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Wednesday, March 22, 2006 Quote of the Day: ""Outside a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside a dog, it's too dark to read." Groucho Marx (Thanks to Margaret Brooks at Long Beach Water Department for this one.) Born on this Day: Louis L'Amour, Karl Malden, Marcel Marceau, Pat Robertson, William Shatner, Glen Campbell, George Benson, Bob Costas, Andrew Lloyd Webber, Lena Olin, Stephanie Mills, Matthew Modine, Cole Hauser, Kellie Williams, Reese Witherspoon, and John Otto. On this Day in 1980: People for Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) was founded by Ingrid Newkirk and Alex Pacheco. 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: Modesto Irrigation District: Water Treatment Plant Operator City of Santa Monica: Field Inspector I City of Santa Monica: Water Maintenance Worker Long Beach Water Department: Division Engineer City of Anaheim: Senior Civil Engineer Want more? See all postings. Pic of the Week Water tank being constructed in Imperial, Calif. "Hundreds of new homes are being built in this small town in the Imperial Valley, and this little city is getting itself prepared for its future and doing a fine job of it!" according to Tommy Mills with the IID. Do you have a photo you'd like to submit? Send us an e-mail. BC Exclusive Water King's Legacy Generations after William Mulholland's birth, his lessons still resonate for California. "Born Sept. 11, 1855, in Belfast, Ireland, he emigrated to the United States at age 22. During a 40-year career, he shaped the future of Southern California's water system and became known as the man who brought Los Angeles to life." Today's News —  Water Supply Poor still pay for water in developing nations (Associated Press, 3/22) "Violent protests have driven away corporate investment in desperately needed municipal water systems in developing nations. So the world's poor buy bottled water from Coke, Pepsi and other multinational companies." Citizens voice concerns over Shasta River supply (Siskiyou Daily News, 3/22) "About 75 people attended a four-hour public comment period conducted by the California Regional Water Quality Control Board (RWQCB) Wednesday night, all very concerned about the demands being placed upon irrigators who take water from the Shasta River." Desal plant moving forward in Cambria (SLO Tribune, 3/21) "A major step forward toward construction of a plant to desalinate seawater for use in Cambria will be marked with a ceremony Monday." Valley's water hopes pinned on bill (Stockton Record, 3/21) "Water officials trying to replenish the Valley's parched groundwater basin are placing their faith in a legislator's bill they hope will change state law just enough to get the job done." More western drought, but with a twist (New York Times, 3/21) "Spring is here, and the West is dry and ready to burn. Winter is over, and the West is snowpacked and facing flood." —  Perchlorate Unity on Perchlorate cleanup (San Bernardino Sun, 3/22) "Stop it from spreading. Clean up what's there. Make sure there's plenty of water for everybody. That's the gist of a $106 million plan to clean a rocket-fuel ingredient from the groundwater in Rialto, Colton and Fontana." Agreement on perchlorate cleanup near (Inland Valley Daily Bulletin, 3/21) "Stop it from spreading; clean up what's there; make sure there's plenty of water for everybody." Massachusetts proposes tough perchlorate standard (WaterWeek, 3/20) "Massachusetts water suppliers would have to reduce perchlorate levels to 2 micrograms/L and routinely monitor for the rocket-fuel chemical under a regulation proposed by the state Department of Environmental Protection (DEP)." —  Dams and Levees Sutter County asks for new dam directive (Marysville Appeal-Democrat, 3/22) "Sutter County levee maintenance would become a state Department of Water Resources job under a motion to be submitted today." Dam relicensing pact signed in Oroville (Chico ER, 3/22) "Tuesday, 50 local stakeholders, and state and federal agency representatives, signed the Lake Oroville Relicensing agreement at the Kelly Ridge Pavilion." What's up with the Oroville Dam? (Oroville Mercury-Register, 3/21) "Today, the city of Oroville and about 45 other agencies and stakeholders will sign a final settlement agreement for relicensing of the Lake Oroville Dam with the California Department of Resources." California mired in its own levee crisis (Christian Science Monitor, 3/21) "New Orleans' levees aren't the only ones getting close scrutiny these days. California's deteriorating network of water barricades - humbler in structure than those in the Big Easy but no less key to the health and safety of millions of residents - is prompting state and local officials to speak in 'state of emergency' terms." Reclamation contract for study of Hoover Dam (Bureau of Rec. News Release, 3/21) "As a result of the decline in Lake Mead's elevation since 1999, the Bureau of Reclamation has initiated a program to modify the turbines at Hoover Dam to increase their electrical generating capacity at lower lake levels." —  Surface Water Delayed U.S. ruling irks fish industry (Sacramento Bee, 3/21) "As federal fisheries managers move inevitably closer to closing the Pacific Coast salmon season this year because of plummeting Klamath River runs, anger is building that the Commerce Department still hasn't ruled on an economic disaster declaration for last year's heavily restricted season." Vintners serve ecology (San Francisco Chronicle, 3/21) "The Navarro River in Mendocino County's Anderson Valley once ran year-round, supporting robust runs of coho salmon and steelhead trout. Not any more." —  Wastewater Morro Bay plant aims for upgrades by 2015 (San Luis Obispo Tribune, 3/21) "The sewage treatment plant serving Morro Bay and Cayucos is one of just three in the state that does not meet all clean water standards. For the past two decades, the plant has operated under a waiver that allows it to discharge partially treated wastewater into the ocean north of Morro Rock." —  Nukes Radioactive material found under N.Y. plant (MSNBC, 3/22) "High levels of a radioactive material — nearly three times the amount permitted in drinking water — were found in groundwater near the Hudson River beneath a nuclear plant, the owner said Tuesday." —  Local/Agency News Utilities accuse Pasadena plant of overcharging (SGV Tribune, 3/22) "Pasadena Water and Power is at the center of yet another legal dispute over electricity sales made at the height of the California energy crisis." SMUD, others hit by power crisis suit (Sacramento Bee, 3/21) "California officials and the state's two largest electric utilities have sued 20 municipal power companies from Sacramento to Los Angeles, seeking $500 million in refunds related to power sold during the energy crisis." 50th anniversary for HBMUD (Eureka Times-Standard, 3/21) "This month marks the 50th anniversary of the Humboldt Bay Municipal Water District and the watershed enterprise that would influence growth and industry in the region like few others." Zone 7 Agency expects hike in 2007 water rates (Contra Costa Times, 3/21) "The Zone 7 Water Agency, the valley's water wholesaler, anticipates a 6.8 percent increase in 2007 water rates for retailers serving Livermore, Pleasanton, Dublin and Dougherty Valley." —  Everything Else Climate change threatens poorest countries (Reuters, 3/21) Thanks to Mark Moss for this one: "Droughts, floods, changing rain patterns and rising sea levels are threatening development in the world's poorest countries, experts and aid workers said Monday at an international water forum." Mayan underworld proves researchers' dream (Reuters, 3/21) "The ancient Maya once believed that Mexico's jungle sinkholes containing crystalline waters were the gateway to the underworld and the lair of a surly rain god who had to be appeased with human sacrifices." 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