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Tuesday, May 16, 2006 Quote of the Day: "Nothing splendid has ever been achieved except by those who dared believe that something inside of them was superior to circumstance." Bruce Barton (Thanks to Paula Zeller, CWEA President, OCSD Senior Plant Operator for this one!) Born on this Day: William Seward, Henry Fonda, Studs Terkel, Liberace, Rick Reuschel, Pierce Brosnan, Olga Korbut, Debra Winger, Mare Winningham, Janet Jackson, Tracey Gold, Gabriel Sabatini, Rick Trevino, and Tori Spelling. On this Day in 1946: The Irving Berlin musical, "Annie Get Your Gun," opened at New York’s Imperial Theatre for the first of 1,147 performances. Please check out the latest update on Asset Management page. The EPA along with WEF, NACWA, AWWA, AMWA, APWA, and NAWC have announced a statement of intent to ensure the long-term viability of our nation's water systems to promote effective utility management. 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: Golden State Water Company: Water Quality Technician II Elsinore Valley Municipal Water District: Accounting Manager City of Napa: Professional Civil Engineer City of Oceanside: Water/Wastewater Project Manager City of Redlands: Senior Water Treatment Operator Want more? See all postings. Today's News —  Water Lodi water measure will make fall ballot (Stockton Record, 5/16) "Volunteers in a grass-roots effort to roll back water-rate hikes in Lodi have gathered enough signatures to place the measure on the November ballot." Tainted San Jerardo water likely causing rashes (Monterey Herald, 5/16) "The skin and eye irritation San Jerardo residents have been experiencing could be linked to the high contamination levels in its water system, Monterey County health officials have found." Water for all in San Joaquin Delta this year (Inside Bay Area, 5/15) "The spring storms earlier this year just might be making up for all the crops that were damaged. The federally operated Central Valley Project — one of the largest water storage and transport systems in the world — announced Thursday, they were delivering full water supplies to all farmers who buy their water." Grover water lines to be flushed (SLO Tribune, 5/15) "Residents and businesspeople in Grover Beach may notice discolored or cloudy water starting Tuesday through Friday, June 9." Riverbank investigates high chromium in wells (KXTV, 5/15) "Residents of Riverbank are concerned cancer-causing chromium found in test wells could infiltrate their groundwater supply." Rainy winter leaves farmers flush with water (Contra Costa Times, 5/14) "For the first time in a decade, farmers on the west side of the San Joaquin valley will get 100 percent of the water they expect under contracts with the federal government." South Sac projects trickle ahead after water deal (Sacramento Business Journal, 5/14) "South Sacramento property owners are eager to get started on projects delayed by a water shortage in the Fruitridge Vista Water Co.'s service area." —  Bond Plan Lawmakers favored a slimmer bond plan (OC Register, 5/16) "Two months after the Legislature failed to put a bond package on the June ballot, state lawmakers set aside their differences and approved a historic, $37.3 billion proposal to improve California's roads, levees, schools and housing. At the center of negotiations: Orange County lawmaker Dick Ackerman." —  Dams Ruling favors rivers over power dams (LA Times, 5/16) "The Supreme Court sided with the environment over electric power Monday, ruling that state regulators may require a steady flow of water over power dams to benefit fish and kayakers." Sacramento County studies Cosumnes Dam (Sacramento Bee, 5/14) "A lazy summer hum has settled over the pastures of Point Pleasant, where cattle graze beside Interstate 5, bees swirl around white-boxed hives and residents get a rare insurance subsidy from Sacramento County. " —  Surface Water Water pacts endanger Salton Sea, study says (Associated Press, 5/16) "A new study Tuesday issued a dire warning if no restoration efforts are launched to save the Salton Sea, as the state prepares to release a draft proposal next month outlining possible solutions to an environmental problem that has plagued California for decades." Isleton: Delta blues (San Francisco Chronicle, 5/15) "The conflict in Isleton highlights the debate over how much growth is wise for the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta, one of the most flood-prone regions in the nation, which is sandwiched between the fast-growing edge regions of the Bay Area and the Central Valley. More than 20 years ago, county officials warned that the area was prone to disastrous flooding." —  Stormwater Stormwater pipes for Decoto under study (Inside Bay Area, 5/15) "In the old Decoto district, excess rainwater is whisked away in much as it was when railroad workers populated the neighborhood well more than a century ago: by gravity and evaporation." San Bernardino County direction changed (Inland Daily Bulletin, 5/16) "County officials appeared to mislead the Colonies project developers and change direction midstream on flood control design plans for the Colonies Upland property, according to court documents and testimony Monday." Flood warning issued in Yosemite (Fresno Bee, 5/16) "The National Weather Service has issued a flood warning for the Merced River at Pohono Bridge in Yosemite Valley. The Merced River is expected to reach flood-stage levels at that location this morning, then drop slightly before noon." Set aside land along rivers to prevent flooding (Modesto Bee, 5/15) OPINION. "About once or twice every decade, California receives abundant rain and snow, which then runs off the Sierra into Central Valley rivers and streams, where high flows threaten lives and property." —  Wastewater San Sevaine sewer issue could slow growth (SB Sun, 5/16) "City and county officials are talking about how best to provide sewer service to future developers in the unincorporated San Sevaine area near California Speedway." —  Toxic Waste Japan nuke plant leaks radioactive water (Auburn Journal, 5/16) "About 105 gallons of coolant water containing radioactive material leaked from an inactive nuclear power reactor in western Japan, but there was no danger of radiation escaping the plant, its operator said Tuesday."  Legislation would help speed mine cleanup (Contra Costa Times, 5/16) "The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is sponsoring federal legislation intended to speed the cleanup of abandoned mines by protecting groups that aren't legally responsible to do the work but volunteer to take it on anyway." —  Events Air show to make a splash at Lake Casitas (Casitas Municipal Water District, 5/15) May 20. "Ten Seaplanes are expected to perform at this year’s Seaplane Air Show at Lake Casitas. The seaplanes will land-on and takeoff from the water." —  Local/Agency News Mayor: San Diego should pay back water dept. (SD Union Tribune, 5/16) "Mayor Jerry Sanders said Monday he would recommend the city reimburse the Water Department nearly $1 million for improperly using ratepayer funds for services and projects that should have been paid for by tax dollars." LADWP joins "Flex Your Power'' (Business Wire, 5/15) NEWS RELEASE. "Flex Your Power, California's statewide energy efficiency campaign, and the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power will be recognizing Los Angeles Community College District and nextedge with a "Flex Your Power" Award for achievement in leadership and education in energy efficiency at the Board of Water and Power Commissioners meeting on May 16, at 1:30 p.m. Winners were selected from a highly competitive pool of over 260 applicants. " It's time for a fully independent water district (San Jose Mercury-News, 5/15) EDITORIAL."The Santa Clara Valley Water District is the only independent special district in the state with an elected board that is required to have its annual budget approved by another elected board -- in this case the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors." —  Global Warming Climate change threatens poorest with devastation (Associated Press, 5/16) "Millions of people around the world face death and devastation due to floods, famine, drought and violence caused by global warming, according to a report by a charity group. A report to be released Monday by Christian Aid said." Study details peril for Africa’s snowy peaks (MSNBC, 5/16) "The picturesque snowy tops of equatorial mountains in Africa might disappear within two decades as air temperatures rise, scientists announced Monday." —  Everything Else What price nature? Bogs $6,000, Reefs $10,000 (Reuters, 5/15) Thanks to Mark Moss for this one: The figures read like a real estate agent's listings: 2.5 acres of marsh in Canada, $6,000 per year; a tropical forest in Cameroon, $3,500; a Caribbean coral reef, $10,000. The estimates from United Nations-backed studies are part of a fledgling bid to put a price on nature's bounties, from the production of crops, fish or timber to clean water supplies or the prevention of erosion." 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