About Brown and Caldwell

Specialty Pages Asset Management Infrastructure Funding Water Resources SWRCB New Collection System Regulatory Program BC News Exclusives

Staff Ken Harlow, Crusty Editor Jennifer Finley, Managing Editor (E-mail Jennifer)

Recent News 8/14/2006 8/15/2006 8/16/2006 8/17/2006 8/18/2006 8/21/2006 8/22/2006 Archives About this newsletter Reader kudos Reader FAQs

Resources Meetings Agency links Other links Blogs: Hill Water Issues Los Osos Sewer ScienceBlog.com Tothelastdrop Water Conservation Water and Wastewater

Thursday, August 24, 2006 Quote of the Day: "To dream anything that you want to dream, that is the beauty of the human mind. To do anything that you want to do, that is the strength of the human will. To trust yourself, to test your limits, that is the courage to succeed." Bernard Edmonds (Thanks to Maggi Brooks for this one!) Born on this Day: Yasser Arafat, Mason Williams, Gregory Jarvis, Joe Regalbuto, Mike Shanahan, Steve Guttenberg, Cal Ripken, Jr., Marlee Matlin, Reggie Miller, Claudia Schiffer, David Chappelle, and Rupert Grint. On this Day in 1867: Johns Hopkins died. The railroad millionaire left $7.5 million in his will for the founding of a new medical school in his name. 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: LADWP: Director of Public Affairs City of Santa Cruz: Environmental Projects Analyst Valley Center MWD: Engineering Technician II Castaic Lake Water Agency: Inspector Castaic Lake Water Agency: Safety Officer City of Riverside Public Utilities: Water Maintenance Engineer City of Riverside Public Utilities: Utilities Water System Oper. Mngr. Union Sanitary District: Environmental Compliance Inspector I San Bernardino SDD: Treatment Plant Operator I San Bernardino SDD: Treatment Plant Operator II San Bernardino SDD: Treatment Plant Operator III San Bernardino SDD: Maintenance Worker III San Bernardino SDD: Division Engineer San Bernardino SDD: Maintenance Worker I San Bernardino SDD: Maintenance Worker II San Bernardino SDD: Engineering Technician III Want more? See all postings. Today's News —  Water Supply San Clemente well not contaminated (Los Angeles Times, 8/24) "The leak of radioactive material that contaminated groundwater beneath the San Onofre nuclear power plant has not reached a drinking-water source in San Clemente, according to test results announced Tuesday." Rancho Bernardo group worried about water plan (NC Times, 8/24) "A proposal to truck tens of thousands of gallons of recycled water through this community every day has alarmed members of the Rancho Bernardo Community Planning Board, who say they fear the resulting truck traffic would damage local streets." Tri-Valley water board OKs demineralization project (Contra Costa Times, 8/23) "The Zone 7 water agency board approved plans to reduce salts and minerals from underground drinking water supplies in Pleasanton and Dublin, adopting plans and environmental documents last week for its proposed Mocho Groundwater Demineralization Plant in north Pleasanton. Construction is expected to begin early next year, and the plant will be in service by early 2009." Folsom and El Dorado Hills: Let's make a deal (Folsom Telegraph, 8/23) "When it comes to preparing for future water needs, both Folsom and El Dorado Hills face the same problem." Folsom: Thirsting for the future (Folsom Telegraph, 8/23) "Where will the water come from? It's a simple question without simple answers in these days of unparalleled growth, complicated reclamation rights and mounting climate change concerns." Drought, water worries cloud skies for U.S. farmers (Reuters, 8/23) "As the United States bakes in one of the hottest summers since the Dust Bowl years of the 1930s, drought from the Dakotas to Arizona through Alabama has sharpened the focus of farmers on their lifeline: water." Coughing fish could protect water supplies (NC Times, 8/22) "A San Diego County-based company Tuesday announced that two cities have bought their system to protect drinking water from contamination by using fish to monitor toxins in the water supply."  Cal Am slams pilot plant appeal (Carmel Pine Cone, 8/22) Thanks to Mike Wellborn for this one. "An appeal by a Southern California environmentalist over California American Water Co.’s county-issued pilot desalination plant permit is flawed and should be rejected by county supervisors, a consultant to the water company contends."  Jones Valley residents seek reliable water source (Redding Record Searchlight, 8/22) "The only green in the backyard of Darlene Terrey's dream home comes from a 10-foot-by-12-foot patch of artificial turf held down by bricks on the corners."  —  Across the Globe China spend $125 billion to improve water facilities (Reuters, 8/23) Thanks to Mark Moss for this one. "China will spend 1 trillion yuan (US$125 billion; euro100 billion) to improve water treatment and recycling facilities over the next five years as part of efforts to fight the mounting threat of urban water pollution, officials said Tuesday." New alliance seeks to fight water sector corruption (Reuters, 8/23) "Water experts and businesses teamed up on Tuesday to fight corruption feared to be siphoning off billions of dollars from projects to supply drinking water to the Third World." Fixing leaks can avert world water woes, expert says (Reuters, 8/23) "Fixing leaky pipes in conurbations from Mexico City to New Delhi is a better way to avert water shortages as the world population grows than costly schemes such as dams, a leading expert said on Monday."  —  Stormwater and Levees Senate shelves flood bills (Sacramento Bee, 8/23) "A package of flood-control bills touted as a way to reduce threats of disaster in the Central Valley was declared dead Tuesday by Senate President Pro Tem Don Perata." Sandbags and safety; Perata and governor gum up legislation (Sacramento Bee, 8/23) EDITORIAL. "Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and state lawmakers have just days to decide whether 2006 will be a historic year for flood legislation or a missed opportunity that puts more lives at risk." One year later: Did we learn from Katrina? (California Farm Bureau Federation, 8/23) "It was one year ago this week that Hurricane Katrina cut a vicious swath through the Gulf states, leaving death and destruction in its wake." Tri-Valley water board aims to prevent floods (Contra Costa Times, 8/23) "A plan to eventually turn Tri-Valley gravel pits into lakes was adopted as part of a $726 million stream management plan aimed at preventing floods." —  Wetlands and Watersheds Ambitious wetlands restoration project draws to an end (Associated Press, 8/24) "More than a century ago, duck hunters blocked the ocean from flowing into the marshes here, slowly strangling a network of tidal wetlands. Now the sea is coming back." Watershed rules enacted in Central Valley (Record-Bee, 8/23) "Because of a newly enacted Central Valley Water Control Board regulation, a handful of Lake County growers and farmers will be required to enroll in a watershed group by Dec. 31 or deal with the board directly on a much more expensive and difficult basis." Lawmakers OK plan for bridge over American River (Sacramento Bee, 8/23) "The Legislature has cleared a path for Folsom to build a $105 million bridge across the American River -- bringing the city one step closer to easing traffic for at least 15,000 daily commuters."  IID asked to back Salton Sea restoration (IV Press, 8/22) "The Imperial Irrigation District on Tuesday will consider what would be the strongest endorsement yet of the Salton Sea Authority and its plan to restore the state’s largest inland lake to a healthy ecosystem." —  Wastewater Sewage spills into Lake Hodges (NC Times, 8/24) "Most of a 780-gallon sewage spill that started in Escondido went into a creek that empties into Lake Hodges, but much of that sewage flow was trapped later, authorities said Wednesday." Los Osos sewer bill moves closer to passage (SLO Tribune, 8/24) "Despite letters of both support and opposition from the Los Osos services district's board president to state lawmakers, a plan to give the county control of the town's sewer project has taken one step closer to becoming a law." Sewage, storm water runoff can make beaches dangerous (Ventura County Star, 8/24) "The surf at the border of Ventura and Santa Barbara counties is sometimes too good to pass up, so he gets shots for hepatitis A and B just to hang 10 without getting sick."   —  Workshops Olivenhain offers free gardening workshops (Olivenhain, 8/22) NEWS RELEASE. "The Olivenhain Municipal Water District (District), the Santa Fe Irrigation District and San Dieguito Water District are holding free gardening workshops for residents in the three agencies’ service areas.  Beginning September 6, 2006 a workshop will be held every Wednesday in September from 9:00 A.M. to 12:30 P.M at the Rancho Santa Fe (RSF) Garden Club." —  Local/Agency News Rainbow water board to discuss GM post (NC Times, 8/23) "With its general manager set to step down from his post Aug. 31, the Rainbow Municipal Water District's board of directors are holding a special meeting Friday to discuss options for filling the district's top management spot." Rainbow water board leader resigns (SD Union-Tribune, 8/23) "Rainbow Municipal Water District Board President Larry Sundram has resigned, saying he will focus on 'more pressing matters such as family, health and leisure.'" Prizes awarded to young scientists by WateReuse Assn. (WateReuse Association, 8/22) NEWS RELEASE. "The San Diego Regional Chapter of the WateReuse Association presented a cash prize to a local middle school student at their July 19 meeting." 'Smart sprinklers' on the way for Santa Clarita Valley (LA Daily News, 8/22) "Watering the lawn could soon become more high-tech and involve less guesswork after the Santa Clarita Valley's water supplier installs an electronic system that helps conserve water." —  Everything Else California Water Service files $150 million stock shelf (Reuters, 8/24) "California Water Service Group may periodically sell up to $150 million in common stock and preferred stock, according to a regulatory filing on Wednesday."  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