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Wednesday, May 10, 2006 Quote of the Day: "Opera is when a guy gets stabbed in the back and, instead of bleeding, he sings." Ed Gardner Born on this Day: John Wilkes Booth, Fred Astaire,F ats Domino, Marie-France Pisier, Jimmy Ponder, Paul Hewson "Bono," Jason Brooks, Young MC, Erik Palladiono, Amanda Borden, and Jessi Milfin. On this Day in 1908: The first Mother's Day observance took place during a church service in Grafton, West Virginia. 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: Yorba Linda Water District: Senior Project Engineer Yorba Linda Water District: Plant Operator II Yorba Linda Water District: Chief Plant Operator City of Roseville: Senior Engineer City of Downey: Water System Operator Goleta Water District: Chief Water Treatment Operator East Bay Municipal Utility District: LT Associate Electrical Engineer City of Torrance: Water Service Technician III Want more? See all postings. Pic of the Week East Bay Municipal Utility District Richmond Recycle Facility Secondary Clarifiers Photo by Paul Cockrell.  Please click here to see additional pictures in the Paul Cockrell Wastewater Art Gallery, including shots from the Delta Diablo Sanitation District, San Francisco's Oceanside Water Pollution Control Plant, the Tahoe Truckee Sanitation Agency ... and more. Do you have a photo you'd like to submit? Send us an e-mail. Today's News —  Water Supply Aanestad key speaker at Sacramento water forum (Red Bluff Daily News, 5/9) "The recently released California Water Plan (Bulletin 160) has emphasized the importance and value of regional planning for water throughout the State of California. " First partner signs on to pursue tunnel (Riverside Press-Enterprise, 5/9) "The Orange County Transportation Authority voted unanimously to approve an agreement with the Riverside County Transportation Commission and the Metropolitan Water District to jointly explore whether such a tunnel is feasible." Casino plan withdrawn in water settlement (Riverside P/E, 5/9) "The Soboba Band of Luiseρo Indians is abandoning plans to build a casino near Diamond Valley Lake. The decision came as the tribe resolves a dispute with local water agencies that has dragged on for more than 70 years." —  Water Quality New policies on radioactive water (Associated Press, 5/10) "The nuclear industry said Tuesday it will more closely monitor and keep local and state officials informed about releases of radioactive water into groundwater from power plants, though it said such releases have not posed a health risk." Mariposa ordered to clean up water (Merced Sun Star, 5/10) "Drinking water in Mariposa could cause health problems if it's consumed for an extended period of time and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recently ordered the Mariposa Public Utility District to remove dangerous chemicals from the water." Well filtration system sought in Monterey County (Monterey Herald, 5/10) "Citing potential health problems, Monterey County officials have asked operators of the San Jerardo water system south of Salinas to install a filtration system for its contaminated well." Marysville's water quality gets boost (Appeal Democrat, 5/10) "Marysville residents, say goodbye to dingy shirts and smelly water." Tools help small water utilities monitor water (EPA, 5/9) NEWS RELEASE. "EPA has released a set of user-friendly multimedia products to help small drinking-water utilities determine federal monitoring requirements and prepare water compliance samples under the Safe Drinking Water Act." Palco gets permits (Eureka Times-Standard, 5/9) "Water quality officials cut a compromise over the number of acres the Pacific Lumber Co. will be allowed to log in Freshwater Creek and Elk River at a hearing in Santa Rosa on Monday, though all parties were still combing through the order late in the day digesting the details. " —  Infrastructure/Dams California needs to invest in its infrastructure (Modesto Bee, 5/10) OPINION from Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. "Our state has taken a huge step toward ensuring that the California dream remains alive. Working with the Legislature last week, we reached an agreement that looks to California's future and addresses its infrastructure needs in a comprehensive and fiscally responsible way. It makes sure we deliver to coming generations a state deserving of California's legacy." San Gabriel Dam getting cleaned up (San Gabriel Valley Tribune, 5/9) "For several more days, water will cascade from the San Gabriel Dam as county workers lower the water level to make dry land for a dredging project." —  Surface Water/Runoff Spring runoff begins, might not spike until June (Tahoe Daily Tribune, 5/10) "At more than 6,227 feet, Lake Tahoe's water level this month is as high as it has been since September of 2000, and some say this is just the beginning." Protect the S.F. Bay -- and a neighborhood (San Francisco Chronicle, 5/10) OPINION. "The Regional Water Quality Control Board is scheduled to vote today on whether to accept the recommendation of its staff and approve a permit that would allow Mirant Corp. to continue operating its Potrero power plant in San Francisco out of compliance with environmental standards until June 30, 2011. The board should reject the permit." Heavy runoff predicted for Yosemite Valley (Merced Sun Star, 5/10) "Flooding is predicted in Yosemite Valley within the next two days, and a flood warning has been issued along the Merced River." —  The Fish Fishing firms charged with illegal dumping (Associated Press, 5/10) "Five fishing companies were charged Tuesday with illegally dumping squid parts and wastewater that contaminated a harbor and killed off sharks, stingrays and other sealife at a research institute."  Bill would create tough standards for fish farms (San Mateo County Times, 5/10) "State Sen. Joe Simitian has heard the horror stories of commercial fish farms: an outbreak of infectious salmon anemia in a pen in Maine, causing the deaths of thousands of fish; the spread of parasitic sea lice from salmon farms to wild fish in British Columbia." Chinook finally arriving at Oregon dam (Associated Press, 5/9) Thanks to Mark Moss for this one: "Spring chinook salmon are finally moving up the Columbia River at Bonneville Dam, making their latest run on record." Senate shoots down West Coast fishing aid (News-Review, 5/9) "The Senate rejected emergency assistance for West Coast salmon fisherman as part of a giant spending bill approved this week, but the senator who pressed the issue says he will continue the effort." —  Wastewater Report: Dioxin in wastewater isn't Castle's (Merced Sun Star, 5/10) "Castle Air Force Base isn't spewing poisonous dioxin into Atwater's wastewater anymore, according to a county report released Tuesday." Fetus found in Rialto sewer plant (Inland Valley Daily Bulletin, 5/10) "A worker discovered a male fetus lodged in a filtering-system bin at the city's wastewater treatment plant early Tuesday, leading to a plant shutdown and a call to police." —  Toxic/Hazardous Waste Chico found liable for share of cleanup costs (Chico ER, 5/9) "State environmental officials last week ruled that the city of Chico is partially responsible for toxic waste found on privately owned land near the Humboldt Road burn dump." U.S. EPA orders Southern California radiator firm to comply with hazardous waste regulations (EPA, 5/9) NEWS RELEASE. "The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has ordered Ideal Radiator Corp. of Montebello, Calif. to comply with federal hazardous waste regulations and is seeking fines of up to $32,000 per day per violation." —  Meetings Making Urban Rivers, Bays and Beaches "Fishable and Swimmable" - June 1-2 (Urban Water Institute, 5/9) NEWS RELEASE. "The California Bar Association and American Bar Association environmental sections have granted co-sponsor status to the Clean Water Conference to be held in Long Beach, June 1-2. Among the sessions is an expert panel assessing the U.S. Supreme Court decision on the reach of future of federal environmental regulation of 'waters of the United States.'" —  Rates Padre Dam board eyes higher rates (SD Union Tribune, 5/10) "After five years without a rate increase, board members of the Padre Dam Municipal Water District say they need to raise prices to combat operating losses expected to reach $2.9 million." Foes of water rate hike in Lodi submit petitions (Lodi News, 5/9) "Opponents of the city's water rate increase have submitted petitions bearing the names of 4,401 Lodi residents as they seek to overturn the rate hike with an initiative on the November ballot."  Healdsburg sewer rates to jump 20% in July (Press Democrat, 5/9) Thanks to Michael Ban for this one: "The city's sewer rates will jump in July to among the highest in Sonoma County, the first in a series of increases to pay for a new $30 million wastewater treatment plant that's been years in the making." —  Local/Agency News Las Virgenes Water district to host tour (Ventura County Star, 5/10) "The Las Virgenes Municipal Water District will host a free tour of the district's facilities."   Tony Fellow named Fulbright Scholar (Upper San Gabriel Valley, 5/9) News Release "Dr. Tony Fellow, vice president of the Upper San Gabriel Valley Municipal Water District, was recently selected as a 2007 Fulbright Scholar and will receive one of the most prestigious appointments by the J. William Fulbright Scholarship Board." —  Everything Else House panel moves USEPA budget bill (WaterWeek, 5/9) "Congressional action on USEPA's FY2007 budget got under way May 4 when a House Appropriation Committee panel approved a measure that would provide $7.6 billion for the agency, $55 million less than in FY2006 but $254 million more than requested by the White House." 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. 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