Department of Water Resources
California Water News
A daily compilation of significant news articles and comment
July 22, 2009
5. Agencies, Programs, People –
Rotary helps Tanzanians with water project
Chico Enterprise-Record
House passes $3.9M funding for dredging
Crescent City Triplicate
Owe $$$ on your water bill? Nevada City to place lien on your land
Grass Valley Union
North San Joaquin Water Conservation District will accept applications for vacant board seat
Lodi News-Sentinel
Utility district's openness questioned as election season starts
Tahoe Daily Tribune
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Rotary helps Tanzanians with water project
Chico Enterprise-Record-7/22/09
By Katy Sweeny
In a place where few people have electricity and plumbing, money the Chico Rotary Club raised will fund clean-water projects and save residents from common water-borne illnesses.
On Tuesday the club honored two Tanzanian Rotary members who thanked the crowd that has helped them begin construction on six rainwater collection systems and a water-treatment center.
Sadikiel Kimaro of Tanzania thinks the sustainable clean-water systems will improve health and development, he said.
"All I can tell you is that we are determined to use every cent that you give," Kimaro said.
The club — in collaboration with Durham, Orland, Cordelia and Moshi, Tanzania, rotary groups — raised $63,000 to build water systems in villages near Moshi, said Walt Schafer, the Chico club's international service director.
The Chico Rotary Club raised $15,000 and received a Rotary matching grant for the project that started in 2005.
Few people in rural Tanzania have access to electricity and clean water, resulting in deaths from water-borne illnesses, Kimaro said. The water supply for schools is also unreliable, so the rainwater collection and storage systems being constructed in four villages will keep students hydrated.
Residents volunteered to dig the trench for the water-treatment center near a reservoir, Kimaro said. A water committee will also oversee the maintenance of the systems.
The Tanzanian Clean Water Project will provide safe, clean water for more than 4,500 people and is expected be completed in October, Kimaro said.
Club members hope to raise about $58,000 more to build eight additional rainwater collection systems in the next year, Schafer said.
Kimaro's wife, Young Kimaro, also developed the Women's Micro Finance program, which helps Tanzanian women borrow and save money to improve their lives, she said.
"It's amazing how motivated they are to get out of poverty," she said.
The club presented Young Kimaro with a $500 check for the loan project Tuesday.
Club president Steve Gonsalves said he thinks it's difficult for Tanzanians who have small incomes to better their communities, he said.
"It's amazing what clean water and capital can do to improve your quality of life," Gonsalves said.#
http://www.chicoer.com/advertise/ci_12888527?IADID=Search-www.chicoer.com-www.chicoer.com
House passes $3.9M funding for dredging
Crescent City Triplicate-7/21/09
By Kurt Madar
After nine years of no dredging, lately it seems to be pouring dredging funds.
U.S. Congressman Mike Thompson has secured in the House of Representatives $3.9 million more funding for dredging Crescent City’s harbor.
The bill, the Energy and Water Appropriations Act, which is intended to invest in new technologies, scientific research and conservation efforts, still has to go through the Senate.
“We are absolutely delighted that Congressman Thompson has secured the additional dredging funds,” said Harbor Master Richard Young. “He didn’t have to, but I think he really understands how important our harbor is for the economy of the area.”
The funds are for the fiscal year 2010, and according to Young, will make it possible for the Army Corps of Engineers to dredge the parts of the Federal Channel that won’t be done this year.
The Corps has $4.35 million in dredging funds for this year that will be used to dredge the critical portion of the federal channel, which lies off the north side of Citizens Dock and extends slightly into the mouth of the inner boat basin.
Despite the fact that the bill still has to go through the Senate, Young is optimistic.
“I’ve heard that it is a pretty good bet that we will get some if not all the funds,” Young said.
The Harbor Commission will be meeting tonight at 6:30 p.m. in the Flynn Center to approve its budget for this fiscal year.
“There really aren’t any drastic changes,” Young said.
Young did acknowledge that California’s current fiscal crisis could force the harbor to revisit its budget if state lawmakers decide to raid local tax coffers.#
http://www.triplicate.com/20090721106511/News/Local-News/House-passes-39M-funding-for-dredging
Owe $$$ on your water bill? Nevada City to place lien on your land
Grass Valley Union-7/22/09
By David Mirhadi
Armed with a new water-rate schedule, Nevada City officials will place liens on property owners who don't make timely payments on their water bills.
The city is relying on the Revenue Bond Law of 1941 to collect delinquent payments.
Though few property owners are delinquent, collecting that money would help close a deficit in the city's water fund expected to be $468,000 at the end of the fiscal year 2008-09, according to city reports.
City Council members will hold a public hearing to discuss the issue when they meet at 7 p.m. today at City Hall, 317 Broad St., downtown.#
http://www.theunion.com/article/20090722/NEWS/907219961/1053
North San Joaquin Water Conservation District will accept applications for vacant board seat
Lodi News-Sentinel-7/22/09
By Ross Farrow
The North San Joaquin Water Conservation District is looking for residents interested in filling Fred Weybret's seat on the district board of directors.
Weybret, who served on the water board for 33 years, announced his resignation in June. His resignation was accepted by the board on Tuesday.
"Fred was a really great asset to this board, and I'm sorry to see him go," board President Tom Hoffman said.
The remaining four directors voted 3-1 for the board to appoint Weybret's replacement rather than have a special election, which would cost the district an estimated $110,000 for a mail ballot election or $165,000 for a traditional election, where voters go to their polling place, according to Austin Erdman, San Joaquin County's registrar of voters.
Board member Bryan Pilkington, who cast the lone dissenting vote, asked his colleagues, "Do you think you're leaving the public out of the loop by appointing?"
Acampo resident Bill Fuhs advised that a special election be held because the board is split when it comes to policy issues.
Board member John Ferreira replied, "It's more cost-effective to appoint."
According to the California Water Code, the board has until Sept. 18 to fill the vacancy, unless it wants to conduct a special election. The board agreed to interview applicants in an open public meeting in about a month.
Board members are paid $100 for each of the four regular board meetings each year. They receive no additional stipend for special meetings, Steffani said.#
http://www.lodinews.com/articles/2009/07/22/news/5_nsjwcd_090722.txt
Utility district's openness questioned as election season starts
Tahoe Daily Tribune-7/22/09
By Adam Jensen
Three seats on the South Tahoe Public Utility District Board are up for grabs in November, but one current board member expressed concerns about the district's openness ahead of a Wednesday board workshop.
Board member Dale Rise said he was criticized by district staff for inviting prospective board candidates to Wednesday's workshop, an event that is legally required to be open to the public.
“The public needs to know the agency is the farthest thing from being transparent you would ever want to see in your life,” Rise said Tuesday.
At the workshop, the board is expected to discuss upcoming water meter requirements in the district, ways to save money, solar energy, the district's use of consultants and a request for proposals for new legal representation.
In an e-mail, Rise was told that workshops are mostly intended for the board to have a discussion “amongst themselves.”
Although Runnels Automotive owner John Runnels and incumbents Jim Jones, Eric Schafer and Ernie Claudio are the only people who have filed candidacy declarations so far, Rise says several other people have expressed an interest in running for board.
Board members serve four year terms. The election is Nov. 3. In order to run, candidates must submit a candidacy declaration with El Dorado County by 5 p.m. on Aug. 7.
Department spokesman Dennis Cocking defended the transparency of the agency on Tuesday, saying the district has always met legal requirements for holding public meetings.
Wednesday's workshop is primarily a “brain-storming” session, but any member of the public is welcome at the workshop, Cocking said.
Cocking also noted that as long as the toilets flush and faucets turn on, the public interest in water district board meetings is generally pretty low.
“If the district was trying to be secretive about it, they would hold it at night at somebody's house or something,” Cocking said.
The workshop will take place from 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Wednesday at the District Board Room located at 1275 Meadow Crest Drive.#
http://www.tahoedailytribune.com/article/20090722/NEWS/907219986&parentprofile=search
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