Department of Water Resources
A daily compilation of significant news articles and comment
May 8, 2009
5. Agencies, Programs, People –
Water district names new CEO
The
Hundreds prepare to Paddle the Tuolumne River from the Sierra to the Sea
YubaNet.com
REGION: Eastern Municipal Water District to open demonstration gardens
The Californian
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Water district names new CEO
The San Jose
By Paul Rogers
Facing a tough budget climate, a summer drought and several years of controversies over its spending habits,
The Santa Clara Valley Water District board announced Beau Goldie, 50, will head the agency. Goldie, a
He succeeds Stan Williams, who resigned in January 2008, and two interim CEOs.
"We have a lot of challenges in front of us," Goldie said Thursday. "We have water supply issues, conserving water, the drought, flood protection and an aging infrastructure. Our main focus will be to stretch every dollar to meet those challenges."
Goldie said the water district, which is funded mostly by water charges and property taxes, is working to balance its $358 million annual budget through a variety of strategies. They include aggressively seeking federal stimulus money, delaying some construction projects and eliminating 18 vacant positions, although Goldie said he doesn't expect to lay off staff members.
One of the largest local government agencies in Silicon Valley, the 750-employee water district provides drinking water and flood protection to 1.8 million people in
Earlier this spring, the district's seven board members called for 15 percent mandatory water conservation this summer, the first such announcement since the end of the last drought in 1991.
But how much
Goldie has worked a variety of jobs at the agency. After graduating with a degree in civil engineering from
"He's done a good job. He knows the district. He gets along well with his co-workers, and I predict he'll do an excellent job," said Sig Sanchez, chair of the district's board, which reviewed about 50 candidates.
Tom Mumley, assistant executive officer of San Francisco Regional Water Quality Control Board, praised Goldie as a steady hand who has helped improve the environment.
"When I think of Beau, I think of somebody who is very ethical. Maybe that was part of the choice," said Mumley. "He doesn't come across to me as a guy who strives to beat the system or circumvent authority and process."
The water district has been rattled by several controversies in recent years, including approving salaries to its managers higher than those at most other
Williams was pressured to resign after he named former board member Greg Zlotnick to a newly created, $180,000-a-year job without telling the other board members.
Goldie's salary has not yet been set by the board.
"Our image has suffered over a number of years. I plan to be open and transparent," said Goldie.#
http://www.mercurynews.com/localnewsheadlines/ci_12320451?source=rss
Hundreds prepare to Paddle the Tuolumne River from the Sierra to the Sea
YubaNet.com – 5/7/09
May 7, 2009 - On May 15 the Tuolumne River Trust will launch Paddle to the Sea, a three-week festival to celebrate the
"I decided to do all 16 legs because I grew up hiking, swimming, and boating on the
This year marks the 25th anniversary of Wild and Scenic designation for the
"The Tuolumne is the lifeblood of communities from
To complete the journey, kayakers and rafters will begin on the upper stretches of the Clavey and Wild and
Friday, May 15
Kick-off Concert at Mountain Sage
5pm-9pm
Mountain Sage Nursery
Join us to send our paddlers off in style with an evening concert featuring bluegrass band Coyote Hill and jamband Pathetic Honey at Mountain Sage Nursery in Groveland. Don't miss out on this opportunity to celebrate the start of our journey to the sea in this beautiful Sierra setting! Call (209) 962-4686 for tickets. All proceeds benefit the Tuolumne River Trust and include a one-year membership.
Wednesday, May 27
Canoe The
8am-5:30pm
Wine reception following at Camp 4 Wine Cafe
Join us to canoe one of the most scenic sections of the
Saturday, May 30
Green on the Stream
2pm-6pm
Free admission
Welcome our paddlers as they come down the Tuolumne through
Monday, June 1 (media only)
Canoe The
1pm-5pm
Dinner reception immediately following
No charge
Join Tuolumne River Trust's Executive Director, Eric Wesselman, on this special canoe trip on the Tuolumne and San Joaquin Rivers to tour the Dos Rios Ranch and see how this exciting project fits in with our broader work to protect the Tuolumne River. We will canoe the
Thursday, June 4
Boat Tour of The Delta
10am-2pm (lunch provided)
No charge
Saturday, June 06
12pm-4pm
Free admission
Join us to celebrate the completion of Paddle To The Sea and welcome our paddlers to the
Saturday, June 06
9am-12pm - Waterfront sail to
2pm-5pm - Sail to The
No Charge
Sail alongside the kayakers completing the final leg of Paddle To The Sea to
http://yubanet.com/regional/Hundreds-prepare-to-Paddle-the-Tuolumne-River-from-the-Sierra-to-the-Sea.php
REGION: Eastern Municipal Water District to open demonstration gardens
The Californian - 5/7/09
By Jeff Rowe
PERRIS ---- In recent months, as the threat of water cutbacks has become a reality, people have been told over and over to consider replacing ever-thirsty grass lawns with water-sipping native vegetation.
So what to plant?
On Saturday, the Eastern Municipal Water District will offer plenty of suggestions when it opens its
In all, Eastern replanted 57 acres at its big complex in Perris, using California-friendly ground cover such as Indian hawthorn and bush lantana; shrubs such as society garlic and agave; and trees such as lemon-scented gum.
Some crushed rock and three grades of synthetic turf also has been added, some replacing nine acres of real grass.
That live grass and the other non-native bushes and trees drank way too much water for the new water-wise era.
The district was using 10.6 million gallons of water annually on the lawns and gardens, but with the native vegetation plantings, that water usage has been reduced to an annual rate of 1.3 million gallons.
All of that water is recycled, some of it from Eastern's storage pond on the north side of the district's complex.
"We hope this garden can serve as a model," said Roxanne Rountree, who is coordinating Saturday's demonstration program.
Exhibits will include water- and energy-efficiency devices and native plants.
Vendors and experts on composting, landscaping, irrigation and green energy will set up and staff booths at the event.
As are other water districts, Eastern is under pressure to reduce deliveries of water from the Metropolitan Water District, Southern Californian's primary water supplier.
Environmental restrictions are reducing by 10 percent the amount of water from Northern California that is available for pumping to
Metropolitan officials say districts that exceed their allocations will face stiff fines.
For example, if Eastern goes over its water delivery allocation by 500 acre-feet, that water will cost $1 million, four times the normal cost, although "normal" is rising.
Eastern said its cost will go up by 20 percent on Sept. 1 and 21 percent on Jan. 1, 2011.
How those increases will be passed on to customers hasn't yet been determined.
Eastern buys about 80 percent of its water from Metropolitan; the rest it acquires from area wells.
Eastern and other districts hope to persuade consumers to cut usage through a combination of conservation and price incentives based on new tiered rates, and by example and persuasion through its demonstration garden.
"Almost 80 percent of our customers are staying within tier 1 and 2," said Peter Odencrans, an Eastern spokesman.
The utility wants to teach the next generation that reducing water use is a necessity and that conservation is the new normal.
Eastern provides water for parts of Murrieta and Menifee and Perris,
On Saturday, special guests Dewie the Dragon and Princess Zoie will show children how they can reduce water usage and how water is recycled.
Captain Lo-Watt will demonstrate how fluorescent light bulbs use less electricity than incandescent bulbs.
The demonstration garden is at
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