Monday, March 20,
2006
Quote of the Day: "Human beings are the only
creatures on earth- Bill Cosby
Born on this
Day: Henrik Ibsen,
Ozzie Nelson, Carl Reiner, Fred "Mr." Rogers,
On this Day in
1990: The Los Angeles
Lakers retired Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's #33.
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Today's News
—
Worldwide Water
Experts: World's water
problems and solutions can be found on the farm (Associated
Press, 3/20) " Farms
and their wasteful irrigation systems are a major contributor to water
scarcity on the globe, nations at a world water summit said Saturday. "
Fourth
World Water Forum highlights
(IISD News Release), 3/20) "On
Sunday, 4th World Water Forum participants addressed the Forum
framework theme of 'Water Supply and Sanitation for All,' convening in
plenary and thematic sessions. Africa took center stage on this fourth
day of the Forum, as the continent’s water challenges were addressed
in the regional presentation and various thematic sessions, and its
vibrant culture presented in traditional performances held throughout
the venue. "
Experts gather to discuss water crisis
(Associated Press, 3/19) Thanks to
Sue Shimer for this one: " The
numbers behind the world's water crisis are daunting. About 1.1
billion people lack clean drinking water, causing diseases that kill
3.1 million people a year. And 1.7 million deaths could be prevented
with better sanitation. "
Palestinians losers in Mideast water war (Associated Press, 3/19) "Israel
is believed to monopolise around 75 percent of Palestinian water
resources in a region where rainfall is infrequent and water a
strategic asset. "
"Cancer village" highlights China's water woes (Associated Press, 3/19) " More
than 70 percent of China's rivers and lakes are polluted, while
underground water supplies in 90 percent of Chinese cities are
contaminated, according to government reports. "
Rains kill Kenyan wildlife after killer drought (Associated Press, 3/19) " Short
rains have killed scores of Kenya's famed wildlife herds in the Rift
Valley region, amid a searing drought that had already decimated
livestock and wild animals across the east African region, officials
said. "
— Water Supply
Orinda to discuss water pipe upgrades
(Contra Costa Times, 3/20) " Since
1997, the Moraga-Orinda Fire District has collected about $8 million
from a fire flow tax that Orinda voters thought a portion of which
would be spent to fix their aging pipes. "
Desalinated water a sweet deal, a sticky problem
(Political Gateway, 3/20) " Desalinating
sea water for coastal populations is 10 times cheaper than in the
1990s, experts note, while others warn of environmental hazards. "
Water now set to flow in Mojave pipe
(SB Sun, 3/19) "It
took more than 30 years to turn a dream into reality. On Saturday,
officials dedicated a 76-mile-long pipeline that will carry water from
the California Aqueduct to Newberry Springs. "
State has abundance of water in the bank If
California suddenly went dry, and no rain or snow fell for two
straight years, the state would still have enough water to go around
thanks to this year's wet winter, meteorologists and water experts
said Friday. "
Storms leave California's water tank full
(Associated Press, 3/18) " A
series of late winter storms that blanketed the Sierra Nevada with
snow has left California flush with water for the foreseeable future,
according to meteorologists and hydrologists. "
—
Infrastructure Bond
Package
Water storage stymied bond package
(Mercury News, 3/20) " With
his $68 billion public works borrowing plan about to sink last week,
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger desperately urged Republicans and Democrats
to find common ground on a fundamental issue: whether to repair dams,
build new ones or leave them off the infrastructure package entirely. "
Perata now in driver's seat on infrastructure
(Inside Bay Area, 3/20) " Losers
in the infrastructure bond war clutter the political scene, from the
governor to regular Californians — except for one lawmaker who may
swiftly win final OK of $1 billion for levees and seems to be taking
over future public works upgrade plans. "
Partisanship, regionalism win out on bond deal
(Desert Sun, 3/20)
Editorial. " The
inability to find common ground ended any chances of a bond proposal
making the June ballot. For the sake of California, legislative
leaders and the governor need to keep talking and find a proposal all
can support for the November election. "
Politics kill infrastructure bond measure
(Appeal-Democrat, 3/20)
Editorial. " No
infrastructure deal is better than a bad infrastructure deal. So
Californians should rejoice that the state Legislature and Gov. Arnold
Schwarzenegger were unable to come to an agreement before last
Wednesday's deadline to put on the June ballot an initiative to
rebuild parts of the state's crumbling infrastructure. "
Come flood or drought, water is incendiary topic (Contra Costa Times, 3/19) " With
his $68 billion public works borrowing plan about to sink last week,
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger desperately urged Republicans and Democrats
to find common ground on a fundamental issue: whether to repair dams,
build new ones, or leave them off the infrastructure package entirely. "
Sacramento is inviting a disaster
(LA Daily News, 3/18) Column.
" I'm
almost tempted, given the bad behavior of politicians in Sacramento
over whether to upgrade California's decaying levees, roads,
reservoirs and other infrastructure, to just sit back and hope a nasty
500-year flood inundates the Capitol with thick muck. "
What went wrong with bond plan
(Sacramento Bee, 3/18) Column.
" With
his proposal for a major public works bond package dead for the June
ballot and in danger of not happening at all, Gov. Arnold
Schwarzenegger now looks like a hapless leader who not only cannot get
along with Democrats but also can't depend on his own Republican
allies for votes when he needs them. "
—
Levees
—
Surface Water
—
Wastewater
—
Local/Agency News
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