Department of Water Resources
A daily compilation of significant news articles and comment
September 4, 2007
5. Agencies, Programs, People
Editorial
San Francisco Chronicle
Opinion:
Water and our region's economy -
Hope rising for Valley flood bill -
Editorial
Caught in the deluge -
When it comes to resources, our strength is in numbers -
The
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Editorial
San Francisco Chronicle – 9/4/07
German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier made his only
The message:
"When it comes to shaping this first global century, we (
Flattering, perhaps, that the German foreign minister has accorded a state the political recognition typically bestowed upon a nation, especially when he called
The proposal, however, wasn't purely political, but also practical. Steinmeier met with Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger earlier in the day to propose bringing
Does it make sense to link pollution-trading markets in different countries, on separate continents, with different rules, regulations and goals? Experts on both sides of the Atlantic say it will be difficult, but it can be done.
European pollution-reduction targets are more aggressive than what has been proposed in the
The recent dash by
The fight against global climate change will take global cooperation. If it takes region-to-region collaborations to span the globe, then let it start here.
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2007/09/04/ED1NRSI8N.DTL
Opinion:
Water and our region's economy
The good news is we have a chance to do something about it. We have the opportunity to come together as a region and commit to saving water now.
The implications are simple: Every drop of water we can save now puts us another drop further away from potential mandatory water use restrictions next year, the kind of cutbacks that hurt our economy during the region's last major drought from 1987-1992.
The need for everyone – including business – to pitch in and conserve water voluntarily could not be more urgent. Historic dry conditions across the West are affecting all of our water supplies. We are in the midst of one of the driest periods in
If that wasn't bad enough, the SWP, which provides 40 percent of
If anyone thinks that reduced water deliveries will not affect
Impacts from potential water shortages now would have a great impact to our overall economy. The San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce recognizes the importance of water supply reliability. Over the last 15 years we have urged the San Diego County Water Authority and its member agencies to plan for and invest in long-term solutions to our water supply needs. They have, spending billions of dollars in conservation programs, capital improvements and water transfer agreements that have increased reliability and will pay even more dividends in coming decades.
For now, however, increasing conservation is our best protection against potential supply shortages next year. To boost awareness of the need to conserve, the Water Authority recently launched the “20-Gallon Challenge” campaign. It calls upon everyone in the region to reduce their water use by 20 gallons per day, per person. If everyone were to save this amount, we would save enough water by next summer to meet the residential and business needs of more than half a million people.
Our region's commercial sector must embrace this challenge, too. Businesses can contribute by finding ways to increase their water efficiency. There are relatively easy and painless ways to do it, including cutting back on landscape irrigation (or using recycled water on landscapes) and installing water-efficient devices and appliances wherever possible.
The Water Authority also offers commercial and industrial water users specialized assistance, such as incentives on purchasing water-efficient equipment and audits that help businesses implement water-saving measures. Businesses can call 1-800-986-4538 for incentive information or 858-522-6756 to find out more about individualized audits.
Businesses also can help by promoting the 20-Gallon Challenge to their employees and customers. The Water Authority has posted an extensive list of conservation tips for residents and businesses on its Web site (www.sdcwa.org). Finally, business leaders can secure a better water future for
Horsman is president and chief executive officer of the San Diego National Bank and chairman of the board of the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce. #
http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20070904/news_mz1e4horsman.html
Hope rising for Valley flood bill
By
Major floods strike about every decade in the Valley, and cities such as Stockton, Lathrop and Thornton could face disaster should their levees break. Lawmakers in
What is emerging now is a proposal that would:
» Require improved flood protection for cities with at least 10,000 residents. This protection would be twice that required by the federal government, able to withstand a flood that has a one-in-200 chance of occurring each year.
» Mandate cities and counties to change their future development plans, once the state study is completed in 2012, to reflect high-risk areas. Once locals do that, they will be barred from approving new subdivisions in flood areas unless those areas have the upgraded protection, the developer promises to build it, or the area is in the process of an upgrade.
» Require the state to analyze the entire Valley levee system, looking for weaknesses and identifying areas that can be improved, and not just by armoring the levees. For instance, a bypass for flood waters built upstream might help an urban area downstream.
"That is new for
Lois Wolk, D-Davis, another of the bill's sponsors, said the proposal will make a difference when the floods come. "We are in an area of very high risk for flooding, and as urbanization continues, more and more people are in harm's way," Wolk said. "We are coming up with a package of bills that can balance growth with keeping people safe."
Should the bill pass, it would probably require Lathrop,
Local residents would be required to pay a share of the cost - recent improvements in
None of these upgrades would be required until at least 2015, but federal officials may force cities such as Lathrop to begin improving their flood protection even earlier. The Federal Emergency Management Agency could declare levees in Lathrop and part of Stockton and Thornton unsafe to live behind, meaning residents would have to buy flood insurance at a cost of several hundred dollars a year.
The state proposal is a mixture of earlier flood-control bills sponsored by Machado and Wolk. The two lawmakers agreed on a compromise late last month, but it is not expected to receive Republican support.
Republicans say the state should use the bond money to fix existing levees and let local cities and counties upgrade beyond the federal limits on their own initiative. Several developments proposed for west
Machado said he's not surprised at Republican opposition. "I don't think you're gong to find Republicans enthused about any Democratic bill right now," he said.
In addition, there is a potential legal problem. Aides to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger are worried that the study required in the bill could open the state to legal liability for levees it does not control, such as the old agricultural levees in the area between Lathrop,
At issue is a lawsuit that emerged after the 1986 floods that cost taxpayers more than $500 million to settle. State officials don't want to be on the hook for another lawsuit, and right now they are. If a levee failure wipes out Mossdale Landing, for example, the state is on the hook even though it was the city of
Machado says the state is overly nervous: "They're running skittish," he said. "They can be held harmless on that - their obligation is for (state-maintained) levees."
Wolk and Machado said they expect the flood-control bill to be heard late this week.#
http://www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070904/A_NEWS/709040318
Editorial
Caught in the deluge
» NOTE: First of two parts.
Californians are being deluged by distorted data, inflammatory accusations and regional spin when it comes to the issue of water.
In the middle of this growing tide of problems sits the San Joaquin Delta, the state's main freshwater source and long-neglected estuary.
The Delta isn't the only dilemma:
» Rivers flowing to the Pacific Ocean from the
» Environmental degradation can be found on most waterways.
» The largest water conveyance systems are man-made engineering marvels that distort the natural order.
» Flood protection is based on the work of exploited laborers who helped construct the Delta region's now-primitive and vulnerable earthen levees 100 years ago.
Water quality, availability and reliability are continually at stake and at risk.
The subject bores or intimidates most Californians. As long as water flows from taps, the toilets flush and the fields get irrigated, why worry?
For some
Federal Emergency Management Agency administrators have established 100-year flood-protection standards for the county.
They're in the process of reviewing the strength and stability of the levees that protect expanding urban neighborhoods in Stockton and Lathrop west of Interstate 5.
In locations where levees fail to meet FEMA standards, property owners will be required to purchase flood insurance at a projected rate of $400 for every $100,000 of value. To be fully protected, the owner of a $250,000 home would have to pay an additional $1,350 to $1,400 a year.
Paying for such unexpected insurance will be difficult, if not impossible, for property owners who already are overextended financially in a depressed housing market.
Officials at FEMA expect a final map of the county's 100-year flood plain to be completed by spring 2009.
The situation will be even more complicated for developers whose projects still are in the planning stages.
The water issue also has become muddied by renewed discussion of building a canal that would route
The peripheral canal concept - rejected by voters 25 years ago - continues to be discussed because of Southern California's dependence on
In accommodating that need, state and federal pumps near
As momentum grows to once again study such a canal, scientists and hydrologists are saying it might worsen the Delta's already-damaged ecosystem.
They argue that the Delta already suffers from a lack of fresh water in the
Though there are dozens of other issues that need attention and resolution, too many county residents don't pay enough attention.
That's dangerous, because politicians and bureaucrats who make decisions that impact the Delta could accept the arguments of powerful outside special interests if those in
They should be.
A large portion of
Everybody wants a share.
If we don't become guardians of
If we're not careful, the deluge, distortion and spin will leave the county stuck in the backwater. Again.#
http://www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070902/A_OPINION01/709020306/-1/A_OPINION
When it comes to resources, our strength is in numbers
The
Second of two parts
That might be changing.
Taking a cue from the San Joaquin Council of Governments' "one-voice" approach to transportation issues, members of several government agencies are working to develop a similar regional approach to and flood-protection issues.
The Central Valley Resources Agency, though in a embryonic stage, is having some effect.
When Rep. Dennis Cardoza, D-Merced, held a regional conference on flood-control and levee issues in August, members of the new agency participated.
"We need to make sure our elected officials have regional support when addressing the needs of our region," said Steve Ding, once an aide to former Rep. Richard Pombo, R-Tracy.
He cited three goals for the group, which will be trying to help:
» Those who live in flood zones and need to understand the implications.
» Government agencies and others who must work toward common goals.
» Identify and articulate regional needs.
The group's unique public-private partnership combines interests in San Joaquin, Stanislaus and
State Department of Water Resources administrators soon will release grant funds. The new Valley agency's representatives are planning to make forceful requests.
In the past,
The involvement of city and county officials will be vital for this new partnership to be effective. So will a structure that includes private interests but doesn't allow them to dominate the agenda.
To be successful, Central Valley Resources Agency dealings must be open to scrutiny by the public and devoted to its best interests.#
http://www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070903/A_OPINION/709030310/-1/A_OPINION
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