Department of Water Resources
A daily compilation of significant news articles and comment
June 9, 2009
5. Agencies, Programs, People –
Water savers' rebates may get needed cash infusion
Riverside Press-Enterprise
New IID employee to track water, power legislation
A water-systems engineer and architect of dams
Solar water heating in spotlight at energy center expo
Floating dock, budget on harbor district tap
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Water savers' rebates may get needed cash infusion
Riverside Press-Enterprise-6/08/09
A rebate program for water-saving appliances that ran $24 million over budget because of overwhelming demand could get an infusion of money today from
The Metropolitan Water District's board will consider a recommendation made Monday by one of its committees to cover the backlog of rebate requests from 2008-09.
About $2 million of the $24 million will go to 20,000 residents waiting for rebates on high-efficiency toilets, washing machines, synthetic grass, weather-based irrigation controllers and sprinkler heads. Most of the money would go for retrofits in commercial buildings.
In
The rebates are aimed at encouraging conservation in light of the drought and other supply problems. But officials didn't anticipate that the demand would triple from last year.
Money for MWD's "SoCal Water$mart" program, doled out monthly, ran out within eight days in April and within two hours of phone lines opening in May. This month, notices on water district Web sites said no more funding was available.
The rebates had been available to residents of areas served by MWD supplies, including Eastern and Western municipal water districts in
"It's very frustrating," said Hether Hickok, of
Hickok said she's waiting to buy a new clothes washer but is going ahead with a project to replace 3,000 square feet of grass with synthetic turf -- work that could have earned her about $900 in rebates.
Tim Barr is water use efficiency manager for Western Municipal Water District in
"We truly need to focus on landscape improvements and commercial, industrial and institutional improvements. There's still some water to be saved there," he said.
Since August, 1,919 Western customers have gotten $258,000 in rebates for devices expected to save 91 acre-feet of water per year; one acre-foot supplies about two families for a year.
The $24 million had been earmarked for purchases from the state's drought water bank, but that became unnecessary because allocations from the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta were increased this spring after surprise rainstorms.
Randy Record, a board member of MWD and Eastern, questioned whether the rebates are cost-effective.
Eastern's customers have gotten 2,138 rebates totaling almost $720,000.
"Spending this kind of money ... we need to make sure we're getting the bang for the whole buck," said Record, who also is a member of the committee.#
http://www.pe.com/localnews/inland/stories/PE_News_Local_S_rebates09.4c78e94.html
New IID employee to track water, power legislation
By Megan Bakker
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The Imperial Irrigation District has hired a new government affairs officer to assist the district with tracking legislative matters in
“I am pleased to be joining IID at this pivotal time in its history,” said Patrick Swarthout, the new hire and
Currently living in La Quinta, Swarthout has worked in public affairs for 22 years, including 11 years as a representative for The Gas
He will be paid $145,640 per year.
“I’m familiar with the district’s operations in both valleys and am confident that I can make a positive impact in approaching the government affairs function as an extension of board policy,” Swarthout said.
He will be assisted by Jennifer Goodsell, who will switch from a business control analyst within the district to government affairs specialist.
The appointments were made by General Manager Brian Brady, who said Swarthout will be working in a “critically important” position within the district.
“I think we can be a lot more proactive in working with our elected officials and others in the policymaking arena,” Brady said, “and the team we now have in place is capable of making that happen for the district and the public it serves.”#
http://www.ivpressonline.com/articles/2009/06/09/local_news/news02.txt
| A water-systems engineer and architect of dams By Darold Fredricks | |
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Hermann Schussler was born in Rastebe in the Grand Duchy of Oldenburg, Germany, on Aug. 4, 1842. His father, a physician, sent Hermann to be educated at the Prussian Military Academy of Oldenburg. After graduation in 1862, he spent two years in During these years, he gained practical experience at the Lucerne Vulcan Iron Works in In 1864, he headed for The president of the SVWW, a Mr. Babcock, sent Schussler down the As the demand for water increased, the SVWW began buying land on the The Pilarcitos Creek originated in mountains to the east of He studied English and mastered the language within a short time. Throughout his life, he tackled all problems with the same determination as he did in learning his new language, working hard until he conquered the problem. Within two years, due to his exceptional ability to understand and develop solutions to water systems, Schussler left the Pilarcitos site to work in the company’s city office. His salary was raised to $175 per month, and he was put in charge of building a dam northeast of His astute ability to read landscapes, elevations and potential sites for damming water led the SVWW to give Schussler permission to purchase property around the The The San Andreas Dam was engineered and constructed by Schussler in 1868. Due to the winds from the ocean and the elevation of the This was a big factor in building the dam in the In 1871, Schussler went to After returning to the SVWW in 1875, Schussler constructed an earthen dam west of Belmont (Upper Crystal Springs Dam). The dam is now used as a base for State Route 92. During his work in this area, he procured additional water supply by purchasing the Alameda Creek area east of In 1887, the Crystal Springs Dam on San Mateo Creek, west of The construction was so strong and engineered so expertly by Schussler, it was not damaged by the 1906 Earthquake, although it lies on the Hermann Schussler retired from the Spring Valley Water Company on Oct. 8, 1914. He died April 27, 1919 at the age of 76. A memorial plaque was placed near the Crystal Springs Dam by the Spring Valley Water Company. It reads: “If you seek his monument, look about you.”# http://www.smdailyjournal.com/article_preview.php?id=111436 Solar water heating in spotlight at energy center expo Experts and sellers of solar water heating systems will be at the The Solar Water Heating Expo runs from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Workshops for homeowners are scheduled at 10 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. About 40 percent of a typical home's natural-gas use goes to heating water. Solar systems, which work in conjunction with traditional water heaters, can reduce that consumption by 75 percent. Homeowners can get $1,500 in rebates for installing such solar-powered systems, while businesses can get up to $75,000 in rebates. The center is at Floating dock, budget on harbor district tap John Driscoll The The aquatic center is looking to build a 3,400-square-foot dock to accommodate boats of various kinds, and a gangway to access the dock. The project would involve demolishing existing wharfs and removing pilings in the bay at the ”Presently we don't have direct water access,” said HSU Center Activities Director Dave Nakumura. The dock would be built largely of high density plastic and would have two sections, one a low-float area good for rowing and paddle sports, the other built higher for larger boats, he said. The $400,000 to $500,000 project is being funded by the California Department of Boating and Waterways, according to the permit application. Construction is expected to get under way in late summer or early fall and take about two months. Noelle Melchizedek, a planner for the Redwood Coast Action Authority's Natural Resources Services, said that a trails feasibility study in 2001 identified 40 boating access sites, both formal and informal. But few exist for people of all abilities and for boats of all types, she said. ”I think it's an ideal location to have a really accessible dock,” Melchizedek said of the aquatic center site. The commission will also hear the first reading of its upcoming budget. Even after the board directed staff to cut $350,000 from its salary expenditures and make other adjustments, a shortfall of about $135,000 still exists. The district has considered raising tariffs on barges carrying fuel into the bay, and has inquired into whether the North Coast Railroad Authority has the money to repay a $170,000 loan. The state could also raid $65,000 from the district in a budget-balancing move. All of those could affect the budget picture. The budget discussions have recently brought to the forefront a debate over whether the district should continue to pursue improvements to the port, or shift its focus. The meeting is Thursday at 7 p.m. at the Woodley Island Conference Room.# http://www.times-standard.com/ci_12551281?IADID=Search-www.times-standard.com-www.times-standard.com |
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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
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