[Water_news] 5. DWR'S CALIFORNIA WATER NEWS: AGENCIES, PROGRAMS, PEOPLE - 7/6/07

Department of Water Resources

California Water News

A daily compilation of significant news articles and comment

 

July 6, 2007

 

5. Agencies, Programs, People

 

DEVELOPMENT ISSUES:

Levee safety threatens Lathrop development; Lathrop site may soon be classified as flood plain - Stockton Record

 

DELTA ISSUES:

McNerney condemns canal; S.J. lawmaker recounts first months in office - Stockton Record

 

WATER POLICY ISSUES:

Guest Opinion: Need a dry look at state water policy - Tracy Press

 

SANTA CLARA VALLEY WATER DISTRICT:

Editorial: Water district needs scrutiny; CEO'S UNADVERTISED HIRE SHOWS A DISREGARD FOR PUBLIC INTEREST - San Jose Mercury News

 

 

DEVELOPMENT ISSUES:

Levee safety threatens Lathrop development; Lathrop site may soon be classified as flood plain

Stockton Record – 7/6/07

By Anna Kaplan, staff writer

 

LATHROP - Concerns about levee safety have Lathrop officials and at least one big developer worried about the viability of building homes on what soon could be classified as a flood plain.

 

The Roseville-based developer Richland Planned Communities already has some roads built and pipes laid into areas of the Land Park project, a 1,500-acre community bordered by Interstate 5 and the San Joaquin River in Lathrop slated to include 6,800 houses, 5 million square feet of office space, a riverside public park, the under-construction Lathrop High School and three planned elementary schools.

 

But the developer's concerns over an upcoming federal re-evaluation of area levees and a desire to learn more before continuing with the housing project recently caused Manteca Unified School District to postpone building Ethel Allen Elementary, one of the community's schools.

 

"We're obviously concerned that (the levees) may not have the integrity everyone's assumed them to have. We're also concerned that people are being reactive to things that happened in New Orleans, and we may get swept up in broader policy discussions," said Clifton Taylor, the Land Park project manager.

 

Last fall, the Federal Emergency Management Agency began a process of evaluating levees throughout the United States to see if they could stand up to a 200-year flood, or a flood that has half a percent chance of happening each year. Previous standards only tested for 100-year floods that had a 1 percent chance. The levees protecting San Joaquin County cities from floods meet the 100-year standards.

 

Richland is not pulling out of the project, Taylor said, but the combination of levee concerns and the slowing real estate market means the company will need to exercise caution. Land Park is slated to be completely built out in 15 years.

 

While stalling Ethel Allen Elementary, MUSD will continue to build Lathrop High School because it will serve a much larger area than just the nearby Land Park homes.

 

If local levees are found to not meet the new and yet undefined standards, developers will be barred from starting new projects in flood plains, said Juan Neira, an associate civil engineer with the San Joaquin Area Flood Control Agency, a partnership between Stockton and San Joaquin County to deal with levee and flooding issues.

 

Homeowners already living in the newly designated flood plain will be required to have federally backed mortgages and flood insurance. If they already have flood insurance, their costs could rise up to $1,200 a year. If they had no such insurance before, they could be paying $2,200.

 

The frustration for the rapidly growing city of Lathrop is its own lack of control over the levees that are still technically considered safe, as well as the possibility of losing the tax revenues and developer fees that bolster the city's budget.

 

"It's not going to be a good thing for development (if the levees are decertified). But the bottom line here is that we've always said that we'll do anything in our power to meet the requirements. We're kind of left hanging here when we really don't know what the rules are going to be," Lathrop Mayor Kristy Sayles said.

 

Stockton planning staff encourages developers interested in waterside areas to provide their own flood protection. This hasn't kept developers away, but it has kept them aware they may have to build their own levees in addition to houses, said Mike Niblock, Stockton's community development director.

 

Lathrop's River Islands development built a private superlevee offering 200-year flood protection to get the project out of the flood plain and to skirt the federal flood insurance requirement. The controversial project still under fire from local environmental groups had to receive approval from the state Board of Reclamation. The superlevee makes the development "an island all unto ourselves" in the case of a severe flood, said Susan Dell'Osso, the River Islands project director.

 

Neither Lodi nor Manteca has any new developments slated for flood plain areas, according to the cities' respective staffs. #

http://www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070706/A_NEWS/707060327

 

 

DELTA ISSUES:

McNerney condemns canal; S.J. lawmaker recounts first months in office

Stockton Record – 7/6/07

By Greg Kane, staff writer

 

STOCKTON - San Joaquin County's freshman congressman Thursday criticized Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's support for a long-discussed canal that would redirect from the Delta fresh water meant largely for Southern Californians.

 

The so-called peripheral canal would devastate the Delta's agricultural community by limiting its access to fresh water, Rep. Jerry McNerney told The Record's editorial board. Schwarzenegger last month backed the decades-old idea to build such a canal, which would channel water around the Delta and its aging levees.

 

Without a constant flow of fresh water, salt water from the San Francisco Bay will creep into the Delta's channels.

 

"We just cannot accept that action," McNerney, D-Pleasanton, said. "We cannot let him turn that into a saltwater estuary."

 

McNerney's comments came during an hourlong meeting in which he recounted his first six months representing the 11th Congressional District, which includes Lodi and parts of Manteca, Stockton and Tracy.

 

McNerney, an engineer and wind energy specialist, beat out former Rep. Richard Pombo for the seat in November.

 

Among the topics of discussion Thursday: a defeated immigration bill that would allow millions of illegal residents to apply for citizenship, the need for better public transportation and improvements along Interstate 205, and his fast-approaching re-election campaign next year.

 

McNerney also talked about adapting to the chaos of Washington politics, where progress is often judged by who you know and on which committee you serve.

 

"It's a little like going to prison: You have to join one of the big gangs there for protection."

 

The immigration bill, which would have paved the way for 12 million illegal residents to obtain citizenship, died in the U.S. Senate last week.

 

McNerney supported the plan, saying the promise of citizenship would help some feel more connected to the United States. The bill isn't likely to be revived until after the 2008 election, he said.

 

"We're stuck with a broken immigration system for at least another two years," he said.

 

The county's transportation woes were another topic of discussion on Thursday. When voters re-upped Measure K in November, it paved the way for the chronically gridlocked I-205 to be expanded.

 

The half-cent sales tax is expected to generate $2.5 billion during the next 30 years for I-205 and dozens of other transportation projects.

 

But McNerney hopes to ease San Joaquin County's commuter problems in other ways, such as job creation and public transportation.

 

In the next six months, the congressman plans to identify the public transportation model that will best fit the community - expansion of the Bay Area Rapid Transit district and the Altamont Commuter Express rail were among those mentioned Thursday.

 

Such a system could be in place within 10 years, he said.

 

McNerney acknowledged being targeted by Republicans who believe the 11th District can be won back in 2008.

 

He said he's been referred to as a "project" by party officials looking to put a Republican back in the seat held by Pombo for more than a decade.

 

Only one candidate, Lincoln Unified School District board member and former state Assemblyman Dean Andal, has entered the 2008 race.

 

McNerney said he hasn't met Andal, but he criticized the Republican for statements he made last year about Assemblywoman Cathleen Galgiani, D-Stockton, being single and childless.

 

"There's no benefit to these type of statements," McNerney said. #

http://www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070706/A_NEWS/707060321

 

 

 

WATER POLICY ISSUES:

Guest Opinion: Need a dry look at state water policy

Tracy Press – 7/5/07

By State Sen. Dave Cogdill, R-Modesto

 

An adequate and reliable source of water supply is essential for the economic vitality and quality of life in every region of our state. Yet, nearly 30 years have passed since the state has made improvements to its water system on the scale required to keep pace with the state’s growing population and changing needs.

 

The time to address California’s water system is now — we cannot delay. There is a host of circumstances that makes the case for the urgency of our situation. This year is on track to be one of the driest years on record. Throughout the state, water experts have been stating that we would be in trouble were it not for our full reservoirs (thanks to a wet winter in 2005-06). Even still, many communities have called for both voluntary and involuntary conservation, or rationing. If a couple dry years could threaten the availability of water for the current number of Californians, imagine how much more dire a couple dry years will be in 10, 20 or 30 years if we do not increase our supply and California continues to grow at the rate of nearly a half-million people a year.

 

California needs the flexibility to deal with changes in rain patterns. Not only do we need to store up our water during the wet years in order to provide water during dry years, we also need storage facilities available to catch the rain when it falls too heavily and threatens flooding.

 

In addition to California’s need for increased water supply, both above and below the ground, there is also an immediate necessity to address the Delta. The Delta is the hub of California’s water system. Water for nearly two-thirds of California’s population flows through and is pumped out of the Delta, and yet, it is immensely vulnerable. Most recently, concerns about an endangered fish species called smelt caused the Department of Water Resources to drastically cut the amount of water being pumped out of the Delta. The decision had a ripple effect on all the communities that rely on the pumped water. Additionally, the Delta is exceedingly susceptible to earthquakes. One large magnitude earthquake could decimate the Delta and the system used to convey water to Southern California. A situation such as this would be infinitely worse than shutting off the pumps for a limited amount of time.

 

While addressing the water supply, the precarious nature of the Delta and conveyance issues, we must also continue to make progress with water-use efficiency and conservation efforts. Water is a precious resource that cannot be wasted. We need to use it wisely and effectively. Efforts such as this can reduce demand on new water supplies to a degree; although we will still need additional supply, we might not need as much down the road if we continue to implement efficiency and conservation measures.

 

Given the heightened attention to water issues in the state Capitol and throughout California, including Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s vocal support for a comprehensive approach, problems with the Delta and the shutting off of the pumps and a potential, impending drought, it’s time for something to be done. That is why I authored Senate Bill 59 and why I continue to push the issue within the Legislature.

 

Dave Cogdill, R-Modesto, represents the southern and eastern sides of San Joaquin County in the state Senate where he is minority whip and a member of the Natural Resources and Water Committee.

http://tracypress.com/content/view/10059/2/

 

 

SANTA CLARA VALLEY WATER DISTRICT:

Editorial: Water district needs scrutiny; CEO'S UNADVERTISED HIRE SHOWS A DISREGARD FOR PUBLIC INTEREST

San Jose Mercury News – 7/6/07

 

The Santa Clara Valley Water District manages the water supply for 1.8 million residents and spends around $300 million a year in taxpayers' money. But unlike county and city governments, the district pretty much gets a pass on oversight from community activists - and from its own elected board.

 

The administrators know it. How else to explain CEO Stan Williams' latest hire?

 

Without telling his elected board or the public ahead of time, Williams hired board member Greg Zlotnick to a $184,000-a-year advisory post. The new position was tailored to Zlotnick's expertise and wasn't advertised for other applicants.

 

This apparently is legal, but it's the wrong way to spend public money. It shows why greater public scrutiny of this critically important agency is overdue.

 

Williams and Zlotnick should agree to void the hire, and Williams should advertise the position. And the board should set a policy that it must approve all hires above a certain salary - say, $150,000 - to make sure Williams is using his hiring authority appropriately.

 

Williams says the district is facing new challenges, particularly since access to water from the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta may be threatened. Fair enough.

 

He says Zlotnick has the right expertise to advise him on delta and other issues. He was not required to advertise the job, although the agency's lawyer told him it would avoid the appearance of impropriety.

 

Zlotnick sent a letter of resignation from the board but didn't say why. And it appears he intends to participate in the next board meeting. That would be outrageous.

 

Zlotnick has a solid resume on water issues. But who knows what talent might turn up with the carrot of a $184,000 salary - perhaps applicants with new ideas, not just ones Williams is comfortable with. The public has the right to expect that the best possible person will be hired. Without even looking for other applicants, the appearance of cronyism is inevitable.

 

The county civil grand jury looked at the district in 2005-06 and found that Williams had 33 "unclassified" employees who "serve at the pleasure of the CEO" and made an average of $152,000. The same report found salary costs in the district doubled between 2000 and 2006.

 

The board made some budgeting changes as a result of that report but needs to take greater control. And the public should demand it.

 

Imagine if San Jose's city manager tapped a council member for a $184,000-a-year job that never existed before. Imagine how City Hall watchdogs would howl. Think what the council member's constituents would say about being abandoned, and how loudly they'd say it. The city would be in an uproar.

 

But at the water district? Ho hum.

 

By hiring one of the people who are supposed to be overseeing him, Williams shows who's really in charge of this public agency.

 

And it's not the public.
http://www.mercurynews.com/opinion/ci_6310917

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://listhost1.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.