees places plan at risk (SD Union Tribune, 3/8) "Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's ambitious waterworks plan for the state could cost San Diego County homeowners and businesses about $2 million every month."   Bond plan sets off lobbying frenzy (Associated Press, 3/7) "From the North Coast to Southern California, local governments, environmentalists, business groups are turning up the lobbying heat on state lawmakers and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger as they try to grab a share of what could be the largest bond measure in the state's history." Legislators must vote to back repair bond (LA Times, 3/7) Column: "Now is the time to shift our attention to our state's most critical transportation and water-supply infrastructure needs. They demand immediate attention. Inaction risks serious health hazards, job loss, and quite literally disaster to our state water supply." —  Levees Private land for levees? (Sacramento Bee, 3/7) "The state of California could move to seize private land to repair eroding levees under the authority of a recent emergency declaration, a revelation that worries some observers." SLO boulders shoring up Santa Maria River levee (SLO Tribune, 3/7) "The nearly 600 tons of granite being moved from northern San Luis Obispo County to the Santa Maria River bed will provide a quick fix to strengthen the levee. The Santa Barbara County Flood Control District needs about $20 million for a longer-term solution." —  Delta Anglers say they may sue (Stockton Record, 3/8) "The Department of Water Resources is violating state law, because it never got the permits required to take the thousands of Delta smelt and chinook salmon that die at the pumps near Tracy every year, the California Sportfishing Protection Alliance said Tuesday." —  Wastewater Rio Vista wastewater plant nearly complete (Contra Costa Times, 3/8) "Construction of Rio Vista's new wastewater treatment plant is nearing completion, with most of the work scheduled to be done in the next three months." It's a dirty job for O.C. sanitation worker (OC Register, 3/7) "Where would you be without Gary Kemper? Kemper is a senior plant operator for the Orange County Sanitation District. Every day, he shepherds tons of sludge through digesters and belt presses and into the mammoth trucks that haul it away." —  Flooding Sacramento River floods parts of county (Red Bluff Daily News, 3/8) "The Sacramento River flooded in Red Bluff, Tehama and along the Woodson Bridge east of Corning Monday."   Change of flood zone expands Woodland growth (Woodland Daily Democrat, 3/6) "Building in a deep flood zone within Woodland has previously been forbidden, but because of a change in city rules, certain areas that were previously not developable have become so, opening opportunities for existing businesses to expand and new companies to come calling." —  Cleanups Appeal delays vote on La Sierra cleanup project (Riverside P/E, 3/8) "The council delayed a decision Tuesday to make the developer of two subdivisions that could put 167 houses on the site of the city's old agricultural park in La Sierra responsible for clearing the site of toxins." —  Nukes Nuclear plant spills trigger water worries (MSNBC, 3/8) "Years of radioactive waste water spills from Illinois nuclear power plants have fueled suspicions the industry covers up safety problems and sparked debate about the risks from exposure to low-level radiation." —  Meetings WaterWise Breakfast Program Installation of Officers & Directors (AWA Ventura County, 3/7) March 16. "Consensus, Collaboration, Ca…Ching $$$: Join AWA to learn about the current efforts in Ventura County of collaboration on watershed regulation requirements, including data collection and monitoring plan strategies." MWDOC Water Policy Forum (NC Times, 3/7) March 16. "MWD General Manager Jeff Kightlinger will present Metropolitan’s annual 'State of Southern California’s Water Supply Report' at the Municipal Water District of Orange County’s Water Policy Forum & Dinner next Thursday, March 16." Central Valley Project Improvement Act - Restoration Fund Roundtable Meeting (Bureau of Rec. News Release, 3/7) March 16."The Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation), in coordination with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), will participate in a Central Valley Project Improvement Act (CVPIA) Restoration Fund Roundtable meeting to provide information on the background, purpose, and status of the CVPIA Program Performance Review." —  Local/Agency News Calexico residents face steep rate increases (IV Press, 3/8) "Residents here likely will see sharp water and sewer service bill increases from 2007 through 2009 as the City Council learned Tuesday existing revenue sources will leave the city’s utility funds broke as early as next year." Rainbow water board to consider survey (NC Times, 3/8) "In a special meeting today, directors of the Rainbow Municipal Water District will consider proposals from professional teams interested in conducting the district's customer survey." Boosting morale at the Salton Sea Authority (IV Press, 3/7) Editorial: "So what is the advisable path to take when you are an agency running out of money and time? The answer, of course, is to hire more people and give raises to employees." ORAC plans to sign DWR settlement (Chico ER, 3/7) "Despite some opposition in its ranks, the Oroville Recreation Advisory Committee directed its chairman to sign a settlement agreement on recreation and economic issues March 21 with the California Department of Water Resources." Bills would alter Thornton reclamation board (Stockton Record, 3/7) "Two state lawmakers have introduced legislation that would give Thornton residents more say in reclamation district elections that are currently dominated by large landowners." —  Everything Else Walnut Creek accident leads to safety bill (Occupational Hazards, 3/7) "The deaths of five workers resulting from a gasoline pipeline explosion have inspired a California state senator to introduce pipeline safety legislation." 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