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Thursday, April 20, 2006 Quote of the Day: "I've been to Canada, and I've always gotten the impression that I could take the country over in about two days." Jon Stewart Born on this Day: Napoleon III, Adolf Hitler, Tito Puente, Scott Wilson Ryan O'Neal, Jessica Lange, Luther Vandross, Dennis Leary, Clint Howard, Crispin Glover, Carmen Electra and Joey Lawrence. On this Day in 1832: Hot Springs National Park was established by an act of the U.S. Congress. It was the first national park in the U.S. NOTE: We will not be publishing the CWN on Fri. or Mon., so please watch for the next issue on Tuesday, April 25th. 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: Eastern Municipal Water District: Construction Administrator Orange County: Engineer - Reliability Maintenance Nevada County: Principal Civil Engineer City of Oceanside: Industrial Waste Inspector City of Signal Hill: Water Maintenance Worker I or II Delta Diablo Sanitation District: Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator III Want more? See all postings. Today's News —  Water San Bernardino Agency's decision on water faulted (Riverside P/E, 4/20) "An environmental group is challenging a decision by a San Bernardino County land-use agency that could lead to the dissolution of a water-conservation district." State's water gauge points to 'full' (Sacramento Bee, 4/19) "A wet spring means state water contractors will get all the water they need this year. In fact, California has surplus water for sale." Shaver Lake developers closer to water (Fresno Bee, 4/19) "Shaver Lake developers received the green light Tuesday from Fresno County supervisors to pursue ways to find additional water that may bolster the community's water supply and meet the growing mountain town's needs." Tamarron water system scrutinized (Union Democrat, 4/19) "The owners of an East Sonora mobile home park have until the end of May to submit a report to Tuolumne County health officials on what exactly is wrong with its faulty water system."  All-American Canal costs surge (Imperial Valley Press, 4/18) "Bids for a new 23-mile concrete-lined All-American Canal came in as much as $50 million over projections, and Imperial Irrigation District officials vow the cost will not fall on the district or its customers." —  The Bond Central Valley lawmakers plead for reservoir (Associated Press, 4/20) "Eight Central Valley lawmakers urged their leaders Wednesday to restore funding for at least one new reservoir to the package of public works bonds that legislators are trying to put on the November ballot." Legislative leaders say deal near on bonds (Sacramento Bee, 4/19) "Legislative leaders said they have achieved a breakthrough on an infrastructure bond plan, agreeing to dump surface water storage, urban parks and natural resource protection from a fall ballot package while focusing on levee repair, school construction and transportation. " Statewide bond still alive (San Jose Mercury News, 4/19) "A major public works bond can be revived for the November ballot, Republican and Democratic legislative leaders told a San Jose business conference Tuesday. But it will be scaled down from the proposal by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger that the Legislature rejected in March." —  Arsenic Study: Utero arsenic exposure tied to lung disease (YubaNet, 4/19) "Children who are exposed to high levels of arsenic in their drinking water are seven to 12 times more likely to die of lung cancer and other lung diseases in young adulthood, a new study by University of California, Berkeley, and Chilean researchers suggests."  —  Fluoride AWWA to host webcast: Fluoride and Fluoridation in Drinking Water (AWWA News Release, 4/20) May 3. "Although controversial, most utilities fluoridate water supplies due to recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (DCD) and the American Dental Association (ADA). A new report has been released from the National Academy of Science (NAS) that will help answer many of the health effect questions."  —  Levees Feinstein: Repairs to levees too costly (Inside Bay Area, 4/20) "Shoring up all of California's levees will be too costly, Sen. Dianne Feinstein said Wednesday, and some of the sunken Delta islands that they protect probably must be sacrificed." DWR: Media briefing on flood fights and critical levee repairs today (DWR News Release, 4/19) "Media Briefing on Flood Fights and Critical Levee Repairs April 20, 2006, 11:30 a.m. in State Capitol Room 1190 -- The California Department of Water Resources (DWR) will provide an update on current conditions in the Central Valley flood control system and recent flood fights on the San Joaquin River." Bush to visit Silicon Valley (San Jose Mercury News, 4/19) "President Bush and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger will meet briefly Friday in Silicon Valley, where the governor hopes to press for more federal funding to shore up California's aging levees and win reimbursement for incarceration of illegal immigrants." President and Gov. Schwarzenegger to meet Friday (Orange County Register, 4/19) "They've found reason to avoid each other in recent months, but President Bush is scheduled to meet Friday afternoon with Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, officials with both administrations said." Earth to Scarlett; Interior secretary's levee remarks are absurd (San Diego Union-Tribune, 4/19) Editorial: "Does acting Interior Secretary Lynn Scarlett consider former FEMA chief Michael Brown her role model? Does she reject the conventional wisdom that Hurricane Katrina showed the urgent need to prepare for the worst when dealing with aging levees? Is she aware that every now and then California is struck by what are known in these parts as 'earthquakes'?" Yuba-Sutter trouble spots fixed (Marysville Appeal-Democrat, 4/19) "From the Yuba-Sutter Mental Health facility near Live Oak Boulevard to the Wilson Road area stands a bank of improved levees that protect Yuba City and Sutter County." ‘Piles of dirt' protect our communities (Marysville Appeal-Democrat, 4/19) "About 1,600 miles of levees trace some of California's most flood-prone areas. The thousands of people who live in the Sacramento Valley might not be here were it not for the state's elaborate flood control system." —  Dams Rindge Dam study in need of funds (The Malibu Times, 4/19) "In mid-March an urgent message was forwarded to members of the Malibu Creek Watershed Advisory Council, imploring them to draft letters and gather support to reestablish funding for the Malibu Creek Environmental Feasibility Study, or Rindge Dam Study."  —  Hetch Hetchy Hetch Hetchy - a series (Fremont Tri-City Voice, 4/19) Thanks to Ron Good for this one: "Although some of our local supply is easily visible, a major water resource runs through the Tri-City area encased in large pipes with only pump houses and occasional above ground pipes to signal passage of gallons of water measured in millions. Not only water, but electrical energy generated from the movement of that water passes through the area as well." —  Wastewater Leucadia Wastewater District dedicates upgraded pump station (Leucadia Wastewater District, 4/19) "Leucadia Wastewater District's Board of Directors and General Manager Paul Bushee participated in a ribbon-cutting ceremony to officially dedicate the upgraded Batiquitos Pump Station on April 12."  —  Superfunds Mines added to Superfund list (SLO Tribune, 4/20) "Two North County mercury mines were added Wednesday to the list of the nation's top hazardous waste sites." EPA adds six and proposes four sites to Superfund's National Priorities List (EPA News Release, 4/19) "The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is adding six new hazardous waste sites that pose risks to human health and the environment to the National Priorities List of Superfund sites.  That brings the total of final sites on the list to 1,244.  EPA is also proposing to add four other sites to the list. "  —  Meetings CWEA LABS Dinner Meeting (CWEA LABS, 4/19) May 25. "In Southern California the South Coast Air Quality Management District (AQMD) limits the concentration and mass of hydrogen sulfide (H2S) in gas from all sources (Rule 431.1). Many wastewater treatment plants in the region are successfully applying iron salts to mitigate H2S concentrations in the biogas produced on-site through the anaerobic digestion of biosolids." —  Local/Agency News Monterey County Public-works vet to take lead (Associated Press, 4/20) "Ronald J. Lundquist, a veteran of road and bridge work in Monterey County, has been tapped to lead the department where he's worked for 33 years." Encinitas residents to get refund checks (NC Times, 4/20) "The City Council told its staff Wednesday to cut refund checks as quickly as possible to anyone who paid the now-defunct, $5-a-month clean-water fee." Daniels right choice to lead fight for Salton Sea (The Desert Sun, 4/20) Editorial: "Rick Daniels is the best man to right the Salton Sea Authority's listing ship. When the authority meets April 27 to examine its future, board members may select an interim director. Daniels, the Coachella Valley Economic Partnership's president and CEO, has been touted for the post and says he's willing to take on the challenge." Rancho California  Water District to increase rates (Riverside P/E, 4/20) "A dry winter and electricity-rate increases will combine to cost Temecula and Murrieta residents more to turn on the tap this summer, area water officials said Wednesday." Sato named as Director of Enforcement (YubaNet.com News Release, 4/19) "The California State Water Resources Control Board has named Reed Sato as its first Director of the Office of Enforcement. Sato will focus the office on prosecution." Victor Valley treatment plant manager resigns (Victorville Daily Press, 4/19) "Dan Gallagher, general manager of the Victor Valley Wastewater Reclamation Authority, resigned Monday and agreed to work for 30 more days as required by the board."  —  Everything Else Scientists find strong bacterial glue (Associated Press, 4/19) Thanks to Mark Moss for this one: "A common bacteria that clings to the inside of water pipes stays in place with the strongest glue known to exist in nature, according to a team of scientists that includes an Indiana University biologist." 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