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Monday, June 5, 2006 Quote of the Day: "Obstacles are those frightful things you see when you take your eyes off your goal." Henry Ford (Thanks to Kelvin Harris, City of Oceanside Utility Supervisor, for this one.)  Born on this Day: Adam Smith, John Maynard Keynes, William Boyd, Robert Lansing, Jacques Demy, Pete Jolly, Bill Moyers, Gail Davies, Ken Follet, Laurie Anderson, Wayne Wood, Marva Jean Brooks, Kenny G., Karen Sillas, Brian McKnight, Mark Wahlberg, and Chad Allen. On this Day in 1968: Senator Robert F. Kennedy was mortally shot in Los Angeles by Sirhan Sirhan. Kennedy died early the next morning. 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: LVMWD: Plant Operator-in-Training MWD of So. Calif.: Associate Resource Specialist OCWD: Senior Planner or Senior Engineer California Water Service Co.: Associate Engineer California Water Service Co.: Water Quality PM CLWA: Manager of Retail Operations Want more? See all postings. BC Water News Exclusive Survival Guide: Scientists, engineers push to get Gulf Coast restoration plan off the treadmill Scientists and engineers are making a big push to jump-start a $14 billion, 30-year Gulf Coast restoration plan; a select group is reconvening tomorrow in New Orleans only a month after a three-day symposium that outlined the stark reality and hefty challenges ahead for the storm-battered shoreline. They realize all too well that something has to be done — and fast. Today's News —  Water Full steam ahead on critical Cambria water tanks (SLO Tribune, 6/5) "After more than a year of bureaucratic and legal wrangling and months of preparation, work to replace and enlarge two controversial water tanks crucial to Cambria’s firefighting supplies is set to start in earnest today." 30 smart ways to save on your summer water bill (Contra Costa Times, 6/5) "Global warming or not, long-term water conservation is essential, says Ann Vickers, author of The Handbook of Water Use and Conservation, because of our ever-increasing population."  Journal adds fuel to growing fears of chromium (Star-Ledger, 6/4) "A scientific journal has decided to retract an industry-funded 1997 study that downplayed the risks of toxic chromium, which plagues Hudson and Essex counties." Company fined over CWA in Santa Maria (SLO Tribune, 6/3) "Greka Energy has agreed to pay the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency $127,500 for alleged violations of the federal Safe Drinking Water Act, officials said." Basin cleanup debt increases (Pasadena Star-News, 6/3) "Water quality authorities and federal officials on Thursday called on the state to pick up more of the tab for cleaning local groundwater, an effort estimated to cost nearly $1 billion over the next 30 years." Study urges more help for small water systems (WaterWeek, 6/2) "Despite gains by states and USEPA in recent years to help small water systems strengthen their capacity to meet federal drinking water regulations, more effort and resources are needed, concludes an internal agency report." —  Pollution China's annual pollution costs top $200 billion (Associated Press, 6/4) "China's pollution problems cost the country more than $200 billion a year, a top official said Monday as he called for better legal protection for grassroots groups so they can help clean up the environment." Pollution data on the Web (Knight Ridder, 6/4) "Ever wondered what might be lurking in the soil of that abandoned warehouse on your street? Whether that house for sale is sitting on a toxic dump? Or when the closed gas station on the corner will be cleaned up?"   EPA negotiates landmark international agreement (EPA, 6/2) NEWS RELEASE. "After several years of legal wrangling and negotiations, the Bush Administration and the world's largest zinc producer have reached an international agreement to investigate contamination in the Upper Columbia River in northeast Washington state." —  Levees and Dams Large spring runoff means levees closely watched (Contra Costa Times, 6/4) "Racing through the sky over the San Joaquin River Delta and hovering over its islands and channels, the crew of the Contra Costa County sheriff's helicopter patrol is looking for more than just evildoers and stranded boaters." Farm leader backs building dam (Fresno Bee, 6/3) "A farm water leader from the west side of the San Joaquin Valley eloquently supports a large, new reservoir that would help farmers on the east side of the Valley." —  Wetlands and Lagoons Pumps may fuel Delta decline (Associated Press, 6/4) "Giant pumps in the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta are the heart of the state's massive water system, sending water from it where it is most plentiful in Northern California to cities in the south and farm fields in the Central Valley." Clock ticking to settle border canal dispute (SD Union Tribune, 6/4) "A sensitive water dispute on the California-Mexico border can be resolved, Mexican President Vicente Fox says, but government negotiators must be given the chance to work out the differences between the two countries." Report: New fish ladder would be fine (Chico ER, 6/4) "The fish ladder in Big Chico Creek in upper Bidwell Park can be replaced without danger of falling boulders crushing the new structure." Cargill salt ponds may land appraiser in hot water (Contra Costa Times, 6/4) "Raising new questions about whether taxpayers overpaid by tens of millions of dollars to purchase the Cargill salt ponds three years ago, California's attorney general is pursuing misconduct charges against the appraiser in the deal." Berkeley creeks law faces changes (Inside Bay Area, 6/3) "The City Council has approved the majority of recommendations by a task force that spent 18 months studying the city's controversial creeks protection ordinance." New rule to offer greater protection to marine life (EPA, 6/2) NEWS RELEASE. "EPA announced a final rule, established under the Clean Water Act, which will provide increased protection to fish, shellfish and other aquatic life. This action sets standards for cooling water intake structures at new oil and gas extraction facilities either at offshore or coastal locations." —  Flood Protection Flood protection bill passes (Daily Democrat, 6/4) "Legislation that requires housing subdivisions to have adequate flood protection before being built in the Central Valley passed off the Assembly floor Wednesday on a 42-35 vote."   Oceano lines up allies in fight against next flood (SLO Tribune, 6/3) "To help prevent another flood such as the one that caused widespread damage in Oceano in 2001, Arroyo Grande officials are planning ways to lessen stress on local creeks." Wolk's flood protection bill under debate (Woodland Daily Democrat, 6/3) "Legislation requiring cities and counties to strengthen flood protection for new housing developments stalled Wednesday in the Assembly, but backers worked to corral support for another vote." —  Wastewater Los Osos needs a stand-down (SLO Tribune, 6/5) EDITORIAL. "It's disheartening that Los Osos taxpayers paid close to $1 million in legal and management fees over a recent four-month period and have moved no closer to solving the community&'s sewer impasse. This rollup, as stunning as it is, may be only a prelude to a more far-reaching financial debacle facing the community." Ferndale's officials get break with sewer hookups (Herald and News, 6/3) "Through the efforts of Mayor James Moore and Councilman Ken Mierzwa, the tide appears to have turned regarding the city's relations with the North Coast Water Quality Control Board and its sewer hookup restrictions." —  Beaches Bacteria at the beach? Not always a sign (LA Times, 6/5) "UCLA researchers have found that the wet sand of some enclosed, family-friendly beaches in Southern California may harbor higher levels of certain bacteria — and by extension certain pathogens — than unsheltered beaches with better water circulation." —  Solid Waste Supervisors set to consider landfill merger (LA Daily News, 6/5) "To merge or not to merge: That is the question that Los Angeles County supervisors will consider Wednesday when they take up a permit to create a single dump out of two side-by-side operations at Sunshine Canyon Landfill." —  Rates and Fees Water rate protest heading to Lodi Council (Lodi Sentinel, 6/5) "It may end up costing the city millions, but the Lodi City Council will likely certify the ballot measure to overturn the city's water rate increase." Neighbors can unite to cut water costs (Sacramento Bee, 6/5) "Residents of a Shingle Springs subdivision, some of whom are faced with failing wells, were advised to enlist the participation of their neighbors if they want to pursue water service for their homes." —  Local/Agency News Ferndale water board take initiative (Eureka Times Standard, 6/4) "The water’s far from clear, of course, but the city of Ferndale is no longer swimming upstream in its discussions with the North Coast Water Quality Control Board." Water ownership battles playing out across U.S. (Lexington Herald-Leader, 6/4) Thanks to Jim Graham for this one: "There was a group named FLOW and a subsidiary of American Water. There were yard signs, mass mailings and plenty of campaign rhetoric about public ownership of the water utility. But it wasn't here." 'Water is Life’ winners receive recognition (Valley News, 6/3) "The artwork of four Lake Elsinore Unified School District (LEUSD) fifth grade students was recently lauded in the 18th annual EVMWD “Water is Life” poster contest." County, Conaway Ranch return to court (Woodland Daily Democrat, 6/3) "After a few months of relative quiet, the Conaway Ranch issue will return to court Monday. Yolo County and the ranch owners are meeting over a county motion that could halve the purchase price of the ranch. At issue is a clause that states water licenses are only worth the amount the owner paid to get them in the first place." 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