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Friday, August 11, 2006 Quote of the Day: "Until you've lost your reputation, you never realize what a burden it was." Margaret Mitchell Born on this Day: Alex Haley, Carl Rowan, Mike Douglas, Jerry Falwell, John Conlee, Steve Wozniak, Terry "Hulk Hogan" Bollea, Joe Jackson, John Mitchell, Charlie Sexton, Will Friedle, and Chris Kelly. On this Day in 1934: Alcatraz, in San Francisco Bay, received federal prisoners for the first time. Sent to more than 25,000 readers nationwide... and thousands more via our lineup of online ads like the one above that appears on watertechonline.com Latest postings: City of Santa Rosa: Utilities Systems Oper. I Union Sanitary District: Env. Compliance Coach MWD: Junior Engineer MWD: Maintenance Mechanic I MWD: Engineering Technician Want more? See all postings. Today's News —  Water The desert's ultimate resource (The Desert Sun, 8/11) "All over the West, and especially in the desert, water is a vital element we dare not take for granted. Yet even as California embarks on an endless quest for more water to provide for a rapidly swelling population, in our desert, water flows plentifully - for now." Polluted groundwater found near Nacimiento (SLO Tribune, 8/11) "County officials are investigating groundwater contamination at Lake Nacimiento Resort. The contamination consists of chemicals found in gasoline and often near gas stations. It is not an immediate threat to drinking water, the officials said." Old fluoride debate renewed (Simi Valley Acorn, 8/11) "Ed Flanagan was shocked to learn that fluoride, a common toothpaste additive that is believed to protect teeth from decay, will soon be added to tap water throughout Southern California." Fountain Valley water lab design almost done (OCWD, 8/10) NEWS RELEASE. "Orange County Water District (OCWD) is nearly 90 percent complete with the design of a new 39,000 square-foot, $24 million water quality laboratory to be built on its Fountain Valley campus." Nevada water plan suffers setback (Las Vegas Sun, 8/10) "The state engineer has reaffirmed his responsibility to examine environmental issues in a decision affecting a rural ground water export plan coming up for crucial hearings in September." —  Surface Water Obsolete ships to be monitored for pollution (Contra Costa Times, 8/11) "Future cleaning of obsolete government ships in the Bay Area will be monitored for pollution after two World War II relics were towed from Suisun Bay to Richmond, where their hulls were scoured of marine growth, a state water regulator said Thursday." Algae blooms in Klamath reservoirs spark alert (Eureka Times Standard, 8/11) "Health officials and the Karuk Tribe are warning people to avoid contact with algae mats that have bloomed in two reservoirs on the Klamath River." Drought strikes the Okefenokee (Associated Press, 8/11) "A drought has lowered the water level in one of the nation's largest swamps, hindering motor boats, raising wildfire risks and forcing alligators to congregate in the deeper pools." Breathtaking June Lake (The Signal, 8/11) "At nearly 8,000 feet above sea level, June Lake is a lazy resort stuck in an impossibly deep valley in the Sierras. For Backroaders, it's a must-see destination, just about exactly 300 miles from our SCV. The June Lake Loop - Highway 158 - is one of the most breathtaking drives in the state." Connection to nature dying with rivers (Arizona Republic, 8/10) "The Santa Cruz River roared to life last week with storm water washed down from the mountains, a startling reminder of how Tucson owes its existence to a waterway nearly erased from the map."   New Mexico to poison nonnative fish (KRQE, 8/9) "The state Water Quality Control Commission has approved using toxins in more than 150 miles of northern New Mexico rivers and streams." —  Wastewater Barstow in 'significant non-compliance' (Desert Dispatch, 8/10) "The city is in 'significant non-compliance' with the state water quality board's demands to reveal the status of possible groundwater contamination in a five-square-mile area, according to the board's executive officer." Barstow could be fined tens of thousands (Desert Dispatch, 8/10) "The city could be fined tens of thousands of dollars for a raw sewage spill, according to a letter from the state water quality control board." Mendocino services district protects the future (Mendocino Beacon, 8/10) "Keeping track of the amount and quality of sewage being processed and the system that moves it surely doesn't rise to the top of career or volunteer ambitions for very many people. Caring about how well Mendocino manages its wastewater, however, is an essential endeavor that protects the quality of life in the services district." —  Solid Waste Burn dump cleanup nears completion (Chico ER, 8/10) "What has been the seemingly endless saga of the Humboldt Burn Dump cleanup may be coming to a close." —  Local/Agency News Santa Fe water district redesigns Web site (NC Times, 8/11) "The Santa Fe Irrigation District has redesigned its Web site to better serve its customers, officials announced this week." Tahoe projects get $48.1 million this year (Associated Press, 8/11) "Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne signed off Thursday on a $48.1 million package of Lake Tahoe projects, this year's installment of the $300 million committed to the lake through 2011 in a bill signed by President Clinton at the first Tahoe summit in 1997." —  The Weather and Warming Stronger hurricanes spawn bigger storm surges (Reuters, 8/10) Thanks to Mark Moss for this one: "Stronger hurricanes forecast for the next few decades could flood major cities including Miami and New Orleans, environmental scientists said Wednesday." Cities, states take action on global warming (Washington Post, 8/11) "With Washington lawmakers deadlocked on how best to curb global warming, state and local officials across the country are adopting ambitious policies and forming international alliances aimed at reducing greenhouse gases." —  Everything Else Water attracts investors as potential liquid gold (NY Times, 8/10) "Everyone knows that there is a lot of money to be made in oil. But a group of big businesses is discovering that there may be even greater profit in a more prosaic liquid: water." 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