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Thursday, March 23, 2006 Quote of the Day: "All I ask is the chance to prove that money can't make me happy." Spike Milligan Born on this Day: Erich Fromm, Joan Crawford, Marty Allen, Ric Ocasek, Chaka Khan, Amanda Plummer, Keri Russell, Alison Cohen, Nicholle Tom, and Paul Martin. On this Day in 1835: Charles Darwin reached Los Arenales, in the Andes. 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: Alameda County Water District: Accounting Assistant Solano County Water Agency: Water Resources Specialist/Istrumentation Modesto Irrigation District: Water Treatment Plant Operator City of Santa Monica: Field Inspector I City of Santa Monica: Water Maintenance Worker Want more? See all postings. 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 Report raises alarm for Sierra waterways (Reno Gazette-Journal, 3/22) "Those tumbling creeks and glistening alpine lakes might look pristine, but appearances conceal a worsening pollution problem tainting Sierra waters, according to a report released today by an environmental group." A Sierra Nevada watersheds index (Sierra Nevada Alliance, 3/22) Thanks to Lisa Wallace for this one: "The Sierra Nevada’s water is critical to the health, welfare and, indeed, to the very spirit of California and Nevada. Over 60% of California’s and most of Northern Nevada’s water supply comes from the Sierra Nevada." —  Water Supply Water supply assessment OK'd at Fort Ord (Monterey Herald, 3/23) "A water supply assessment that would allow a major senior residential development at Fort Ord to go forward was approved 3-2 Wednesday by the Marina Coast Water District." UN report warns on overuse of water for farming (Reuters, 3/22) "The overuse of water for farming is the biggest environmental threat to the world's freshwater resources and damage is likely to worsen until 2020, an international report issued on Tuesday said." —  Water Quality Fiddletown under boil water order (Amador Ledger-Dispatch, 3/22) "Construction at the Fiddletown public well may have led to a positive test Thursday of raw water with E. coli bacteria in the Fiddletown Community Service District, leading to the issuance of a boil water order." —  Fluoride Too much fluoride can damage bones, teeth (Reuters, 3/22) "Fluoride in drinking water — long controversial in the United States when it is deliberately added to strengthen teeth — can damage bones and teeth, and federal standards fail to guard against this, the National Academy of Sciences reported Wednesday." Panel fears too much fluoride getting into water (LA Times, 3/22) "A national panel of scientists reported this morning that the federal government is allowing too much fluoride in drinking water, which leaves children at risk of severe tooth enamel damage and adults prone to weakening of bones that could cause fractures."  —  Levees and Dams DWR: Levee erosion animation (DWR News Release, 3/22) Movie. "This animation sequence demonstrates hidden erosion throughout the Sacramento and Delta levee systems. The animation was created as a part of a presentation to visiting Nat'l Homeland Securities Director Michael Chertoff on March 17th." Safety of levee system in question (El Dorado Hills Telegraph, 3/22) Guest Column: "The Department of Water Resources documented major deficiencies in a report submitted to the Legislature in January of 2005. It warned that a major earthquake could lead to a catastrophic levee failure, threatening the drinking water supply for 24 million Californians and possibly $30 to 40 million in crop damage to the state's agriculture industry." Oroville Dam relicensing settlement OK'd (Marysville Appeal-Democrat, 3/22) "A settlement agreement on Oroville Dam relicensing was signed Tuesday in a ceremony in Oroville, according to the California Department of Water Resources." —  Surface Water A restored, revived L.A. River (The Planning Report, 3/22) "In the long and often unfortunate history of the L.A. River, the next year may prove pivotal. The city of Los Angeles is currently in the midst of an 18-month process to draft a master plan for the rehabilitation and re-use of the neglected waterway, and that document will guide land use and environmental strategies that will make the river a true civic asset." Stakeholders sign Lake Oroville settlement (Oroville Mercury-Register, 3/22) "Tuesday, 50 local stakeholders, and state and federal agency representatives signed the settlement agreement for the Lake Oroville Relicensing at the Kelly Ridge Pavilion, with about 100 people attending." —  Ocean News Ocean contamination puzzles scientists (OC Register, 3/23) "Like a weak but persistent heartbeat, the two bacterial hot spots pulse with a regular rhythm, turning up in the surf near shore roughly once every two weeks." —  Meetings WateReuse Foundation announces 10th Annual Research Conference (WateReuse Association News Release, 3/22) May 15-16. "The WateReuse Foundation invites you to attend the Foundation’s 10th Annual Water Reuse Research Conference, which will be held on May 15-16, 2006 at the Hyatt Regency in Phoenix, AZ. The focus of this year’s conference will be on research to generate scientific breakthroughs in water reuse and desalination to meet the water supply needs of the 21st century." —  Local/Agency News Watermaster board meeting hits roadblock (Monterey Herald, 3/23) "Organization of a watermaster board to oversee the Seaside basin aquifer hit another snag Wednesday at what was to have been the board's second meeting." Discussion not dry at water-day event (Riverside P/E, 3/23) "With World Water Day on Wednesday, the Inland region's business community heard tales of what can happen if proper plans aren't made regarding the life-sustaining resource." New meeting set for corridor agency (Riverside P/E, 3/23) "A new agency studying the possibility of building a tunnel for commuters and a new water pipeline under the mountains between Corona and Irvine will hold its second meeting today in Riverside." Utilities Owe Refunds to Electricity Buyers (LA Times, 3/22) "There's an ancient principle to the effect that even if you're the unwitting recipient of an undeserved bonanza — say a bank mistakenly funnels a million bucks of someone else's money into your ATM account — you can't keep the money."  No Prop. 40 aid for Mission San Miguel (Water Tech Online, 3/22) "Proposition 40, supported by 56 percent of the voters in 2002, authorized a $2.6 billion bond program for clean water, clean air, parks and historical and cultural projects." WateReuse Association California Section Names Its 2006 Award Winners (WateReuse Association News Release, 3/22) "The California Section of the WateReuse Association presented awards to six deserving water recycling advocates at its Fourth Annual Conference titled “Bridging the Gap with Recycled Water” held March 12-14, 2006 in San Francisco, CA." —  Everything Else NASA radar plane gauges Arctic snow layer (Reuters, 3/23) Thanks to Mark Moss for this one: "A radar-equipped NASA plane is flying low over the Arctic this week to measure the snow on top of sea ice, a finding with implications for polar bears and possibly humans, an ice scientist said this week." AWWA announces the availability of recent proceedings: 2006 Water Sources Proceedings (AWWA, 3/23) "Proceedings from the 2006 Water Sources Conference held February, 2006 in Albuquerque, NM. These proceedings cover the latest technological innovations and practical applications in three important topic areas: Conservation, Resources Management, and Water Reuse." 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