Department of Water Resources
A daily compilation of significant news articles and comment
July 22, 2008
5. Agencies, Programs, People –
How low can it go? Drought puts Folsom boaters in limbo
The Sacramento
Water lowered for work
The Sacramento
Alvarez sentenced to probation, keeps seat on water board
Inland Valley
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
How low can it go? Drought puts Folsom boaters in limbo
The Sacramento
By Niesha Lofing
As the water gets shallower at Folsom Lake, the boats must go slower – really slow. Which is not great news for motorboaters, Jet Ski riders and water skiers.
That's the reality at Folsom Lake, which continues to shrink as the summer wears on and water is released downstream. The shallower the lake, the more dangers lurk from rocks and tree stumps.
State park officials, noting the lake elevation is approaching 400 feet above sea level, are anticipating having to set a 5 mph speed limit within a day or two.
The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation said Folsom Lake is considered full when its surface elevation reaches 466 feet. On Monday, it was at 400.61 feet.
Low water caused all boats to be removed from lake marinas by July 2, far earlier than usual. The lake has been open for day use to boaters who launch their boats at ramps around the lake.
Fewer boaters headed to the
"A lot of people thought it would be their last weekend before the speed limit," he said.
The slowdown isn't bad news for all lake users – particularly those who like to sit in their boats quietly while they fish.
But the low lake levels may start to affect access points,
Only two boat ramps remain open: the Hobie ramp at Brown's Ravine and the Granite Bay Stage 1 ramp at
The elevation for the
"In a normal year, a wet year, we have a substantial amount of snowpack," he said.
Today, water is flowing into the reservoir from tributaries and rivers at 1,300 cubic feet per second , but being released at 3,000 cfs to meet demands downstream.
Water is released from the reservoir for drinking water and flood control and to meet agricultural, municipal and industrial needs. Releases also are used to help control water quality, he said.
"If we have a storm at sea and it pushes saltwater upstream, the releases hold the saltwater at bay,"
http://www.sacbee.com/101/story/1099205.html
Water lowered for work
The Sacramento
By The Bee Metro Staff
The district and the U.S. Forest Service issued a joint news release advising campers and fishermen to expect higher-than-usual water flows for this time of year in Caples Creek and the Silver Fork of the
People recreating downstream are advised to camp on high ground, away from the stream's edge, and to avoid crossing the stream because of the danger of hypothermia or drowning.
The El Dorado Irrigation District board declared an emergency July 1 after an underwater inspection at Caples Lake revealed problems with two slide gates in the dam that are used to regulate water releases. The board learned last week that a manufacturer could provide replacement parts by Sept. 15. The district plans to empty
For more information about the repair project, see the district's Web site at www.eid.org.#
http://www.sacbee.com/101/story/1099316.html
Alvarez sentenced to probation, keeps seat on water board
Inland Valley
Will Bigham, Staff Writer
LOS ANGELES - Local water director Xavier Alvarez was sentenced to three years' probation and fined $5,000 in federal court Monday morning for falsely claiming he was awarded the Medal of Honor.
Before he was sentenced, Alvarez told Judge R. Gary Klausner that he was "very remorseful" for his false claims of military valor.
"I'd like to apologize to everyone in this whole nation," said Alvarez, who represents south
As part of Alvarez's terms of probation, the court recommended he perform one year of community service - one day per week - at the veterans hospital in Loma Linda.
The judge could have sentenced Alvarez to five months of home detention.
That might have cost Alvarez his seat on the water board. His seat would have been declared vacated if he was unable to attend board meetings for three months.
He would have automatically lost his seat with a felony conviction, but the medal charge is a misdemeanor.
The federal charge was brought against Alvarez when taped comments surfaced of a statement he made at a July 2007 meeting of the Walnut Valley Water District.
After Alvarez was introduced as a guest at the meeting, he told the assembled crowd that he was a retired Marine and a Medal of Honor winner. Alvarez never served in the military.
He agreed to plead guilty to the charge in April after a motion to dismiss the charge on constitutional grounds failed.
Alvarez, through his attorney, argued that the Stolen Valor Act, under which he was charged, violated the First Amendment because it criminalizes false speech.
Klausner told Alvarez he would be issued a harsher sentence if he is convicted of the same charge in the future.
Alvarez has 10 days to appeal his conviction on constitutional grounds. Alvarez declined to comment after the hearing, but his attorney, Brianna Fuller, told The Associated Press her client does intend to appeal.
One veteran who attended the hearing said he was upset afterward that Alvarez was not sentenced to jail for a length of time sufficient for his water board seat to be vacated.
"That's not justice," said Fred Stillions of
Three Valleys director Bob Bowcock, who has been the most outspoken board member against Alvarez, said Monday he wished the sentence had been more strict.
"It was inappropriate what he did, and I think it should be more strict than what it is," said Bowcock, who represents
Bowcock also said he doubted whether Alvarez was truly remorseful for his lies of military valor.
"If he really and truly shows remorse, then he should step down," Bowcock said. "To me, that would truly show that he is remorseful."
Three Valleys board president Bob Kuhn said he was "disappointed" about what he felt was a light sentence given to Alvarez.
"I'm disappointed that they aren't holding him to a higher standard than an average citizen, since he's a public official," Kuhn said.
Kuhn also said that public officials should be forced to resign their positions when they are caught lying.
A Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office investigation into allegations that Alvarez illegally signed up his ex-wife for district-paid health benefits is ongoing, said David Demerjian, head of the office's Public Integrity Division.
Charges brought against Alvarez in connection with the alleged theft of health benefits could be a felony, meaning that a conviction would disqualify him from holding public office.
Former Pomona Councilman Marco Robles announced last month that he was a member of a committee formed to recall Alvarez.
Robles did not return a call seeking comment Monday.
Bowcock said he did not believe the group had filed the necessary paperwork to begin collecting signatures, of which it needs 3,000 from Alvarez's district to place a recall measure on a future ballot, Bowcock said.#
http://www.dailybulletin.com/ci_9954979
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
No comments:
Post a Comment