Department of Water Resources
A daily compilation of significant news articles and comment
June 12, 2009
5. Agencies, Programs, People –
Offshore oil drilling, once abhorred, gains in the Capitol
Capitol Weekly
After fireworks, water board selects new director
New 'landowners association' forms over water rights
Woodland Daily Democrat
Mosquito district searches for breeding grounds
Marysville Appeal-Democrat
Booth at Horse Expo spotlights outdoor activities
Oroville Mercury-Register
Venice, Italy, turns to tap to fight trash heaps
San Diego Union-Tribune
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Offshore oil drilling, once abhorred, gains in the Capitol
Capitol Weekly-6/11/09
By John Howard
A political fight over the first new state offshore oil drilling lease since the 1969
At the heart of the dispute is Gov. Schwarzenegger's move to bypass a decision by the three-member State Lands Commission -- the office, since 1938, with authority over state oil drilling - which voted in January to reject the plan. The governor wants to shift jurisdiction to his own Department of Finance, which writes the state's budgets. By moving it to Finance, the project would likely be approved - but only if the Legislature signs off on the agreement.
Inside the Capitol, the power shift caught many by surprise.
"It is a very bad model and it leads to bounty hunting," said Assemblyman Pedro Nava, D-Santa Barbara, a foe of the project. "The authority to approve these land deals was stripped from the Finance Department because of past scandals and conflicts of interest," Nava said.
Outside, it stirred opposition from some environmentalists already critical of the project, coastal Democrats in both houses and the commission itself.
"We think it violates the long-standing authority of the Lands Commission and provides no safeguards for the coast and water and air around
But the administration believes the significant dollar value of the project - some $1.4 billion to $1.8 billion - requires rigorous fiscal scrutiny. Thus, language authorizing the shift in authority is pending before the two-house conference committee that is rewriting the state budget in a search for cash to cover a $24 billion shortage.
The position is a reversal of the governor's earlier position. "I welcome the national debate on solutions to lower our energy costs, but we know offshore oil drilling is not the answer," Schwarzenegger said after President Bush announced plans to lift the moratorium on oil drilling.
The
In return, the state reportedly would get $100 million annually in payments, 4,000 acres of Gaviota-area coastal land and other benefits.
Lands Commission chairman and Lt. Gov. John Garamendi, a Democrat, opposed the project. He said before the commission's January vote that approval of the drilling plan would serve as a precedent for "new leases off the
The issue is complicated by electoral politics, both local and statewide.
Nava is a candidate for state attorney general next year. His wife, environmentalist Susan Jordan, is a candidate for his Assembly seat, and she also has denounced the project. Initially, some local environmental groups backed the plan - indeed, they brokered the deal -- although their support has since withered.
But their action, at least in part, prompted a challenge to
Meanwhile, Garamendi is running in the 10th Congressional District to replace Ellen Tauscher, who was appointed by President Obama as undersecretary for arms control in the State Department. After Tauscher is confirmed in her new job, Schwarzenegger will call a special election to fill the seat. Schwarzenegger also can appoint Garamendi's successor, if Garamendi wins the election and heads to Congress.
For 71 years, the State Lands Commission has had jurisdiction over
"This project is good for
The commission, and a review by the state attorney general, noted that key provisions of the agreement were not enforceable.
"They, the commission's staff and the attorney general, concluded that the purported benefits could not be enforced or guaranteed, and on that basis they denied it," said Jordan, executive director of the Coastal Protection Network.
If the lease had been approved, it would have marked the first new state oil-drilling lease in 40 years. The ban on leasing followed the 1969 spill off the
But the Commission's decision did not end the debate.
The new language before the conference committee says "it is in the public interest to reconsider applications from operators with existing offshore drilling platforms on federal lands...the provisions of this act are necessary for the promotion of the public interest and are of statewide concern," according to a version drafted by the Legislative Counsel's office and provided by the administration.
Nearly three dozen environmental groups wrote the governor and legislative leaders in opposition to the proposal. The groups said it "threatens to unravel" the existing system of environmental review and independent boards and commissions. U.S. Sen. Barbara Boxer, a Democrat, also opposes Tranquillon Ridge, as do lawmakers in the state Senate and Assembly representing coastal districts.
Supporters of the plan say it would generate $1.8 billion for the state and some $313 million for
"The oil and gas reserves are owned by the state of
The Porter Novelli communications company is working on building public support for the plan, and PXP's lobbyist is Aaron Read of Aaron Read & Associates, a veteran Sacramento lobbying firm.
The plan is not yet in the printed form of a bill, but it is likely to be drafted this week and go before the two-house conference committee.
At the same time that the administration is pushing the PXP project, the governor also is seeking federal stimulus money to ease, or mitigate, the environmental impacts of offshore drilling. The governor's office referred a reporter to the Legislature. There was no immediate comment.
"Mitigation monies are funds used to defray the cost of harm. You can't mitigate something unless you anticipate harm. If they are looking for mitigation money, they are acknowledging that there is likely to be harm," Nava said.#
http://www.capitolweekly.net/article.php?xid=y1mau0s4vlp3bf
After fireworks, water board selects new director
By Laura Brown
After an explosive discussion Wednesday morning, Nevada Irrigation District directors ended a political standoff and approved seating retired construction manager and rancher Jim Bachman as the representative of the water district's largest division.
In the process, one director called into question the integrity of the district.
Bachman replaces R. Paul Williams, who stepped down in April after holding the post overseeing mostly rural parts of
Bachman was competing for the seat against his neighbor, organic farmer William Morebeck. In the weeks leading up to Wednesday's decision, directors had been split 2-2 on who should replace Williams, with directors Nancy Weber and Nick Wilcox supporting Morebeck and directors John Drew and Scott Millersupporting Bachman.
They approved Bachman 3-1, with Wilcox switching his preference and Weber alone in her opposition to his appointment.
“I was pleased that it finally came to an end,” Bachman said after the dramatic conflict was resolved.
Directors dropped their option of sending the final decision to the Placer County Board of Supervisors. The neighboring county's supervisors and farm bureau sent letters supporting Bachman, a move that Morebeck felt was premature and inappropriate.
Weber called
“It left a bad taste in my mouth,” Morebeck added, saying he wasn't given a fair chance to represent himself and he believed
“I only had two weeks, and I don't think that was enough time,” Morebeck said.
“I'm concerned about the integrity of NID,” Weber said at Wednesday's meeting.
Weber charged Williams had lobbied and used his influence with supervisors to “manipulate the system” and sway their support for his friend.
She also criticized Placer County District 2 Supervisor Robert Weygandt, who resides in
“That's a black mark on NID,” Weber said.
Weber's comments outraged Chairman Drew, who grew red in the face as she spoke.
“I think you're out of line,” Drew told Weber. “How you can hold him responsible for what his parents did?”
Miller queried NID's legal authority to see whether Weber's “accusatory” comments against Williams were crossing libelous lines.
They were not, lawyer Jeff Meith advised.
Weber, who represents the
Until the recent real estate collapse,
“Sometimes I get a reputation as kind of a lightning rod,” Weber said.
During the meeting, Division V director Nick Wilcox offered to change his vote to support Bachman if the board declined to fully support his own motion to call a special election.
He and Weber had supported a special election, even though it would have left the Division IV seat empty until an election in October and would have cost taxpayers living in Placer County as much as $45,000.
As if given the green light, both Drew and Miller voted “no” for a special election, knowing to do so meant a win for their candidate.
Bachman's endorsement from Williams, his “passion for agriculture,” and his 50 years experience in construction won over Drew, the board chairman said.
The water district is facing $250 million in construction projects over the next decade, he added.
With suburban populations of
“Large ranches to the north of
Bachman lives on 80 acres of an original 240 acres his parents owned on
“We want to hold out as long as we can,” Bachman said.#
http://www.theunion.com/article/20090611/NEWS/906109984/1001/NONE&parentprofile=1053
By Zuri
The Nevada City Council approved an 8 percent water rate increase at Wednesday night's meeting.
The increase equates to $2 extra on residents' bills, bringing the city's flat rate to $28 for the first 25,000 gallons of use. The increase will bring in a little more than $39,000 for the city.
“The biggest disappointment I've had is not being able to inspire the council to even talk about it,” said Krill has documented the issue for the last four years.
“As a majority of residents are living on a fixed income, this water increase is deplorable,” said Sharon Tobiassen. “Older citizens have to give up something like food and it's not even addressing the illegal units.”
Council members also took into consideration a possible incremental rate system, in which low-income or fixed-income residents would pay a lower rate for their water usage.
A water-rate study was also proposed Wednesday. The study would determine whether 25,000 gallons is an appropriate benchmark to bill city residents. The city set aside $20,000 in funds for the study.
Currently,
http://www.theunion.com/article/20090611/NEWS/906109987&parentprofile=search
New 'landowners association' forms over water rights
Woodland Daily Democrat-6/10/09
A group of
YCLA is an outgrowth of a property owners meeting held on Nov. 12, 2008 at the
The meeting was in response to broad County-wide opposition to the Groundwater Ordinance and Water Agency proposed by the Yolo County Board of Supervisors.
Since that meeting, there have been other proposals by the Board of Supervisors that threaten private property rights in
The Mission Statement of YCLA is "To be dedicated to preserving the quality of life that Yolo County provides for all of its citizens through protecting landowner property rights, monitoring the government process and taking action, when necessary, to safeguard those rights for future generations."
The Board of Directors of YCLA includes Frank Sieferman, Sr., who was elected President and Yvonne LeMaitre, who was elected to Vice President.
http://www.dailydemocrat.com/ci_12559570?IADID=Search-www.dailydemocrat.com-www.dailydemocrat.com
Bug battle begins
Mosquito district searches for breeding grounds
Marysville Appeal-Democrat-6/12/09
By Ashley Gebb
Pea-green pools are on the hit list for the Sutter-Yuba Mosquito and Vector Control District.
Using an airplane flyover, the district identified almost 500 swimming pools that are potential mosquito breeding grounds, said Manager Ronald McBride. About 20 inspectors are visiting homes to check for larvae and then treating the problems as necessary.
The district would like to eliminate any potential breeding location, and pools are becoming common sources, he said. Backyard sources are the No. 1 origin of mosquitos in urban areas, McBride said.
"We appreciate neighbors letting us know if they see an abandoned pool," McBride said. "West Nile Virus is here to stay."
For minor cases, the district deposits mosquito fish to eat the larvae. For more serious problems, a bacteria is added to kill larvae that eat it or a mineral oil substance is administered to the pool's surface to suffocate the insects.
The flyover cost $3,500, but treating each pool costs only a few dollars, McBride said. It's free for residents and they face no penalties for the conditions of their pools.
When field foreman Merv Hunt inspected one vacant home Thursday on
The deep green murky water had little visibility beyond a foot or two deep and algae clustered on the surface. Backswimmers and other bugs scampered near the bottom.
Hunt tested the water and found some larvae, so he added another 30 mosquito fish to the turbid water. The female fish reproduce quickly, he said.
"We may put 30 fish in the pool, but by the end of the summer there will be hundreds," Hunt said.
After treating a pool, he staples a sign to the fence to alert neighbors of the treatment. That way no one with good intentions tries to treat the problem themselves with bleach and kills the mosquito fish.
Not all pools identified in the flyover are mosquito breeding grounds. Others have already been cleaned by their owners or were giving off a wrong impression.
"Sometimes they are sparkling clean," Hunt said. "Which is what I would prefer to see."
That was the case for
Suyeda was pleased to see the district's prevention measures.
"Our neighborhood looks pretty good," he said. "But just because our neighborhood is safe doesn't mean two blocks away something could be breeding millions of mosquitos."
Most residents are agreeable to the inspection and treatment, but the district can obtain a warrant to inspect if people refuse, McBride said.
The economy has caused a surge in poorly maintained pools, he said. Some are foreclosures but others are simple a lack of money for maintenance.
When Twila Curiel and her husband purchased their
She and her husband plan to fix the pool as soon as they have the money, she said. Until then, they have been tossing mosquito-killing pellets into the water every month to stave off the pesky insects.
Other people's backyards are a concern, she said.
"Almost every house we looked at had a pool and it looked just like this," she said, gesturing to the stagnant, dark green water. "I'm just glad there is somebody going around and looking out for us."
The district has used flyovers to identify pools since 2005. Other efforts to fight West Nile Virus include adding growth regulators to drains and other water basins, using bacteria or mosquito fish in agricultural fields and spraying in urban areas on a weekly basis.
May is usually the start of the mosquito season and it could last until Thanksgiving depending on the weather, McBride said.
As for how bad or mild this mosquito season could be, "You never know," he said.
Anyone with concerns about a pool can call the district at 674-5456 to report it anonymously.#
http://www.appeal-democrat.com/news/mosquito-78489-pool-district.html
Booth at Horse Expo spotlights outdoor activities
Oroville Mercury-Register-6/11/09
A booth sponsored by Oroville Chamber of Commerce will promote local recreation during the Western States Horse Expo this weekend at CalExpo.
The booth, paid for by the chamber with funds from the Department of Water Resources, will spotlight outdoor activities in the Oroville area. It will be staffed by local equestrians, including the Tennesse Walking Horse Breeders' and Exhibitors' Association, offering local trail information.
The Western States Horse Expo will go today, Saturday and Sunday offering national speakers, a horse sale, Magnificent 7 Stock Horse Championship, Equine Dream Art Show, Mustang Challenge, Exhibition of Breeds, Trail Symposium and trade show vendors.
Expo hours are 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. today and Saturday; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday.
Tickets are $18 per day, $9 Sunday; or $45 for three days. Children 7 to 13 years are $5 per day. Tickets can be purchased at www.horseexpo.com or at the gate. Discount coupons are available at local feed stores.#
http://www.orovillemr.com/search/ci_12574894?IADID=Search-www.orovillemr.com-www.orovillemr.com
Venice, Italy, turns to tap to fight trash heaps
'Mayor's water' pushed as the solution to eliminating mounds of water bottles
By Elisabeth Rosenthal
In this hot and noble city, discarded water bottles float past gondolas on the edges of the canals and spill out of trash cans on the majestic Piazza San Marco.
Because
Italians are the leading consumers of bottled water in the world, drinking more than 40 gallons per person annually. But as their environmental consciousness deepens, officials here are avidly promoting what was previously unthinkable: that Italians should drink tap water.
For decades, bottled water has been the norm on European tables, although tap water in many if not most cities is suitable for drinking.
In
They invented a lofty brand name for
Because tap water is often jokingly called “the mayor's water” in
“There are so many advantages to Acqua Veritas,” said Riccardo Seccarello, a city official, whose office is adorned by an Acqua Veritas poster into which President Barack Obama's picture has been Photo-shopped.
“Tap water doesn't require a bottle,“ he said. “Its quality is controlled more strictly than bottled water. It's really cheap. And you don't have to walk to a market to get it.”
He also leaked a little information that city officials have made sure everyone now knows:
Trash is an especially costly problem in
Collection costs $335 per ton compared with $84 per ton on the mainland, Seccarello said.#
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
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