Department of Water Resources
A daily compilation of significant news articles and comment
January 22, 2009
4. Water Quality –
Opinion:
To save salmon, stop subsidizing toxic farming
San Francisco Chronicle
Septic rules taking form
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Opinion:
To save salmon, stop subsidizing toxic farming
San Francisco Chronicle – 1/22/09
Dave Bitts of McKinleyville (
State and federal water managers are pumping
To bring back salmon and other native fish, we must stop depleting the delta by sending millions of acre feet of water each year to the western
A draft report released last Thursday by the National Marine Fisheries Service confirms that the operations of the federal Central Valley Project and the smaller State Water Project, which pump delta water southward, jeopardize the very existence of the state's spring and winter run of Chinook salmon, steelhead and green sturgeon - all endangered or threatened species. Undoubtedly, pumping is devastating the commercially valuable fall run of Chinook as well.
Until two years ago, Chinook from the
Meanwhile, the state Water Resources Control Board, which is supposed to be protecting the delta fishery, has turned a blind eye to the depredations of the water export agencies, as have the state Department of Fish and Game and the governor's office.
Westlands Water District irrigates hundreds of thousands of acres of semi-arid land that is tainted with selenium, a highly toxic mineral. Irrigation causes selenium to leach out of the soil.
Twenty-five years ago, Westlands dumped its toxic wastewater at the Kesterson National Wildlife Refuge, killing thousands of migratory birds. After the Kesterson disaster came to light, Westlands had a harder time evading the truth about the widespread destruction its irrigation practices caused. But the district farmers haven't learned their lesson.
Westlands says about 100,000 of the most poisoned or poorly draining acres have been taken out of production, and wants taxpayers to pay for a Kesterson-like scheme to drain another 100,000 acres. But federal scientists say the amount of contaminated cropland is closer to half a million acres.
The cheapest and most environmentally sound answer is to take all of the tainted land out of production, which would greatly reduce the amount of water Westlands needs. But the district is in negotiations with the federal mangers of the Central Valley Project for a 50-year contract that would entitle it to more water, not less, which it could then turn around and sell at great profit to water-scarce cities in
The state Water Resources Control Board has failed to declare irrigation and cultivation of these selenium-tainted soils an unreasonable use of water, although they are now facing a lawsuit brought by sport fishermen over this issue. The state still allows irrigation districts north of Westlands to funnel their wastewater into the lower
We can't continue to promise more water than nature supplies.
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/01/21/EDCK15EHJ5.DTL
Septic rules taking form
Eureka
John Driscoll/The Times-Standard
It rolls downhill, as they say.
State water quality regulators have proposed new regulations for septic systems that would require mandatory testing and potential overhauls of poorly functioning systems. The draft rules have rural residents on edge, worried about onerous and expensive requirements.
The State Water Quality Control Board's proposed rules are born out of Senate Bill 885, passed in 2000. The law directs the board to come up with ways to protect groundwater, drinking water and streams from contamination from failing septic tanks.
Those provisions are supposed to be in place by mid-2010. They include an inspection of Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems every five years -- at a cost of approximately $325 -- and a replacement of the systems if tests show they're polluting the water in an area. That could cost $25,000 to $45,000.
Water board spokesman Dave Clegern said that the mission is to safeguard water quality, but admits the plan is both complicated and controversial. He said the state will seek funding to help those who need assistance with the costs of installing a new system.
”There are many, many people in
The scope of the program is enormous, as recently laid out in a draft environmental impact report.
The state estimates there were 1.2 million septic systems in
Contamination from septic systems tends to be the worst where homes are clustered together, and in areas with a high water table or certain soils. But because of the enormity of the task to more closely regulate the systems, the water board doesn't believe it will be able to review each system on a case-by-case basis. The plan will also likely have to be implemented on a prioritized basis, meaning some areas are likely to get attention sooner than others.
New septic systems will have to meet a number of standards, including having alarms and overflow tanks in case of a failure and filters to prevent the escape of solids. Systems within 600 feet of a stream may also need additional treatment equipment installed.
The proposed regulations have drawn the attention of the California Farm Bureau and its regional entities. Humboldt County Farm Bureau Executive Director Katherine Ziemer said that while she wants to see clean water protected, she's concerned about the blanket approach the state water board is taking, which would cover essentially all of the bureau's agricultural members. The regular inspections and standards seem to be “overkill,” Ziemer said, and the bureau intends to closely participate in the final outcome of the regulations.
”I think this entire regulation is too much and too heavy handed,” Ziemer said.
Local standards for inspection include ensuring sewage isn't surfacing, pumps are working and the alarm is functioning, he said. Cox said he hadn't reviewed the draft regulations, and isn't sure how they would affect the process for homeowners.
Some communities are trying to move away from septic systems altogether. The town of
So Orick is moving toward a low-tech community sewage system that could relieve residents of the new regulations, even though that's not driving the effort, Youngblood said.
”To me it really just affirms that we need to have a community system,” she said. #
http://www.times-standard.com/localnews/ci_11525713
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