Department of Water Resources
A daily compilation of significant news articles and comment
August 16, 2007
4. Water Quality
Wastewater plan could harm trout, agency says; Project would divert water from the Ventura River - Ventura County Star
SEWER SYSTEM:
Meetings to answer questions about sewer service for Beaumont-Cherry Valley Water District - Riverside Press Enterprise
Wastewater plan could harm trout, agency says; Project would divert water from the Ventura River
By Zeke Barlow, staff writer
A proposal to divert wastewater from the
An environmental study of the project doesn't take into account all the factors that could harm the federally endangered fish, such as how much water will be in the river during the dry season or the fact that the fish live in the river year-round, the letter says.
The proposal, which is in its exploratory phase, calls for about half — or 1,000 acre-feet — of the wastewater the Ojai Valley Sanitation District puts into the river to be diverted to oil companies. The companies currently use drinkable water to force oil from the earth.
Though the proposal was born out of the idea to help conserve water and recycle some when possible, it is drawing the ire of environmentalists who fear too much water may be taken from the river.
A recent environmental report was too vague and didn't thoroughly examine all the potential effects on the steelhead trout, the letter states.
"The draft report lacks a definitive assessment of how the proposed action would affect designated critical habitat for endangered steelhead," says the letter, which is signed by Rodney McInnis, the regional administrator for NMFS. "The effects of this project on both adult and juvenile steelhead should be investigated thoroughly since it could result in the take of steelhead, especially during the dry season."
Millions of dollars have been spent trying to re-establish steelhead trout in the river, including the construction of a $9 million fish ladder that goes around the Robles Diversion, allowing the fish to swim up and down the river. #
http://www.venturacountystar.com/news/2007/aug/16/wastewater-plan-could-harm-trout-agency-says/
SEWER SYSTEM:
Meetings to answer questions about sewer service for Beaumont-Cherry Valley Water District
Riverside Press
By Gail Wesson, staff writer
Doherty doesn't think enough tests were run to conclude that septic tanks in
Stull thinks sewers should be added incrementally, starting with commercial districts and densely populated areas such as mobile home parks.
Both residents will be able to get questions on the issue answered at town hall meetings planned for Aug. 23 and 30.
The meetings are intended to help voters in the Beaumont-Cherry Valley Water District decide whether the district should have the authority to provide sewer service to its unincorporated areas, including
The
District officials have said scientific studies show that
Doherty doesn't think enough wells were tested to reach that conclusion.
"I think we need a little bit better proof that we're polluting the water," he said.
Doherty first came to his grandmother's
District General Manager Chuck Butcher has said everyone in the district gets a vote because it's a water-quality issue. Only property owners within the area that would get sewers would have to pay for the new sewers.
A mailer sent out by the district estimates that
"Most of the people I've talked to are really unhappy about putting out that kind of money, with a water bill on top of it," said Stull, who owns Cherry Valley Realty and has lived in the area for more than 30 years.
"It's going to be very difficult to come up with a plan that anybody is going to be happy with," Stull said by phone. But he will vote for Measure B, he said, because "I think they ought to have the authority in that area to intervene."
Rather than tackle a huge sewering project, Stull said the district should consider an incremental extension of sewers.
"I would like to see them do that, and slowly as the area develops," he said.
Fran Flanders lives in a
"I can't vote for them (the district) to take on more responsibility when I am so unsure how they're handling what they're handling now,"
She frequently questions district finances at board meetings and noted that the district is behind on audit reports.
As of last week, the district had 12,642 registered voters, said Rebecca Martine,
The water district will send out a second mailer to voters this month. If voters favor giving the district sewer service authority, the county's Local Agency Formation Commission also would have to consent.
A draft environmental report is in the works evaluating different treatment plant options, including enlarging the city of
http://www.pe.com/localnews/inland/stories/PE_News_Local_B_bsewervote16.409a2cd.html
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