[Water_news] 5. DWR'S CALIFORNIA WATER NEWS: AGENCIES, PROGRAMS, PEOPLE - 5/18/07

Department of Water Resources

California Water News

A daily compilation of significant news articles and comment

 

May 18, 2007

 

5. Agencies, Programs, People

 

DEVELOPMENT ISSUES:

River Islands scales back home plans; Market prompts decision to build just 200 homes in 2008 - Manteca Bulletin

 

OROVILLE RECREATION:

Lake Oroville Offers Vacation Season Recreation - News Advisory, Department of Water Resources

 

 

DEVELOPMENT ISSUES:

River Islands scales back home plans; Market prompts decision to build just 200 homes in 2008

Manteca Bulletin – 5/18/07

By Dennis Wyatt, Managing Editor of the Bulletin

 

LATHROP - Foreclosures - which are sinking the housing market just across the San Joaquin River in Mossdale Landing - are having just a small ripple effect on River Islands at Lathrop.

Project Manager Susan Dell'Osso is in the final stages of sorting through nearly a dozen builders competing to be the first to break ground on the 11,000-home development expected to take 25 years to build.

Cambay Group's confidence is from the proven perspective of the long-haul. The European consortium patiently took 17 years on the East Bay mega-development known as Dougherty Valley fending off environmental lawsuits, securing water - the California commodity that's more precious than gold, and weathering economic downturns.

Cambay Group has tweaked its plans, however. Three years ago they envisioned building 500 homes the first year. That's what the development agreement they ironed out with the city allows and it is what they have obtained the ability to do with upfront money spent with the city on securing surface water treatment plant capacity. A little over a year ago that was scaled back to 350 homes. Now they expect to only allow 200 homes to be built in 2008 - the first year of actually pouring foundations.

Its Cambay Group's way of protecting an investment in the 4,800-acre project master planned for 11,000 homes that has already exceeded $120 million.

 

To make it work, Cambay will keep tight reins on the number of lots they will allow to be sold ready-to-build in a given year so that the market doesn't erode their investment. They also are shying away from large national builders that have public stock as they answer to different drummers than local or area builders cut from the same cloth as firms such as AKF Homes, Floresheim, Anderson, Raymus Homes and others. It's not that those firms are among those competing to build - that's a tightly guarded bit of information - but they are the type of builders that Cambay wants.

“They are builders who have strong ties to the community and have a reputation they work hard to uphold,” Dell'Osso said.

That isn't to disrespect larger builders. It's just a different approach to building.

Cambay also is going to sell builders lots ready to build. That means streets, sewer, water lines and even parks will be put in place by the River Islands development team.

Cambay Group is also better situated against a pending decision from Washington, D.C., expected in the coming months on the Army Corps of Engineers reexamination of the level of protection that levees offer throughout California.

River Islands by virtual of investing the money into creating 300-foot wide “super levees” just this year earned a classification that basically says the levees are bullet proof as they can withstand a catastrophic event expected to happen every 200 years.

The levees protecting Mossdale are certified currently as protecting against 100-year flood events. That designation remained after 1997 even though numerous boils had appeared in the levees that had been re-enforced six years earlier.

The aftermath of the New Orleans disaster prompted a second look at levees elsewhere including California.

Should the federal government de-certify the Mossdale levees, it will have a major impact west of Interstate 5 in both Lathrop and Weston Ranch as it will create major exposure for developers, cities, and homeowners. #

http://www.mantecabulletin.com/articles/2007/05/18/news/news2.txt

 

 

OROVILLE RECREATION:

Lake Oroville Offers Vacation Season Recreation

News Advisory, Department of Water Resources – 5/17/07Contacts: John Ford, Oroville Field Division Guide Services, (530) 534-2306, Ted Thomas, Information Officer, (916) 653-9712 , Pete Weisser, Information Officer, (916) 653-3350

 

OROVILLE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Lake Oroville is one of the largest lakes in California, offering vacationers a full agenda of water sports and other recreational fun, even in a relatively “dry” year.

 

Boating, biking, camping, horseback riding, fishing, hiking, and swimming are all on tap at and around the second largest reservoir in California, located near the historic community of Oroville in the upper Sacramento Valley. Easy to reach via US 99 or State Highway 70, Lake Oroville is located in scenic Butte County, 70 miles north of Sacramento.

 

“Lake Oroville is a big lake, even when it isn’t full,” says John Ford, Oroville area Guide for the Department of Water Resources (DWR). While Lake Oroville has hit its peak level for this spring, the lake’s huge surface and multiple campgrounds make it a comfortably large and vacationer-friendly lake, less crowded than lakes in more urban settings.

 

Attractions include championship fishing, sun-dappled lake boating with two marinas, and an extensive 75-mile trail system. This system includes 25 miles of equestrian trails, as well as over 50 miles of bicycle trails. (Hikers are allowed on all of the trails).

 

This trail system offers a variety of terrain, from many miles of rolling hills and secluded woods, to steep downhill mountain bike courses, to creek crossings, secluded ponds, and remote lakeside access. Most of the campgrounds are connected to this trail system, including an equestrian campground specifically designed for camping with horses. There are large pull-outs for horse trailers, a corral, horse showers and feeder stalls.

 

A variety of campground choices is available. Included are three vehicle-accessible campgrounds -- Loafer Creek, Bidwell Canyon and Lime Saddle -- and Oroville’s signature camping experience -- floating campsites. Reservations can be made through Reserve America by calling 800-444-7275. For information about Lake Oroville, call the Lake Oroville Visitor Center at (530) 538-2219.

 

Fishing is a prime lure at Lake Oroville, venue for numerous fishing tournaments, and a favorite of Northern California bass anglers, from professionals to novices. A new Lake Oroville record for bass was set Easter Sunday this year when Mark Rigsby of Yuba City caught a 15.48-pound Florida-strain largemouth bass. That hefty fish surpassed the previous bass record of 14 pounds, 15 ounces.

 

Abundant fish stocking in 2006 should lead to high catch rates of coho salmon this year at Lake Oroville, the only lake in California where coho salmon are caught. These hard-fighting fish are known for their acrobatic jumping abilities, and are among the tastiest coldwater fish found anywhere.

 

Houseboats, fishing craft and water skiing boats may be rented at the lake’s two marinas: Bidwell Canyon Marina (800-637-1767) and Lake Oroville Marina (800-225-5561). Information on Lake Oroville area recreation, including fishing tournaments, is available online from the Oroville Area Chamber of Commerce at its Web site at www.lakeoroville.net

 

The Lake Oroville Visitors Center, overlooking Oroville Dam and the lake, provides visual displays, videos, maps and publications describing the lake and regional attractions. Videos show filmed history of the dam’s construction during the 1960s as part of California’s State Water Project (SWP).

 

A 47-foot viewing tower offers visitors a commanding view of the lake, second only to Lake Shasta in size among California reservoirs.

 

Operated jointly by DWR, which administers the lake and dam as State Water Project facilities, and State Parks, the Visitors Center is open free of charge to visitors daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., except Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years. The center phone number is (530) 538-2219. For information on Oroville Dam and project facility tours, call John Ford, DWR Tour Guide in Oroville, at (530) 534-2306.

 

The key State Water Project storage lake in Northern California, Lake Oroville has a total storage capacity slightly exceeding 3.5 million acre-feet. The State Water Project provides at least some of the water used by more than 24 million Californians and irrigation water for about 750,000 farmland acres. Lake Oroville is operated also for flood protection and provides flows benefiting fish and the environment, including the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta.

 

The Department of Water Resources operates and maintains the State Water Project, provides dam safety and flood control and inspection services, assists local water districts in water management and water conservation planning, and plans for future statewide water needs.

 

Contact the DWR Public Affairs Office for more information about DWR's water activities.

www.water.ca.gov

DWR's California Water News is distributed to California Department of Water Resources management and staff, for information purposes, by the DWR Public Affairs Office. For reader's services, including new subscriptions, temporary cancellations and address changes, please use the online page: http://listhost2.water.ca.gov/mailman/listinfo/water_news. DWR operates and maintains the State Water Project, provides dam safety and flood control and inspection services, assists local water districts in water management and water conservation planning, and plans for future statewide water needs. Inclusion of materials is not to be construed as an endorsement of any programs, projects, or viewpoints by the Department or the State of California.