[Water_news] 3. DWR'S CALIFORNIA WATER NEWS: WATERSHEDS - 6/13/07

Department of Water Resources

California Water News

A daily compilation of significant news articles and comment

 

June 13, 2007

 

3. Watersheds -

 

West Nile found in Stanislaus

Infected mosquitoes near Turlock, bird in Modesto prompt ground spraying -

Modesto Bee

 

County signs off on habitat plan

But fears persist over Elk Grove's desires to eventually expand. -

Sacramento Bee

 

________________________________________________

 

West Nile found in Stanislaus

Infected mosquitoes near Turlock, bird in Modesto prompt ground spraying

Modesto Bee – 6/13/07

By Ken Carlson

 

A mosquito sample taken just east of Turlock tested positive for the West Nile virus, the second indication in two weeks that the potentially deadly virus is active in Stanislaus County, officials said Tuesday.

 

The infected mosquitoes were collected from a trap in an orchard three-quarters of a mile east of the city, between Gratton and Verduga roads, said Jerry Davis, general manager of the Turlock Mosquito Abatement District.

 

A state lab reported the positive test to the district Friday. Crews conducted ground spraying in the vicinity Saturday and could do more spraying there this week to knock down the mosquito population, Davis said.

 

In addition, a dead bird picked up in Modesto on May 28 was infected with the virus.

 

Officials did not reveal exactly where the infected bird was found, but the positive test prompted the East Side Mosquito Abatement District to fog the streets around Muncy Park near Prescott Road and West Rumble Road.

 

Lloyd Douglas, the district's general manager, said the dead bird wasn't necessarily infected in that neighborhood.

Another dead bird tested positive in February.

 

People can get West Nile virus from a mosquito bite. Symptoms may include high fever, neck stiffness, tremors, convulsions and paralysis. About 80 percent of people who are infected will have no symptoms.

 

As of Tuesday, the West Nile virus had been detected in nine of California's 58 counties, although there are no confirmed cases of human infection in 2007.

Last year, Stanislaus County had 12 people infected, San Joaquin had eight cases, and Merced County had four.

 

To control the illness in Stanislaus County, mosquito abatement districts have a strategy of detecting where the virus is present and then eliminating the mosquito breeding hot spots.

 

With the weather heating up this week — it's forecast to reach 101 degrees Thursday — officials said the mosquito population will increase and the conditions will be conducive to spreading the virus.

 

"The cool weather has held our numbers down," Douglas said, referring to mosquito counts. "But things are going to start happening faster than they have been."

Davis said he expects this year's human infection rate to be about the same as last year's because of efforts to control mosquitoes. In addition, the public is more aware of the need to take precautions, such as using insect repellent.#

http://www.modbee.com/local/v-dp_morning/story/13684233p-14274154c.html

 

 

County signs off on habitat plan

But fears persist over Elk Grove's desires to eventually expand.

Sacramento Bee – 6/13/07

By Ed Fletcher

 

Sacramento County supervisors voted Tuesday to move forward with a plan to protect habitat for endangered and threatened species in a huge swath of the county south of the American River.

 

What they didn't do was put to rest fear among environmentalists that Elk Grove eventually will be allowed to develop land south of its current borders.

 

Elk Grove officials asked that up to 9,100 acres of unincorporated Sacramento County south of Kammerer Road be studied for development -- sparking outrage from environmentalists.

 

Jacquelin DeLu, docent for the Consumes River Preserve, said she came to the meeting to speak on behalf of the sandhill crane -- one of a dozen threatened or endangered species in the area.

 

"When they come here, they are finding less and less places to eat," DeLu said. "I would like to know, who is going to represent these critters."

 

Once in place, the South County Habitat Conservation Plan will provide a consistent set of rules for developing and preserving land within the boundaries. The plan designates which areas are anticipated for urban growth, and which areas will be targeted as habitat preservation.

 

Under the plan, south county developers would have to protect about an acre of habitat for every acre built on. The plan covers two-thirds of the unincorporated county and the cities of Rancho Cordova, Galt and Elk Grove.

 

Ending five hours of testimony and debate, the supervisors voted unanimously to begin the environmental review process. The slow-moving plan will eventually require federal approval.

 

In a separate 4-1 vote, the board directed staff to meet with Elk Grove officials and others to discuss how the plan might be changed and what actions would be needed to clear the way for urbanization of the area targeted by Elk Grove.

 

John Hopkins, president of the Institute for Ecological Health and vice chairman of the planning effort, said he was a little uneasy with the board discussion.

"I'm a little unclear," Hopkins said. "The good thing is that the environmental review process got started."

 

Elk Grove officials, still soaking up the board action, said they hoped the discussions would be fruitful and reiterated that they never wanted to slow down the process.

 

County staff said major changes to the plan would cause a 16-month implementation delay.

 

But Elk Grove officials, supported by building interests, said the time to incorporate their ideas would be closer to three months.

 

Earlier in the meeting, Jim Estep, Elk Grove assistant city manager, said it only made sense to alter the plan now, rather than having to amend it later, as the county staff would seek.

 

"Certainly, urbanization of some of the land will take place within the 50-year window of the (plan)," Estep said. "We have the information today. Let's do a long-range plan that is really a long-range plan."#

http://www.sacbee.com/101/story/219813.html