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Tuesday, May 9, 2006 Quote of the Day: "True patriotism hates injustice in its own land more than anywhere else." Clarence Darrow (Thanks to Maggi Brooks, Water Quality Chemist, City of Long Beach.) Born on this Day: Mike Wallace, Albert Finney, Glenda Jackson, Tommy Roe, Candice Bergen, Anthony Higgins, Billy Joel, Alley Mills, Tony Gwynn, Dave Gahan, and Tamia. On this Day in 1944: Jimmie Davis became the Governor of Louisiana. He wrote the song "You Are My Sunshine." Celebrate National Drinking Water Week! May 7-13 For more than 30 years, the American Water Works Association has celebrated Drinking Water Week with its members. In 1988, AWWA brought the event to the attention of our government and formed a coalition along with the League of Women Voters, the Association of State Drinking Water Administrators, and the US EPA. Rep. Robert Roe and Sen. Dennis DeConcini subsequently sponsored a resolution to name the first full week of May as National Drinking Water Week. Sent to more than 24,000 readers nationwide... and thousands more via our lineup of online ads like the one above that appears on watertechonline.com Latest postings: City of Fresno: Assistant Chief of Wastewater Treatment Operations City of Roseville: Preventive Maintenance Coordinator Golden State Water Company: Water Quality Engineer Golden State Water Company: Water Treatment Plant Operator II Orange County Water District: Operations & Maintenance Training Coordinator Orange County Water District: Communications Specialist Orange County Water District: Environmental Specialist Want more? See all postings. Today's News —  Bonds Package Governor campaigns for bonds (San Mateo Daily Journal, 5/9) "Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is barnstorming the state with legislative leaders on Monday to promote the $37.3 billion public works bonds the Legislature approved last week." Bonds package sparks rare cooperation of parties (Sacramento Bee, 5/7) "California's biggest public works project in generations has made it to the November ballot, thanks to one of the most stunning displays of bipartisan cooperation Sacramento has seen in recent years." Extreme makeover, California edition (Los Angeles Times, 5/7) "California's packed roadways, flood-prone riverbanks, polluted ports, crammed schools and insufficient housing stock would receive the most extensive renovation and expansion in four decades under a $116-billion public works proposal that the Legislature voted Friday to put before voters." —  Imperial Irrigation District Negotiations IID to discuss equitable water apportionment (IV Press, 5/9) "The Imperial Irrigation District has scheduled three public workshops this week to discuss how the district would apportion water in drought years when the Valley’s water supplies are cut." IID ups the ante to over $40 million (Imperial Valley Press, 5/8) "Imperial Irrigation District negotiators are seeking more than $40 million from the San Diego County Water Authority to offset economic harm done by idling Imperial Valley farmland, a source close to the issue said Saturday." Dairy proposal smelly idea (IV Press, 5/6) "The proposed settlement at the heart of the issue involves a dispute between IID and SDCWA over the economic harm caused by taking farmland out of production in the Valley. The so-called fallowing program is meant to conserve water for transfer to San Diego." —  Other Water Supply South Arizona tribe settles water-rights dispute (Associated Press, 5/9) "Tohono O'odham tribal leaders joined Gov. Janet Napolitano and Tucson officials in signing a water-rights settlement that the tribe hopes will make some of its land bloom again." Woodland, Davis water supply improvement forum (Woodland Daily Democrat, 5/8) "The cities of Woodland and Davis and UC Davis are taking the first step towards securing a new surface water supply to improve long-term water quality for those communities. The proposed Davis-Woodland Water Supply Project is intended to help the communities meet current and future water demands and wastewater treatment requirements. " Recycled wastewater doubts still swirl to surface (Los Angeles Times, 5/7) "The talk was of psychology, dead cockroaches and disgust. A small gathering of water managers and consultants met in the South Bay for an unusual session a couple of years ago. They were seeking insight into the resounding public "yuck!" that has thwarted efforts to turn the steady stream from Californians' toilets, showers and kitchen sinks into drinking water." —  Water Quality/Pollution/Cleanups San Gabriel Valley water cleanup funds needed (Whittier Daily News, 5/9) "The San Gabriel Valley Caucus and its founder, Assemblyman Ed Chavez, D-La Puente, have some explaining to do. They need to tell constituents why cleanup of the region's vast underground aquifer wasn't included in the $37 billion bond issue that will go before voters Nov. 7." Retention ideas may reduce Trinidad's pollution (Eureka Times Standard, 5/9) "Three Humboldt State University students will discuss how much of the city's land is permeable versus impermeable and the consequences for surrounding ocean waters at a public meeting in the Trinidad Town Hall from 7 to 8:15 p.m. on Thursday. Admission is free and the public is invited." Bonzi landfill's toxic plume still threatening well (Modesto Bee, 5/9) "Tainted groundwater emanating from the Bonzi Sanitation Landfill continues to threaten the water supply for the 300 residents of Riverdale Park Tract west of Modesto, state regulators say." —  Flood Control Public works director questioned in Colonies fight (Inland Valley Daily Bulletin, 5/8) "A top county official was grilled in court Monday by a Colonies lawyer over safety and design issues regarding a 67-acre flood control facility in northeast Upland." —  Surface Water Merced River filling up with snowmelt (Modesto Bee, 5/9) "A spurt of hot weather is rapidly melting snow in the southern Sierra, and National Weather Service officials said Monday that they expect the Merced River in Yosemite National Park to reach flood stage by midweek." EPA: Only third of U.S. streams in good shape (Reuters, 5/8) "More than half of U.S. streams are polluted, with the worst conditions found in the eastern third of the country, according to a study by the Environmental Protection Agency." The Salton Sea and the stacked deck (Imperial Valley Press, 5/8) EDITORIAL. "There is a particular strain of apathy we have encountered in the Imperial Valley over the years that is unlike anything we have seen or heard of anywhere else." Seattle company, Idaho fined over lake pollution (Associated Press, 5/4) "A Seattle construction company and the Idaho Transportation Department have agreed to pay federal fines totaling $895,000 after part of a road project collapsed into Lake Coeur d’Alene in Idaho, federal agencies said Wednesday." —  Dams Perris, state bicker over parkway by dam (Riverside Press-Enterprise, 5/8) "California water resources officials warn that an option favored by the city to build a stretch of the proposed Mid County Parkway next to Perris Dam is unsafe because of seismic dangers." —  Nukes Appeal of Diablo plan gains steam (SLO Tribune, 5/9) "Two state Coastal Commissioners have joined local nuclear activists in appealing Diablo Canyon nuclear power plant’s planned steam generator replacement project." —  Events Golden State: Water Awareness Month (Golden State Water Company, 5/8) NEW RELEASE. "In celebration of Water Awareness Month, Golden State Water Company (GSWC) will host the Water Awareness Celebration - a free and fun water education event.  The celebration is slated for Saturday, May 20 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Palms Park, 12305 207th Street in Lakewood, California; off of Norwalk and Del Amo Blvd." —  Local/Agency News Castro Valley sewer rates likely to rise (Oakland Tribune, 5/9) "Looking for logic? Sometimes, there's a reason for putting money down a sewer." All Lodi residents should vote on water rates (Lodi Sentinel, 5/9) OPINION. "Lodi businesses will pay $7 million to clean the contaminated water and residents will pay $45 million. Is this fair and equitable?" Judge brushes aside ex-PR exec's lawsuit (LA Daily News, 5/9) "A federal judge on Monday tentatively dismissed a wrongful-termination lawsuit filed by former Fleishman-Hillard executive Doug Dowie, rejecting his claim that the company made him a scapegoat for its alleged illegal actions." —  Everything Else Water cock-up (The Sun, 5/8) Thanks to Michael Berlien for this one: "Officials ran tests and said it was fresh spring water. Three years ago they did more tests — and said the same thing. Meanwhile, flooding was so bad council engineers designed a £500 drain to help it seep away." 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