Monterey: Nader Agha courts Pacific Grove as the potential lead of his desal project
Posted by: Maven on February 29, 2012 at 9:30 pmFrom Monterey County Weekly:
“Local real-estate mogul Nader Agha is certain he's got an affordable solution for the Monterey Peninsula's water crisis. But his People's Moss Landing Water Desalination Project can't move forward without a public agency to lead the charge. Now, Agha's inviting the city of Pacific Grove to be that agency.©
The P.G. City Council heard Agha's proposal during its Feb. 15 meeting at the request of Councilman Dan Miller, and formed a subcommittee comprised of Miller and Councilman Rudy Fischer to look into it. \”©
Agha wants P.G. to issue nearly $129 million in bonds to pay for the People's Project. That breaks down to $30 million for a discounted 55-acre piece of his Moss Landing Commercial Park, and almost $99 million to contract with Desal America : a company he co-owns : to build a desal plant, a 6-megawatt solar farm and a pipeline from Moss Landing to Seaside. The commercial park would then donate $10 million back to the city, according to a Feb. 8 letter from Agha to the City Council.© … “
Continue reading from Monterey County Weekly by clicking here.
Santa Cruz City Council to consider desal ordinance: County leader wants outside water customers to have a voice
Posted by: Maven on February 28, 2012 at 8:04 amFrom the Santa Cruz Sentinel:
“The chairman of the county’s governing board is urging Santa Cruz leaders to include city water customers in Capitola, Live Oak and other areas outside the city in a discussion about whether to let voters decide the fate of a proposed desalination plant.
Last week, Supervisor John Leopold wrote in a letter to Mayor Don Lane that, because close to half of the city’s 92,000 water customers live outside the city’s boundaries, residents of the county and Capitola who are served by the city should have a say in whether to build the plant, whose more than $100 million cost will largely be passed on to ratepayers. The city’s water department said the share of customers living outside the city is closer to a third. … “
Continue reading from the Santa Cruz Sentinel by clicking here.
Commentary: The Santa Cruz desal debate: Let’s just have one vote on desalination, says the mayor
Posted by: Maven on February 26, 2012 at 7:12 amFrom the Santa Cruz Sentinel, this commentary by Mayor Don Lane:
“Opponents of the desalination facility being considered through a partnership between the city of Santa Cruz and the Soquel Creek Water District are circulating petitions to place a “right to vote” measure on the local ballot. Their hearts are in the right place in proposing that a community vote take place. Unfortunately, their partisan agenda is embedded in the specific language of the measure they propose and therefore presents some real problems.
First, the measure contains biased and speculative statements about the water situation in our community. For instance, the measure suggests that there are simple alternative solutions to meet our water needs when, in fact, none of the options before us are simple. Further, many of the specific statements of “fact” are actually opinions that are not demonstrably true. … “
Continue reading this commentary at the Santa Cruz Sentinel by clicking here.
Commentary: The Santa Cruz desal debate: ‘Right to vote’ taps into groundswell
Posted by: Maven on February 26, 2012 at 7:10 amFrom the Santa Cruz Sentinel, this commentary by Margie Kern-Marshall, Karen Minkowski, and Steve Pleich of the Right to Vote on Desal organization:
“The considerable financial and environmental consequences of the proposed ocean desalination plant have inspired our group of citizens to gather signatures on a ballot initiative that would put the decision on desalination in the hands of the voters in November.
Recently, Mayor Don Lane and Councilman David Terrazas proposed an ordinance that would commit the City Council to submit putting the decision on desalination to the voters. Backers of the Right to Vote on Desal ballot initiative see the Lane/Terrazas proposal as an important acknowledgement that a decision with weighty impact on voters’ and ratepayers’ pocketbooks, as well as the environment, should be made by the voters.
However, differences between their proposal and the citizens’ ballot initiative are significant. … “
Continue reading this commentary at the Santa Cruz Sentinel by clicking here.
Monterey: ‘Free water’ has its costs, says commentary
Posted by: Maven on February 26, 2012 at 7:06 amFrom the Monterey County Herald, this commentary by Dan Burns, president of the Marina Coast Water District board of directors:
“A common misconception about the Marina Coast Water District (MCWD) and its motives for participation in the Regional Desalination Project,recently repeated in Herald editorials, most recently “Cal Am pullout brings fresh start” on Jan. 18,deserves clarification. The notion that MCWD would receive “virtually free desalinated water” demonstrates a basic misunderstanding of the agreements in place and the workings of the district and the Salinas River groundwater basin.
As a partner with Cal Am and the Monterey County Water Resources Agency on the regional project, MCWD has always had the interests of its ratepayers and the Peninsula in mind. Critics claim that MCWD gains a source of future water supply at a discounted rate through its participation in the project. These claims are untrue. … “
Continue reading this commentary at the Monterey County Herald by clicking here.
Desal dominates Santa Cruz Neighbors forum on water: Opponents wanted to make full presentation
Posted by: Maven on February 22, 2012 at 7:51 amFrom the Silicon Valley Mercury News:
“Concerns about a proposed desalination plant dominated questions during a Santa Cruz Neighbors forum about the city’s water system Tuesday, another sign that tension is growing about turning seawater into drinking water.
June Coha, a resident of Santa Cruz for more than 40 years, came to the meeting opposed to desalination, but left with an open mind after city officials discussed the plant as part of a long explanation about water supply, demand and finances.
“Now, I’m not sure,” she said. … “
Continue reading from the Silicon Valley Mercury News by clicking here.
Desal through the looking glass
Posted by: Maven on February 20, 2012 at 5:55 amFrom GWI Desalination.com:
“When seven-year-old Alice falls down a rabbit hole, she encounters a logic that is quite different from her own and struggles to survive in the bewildering world of adults. In the sequel to Alice in Wonderland, she has matured to find a world that is both clear and recognizable, yet everything has been reversed, mirror-like.
Welcome to the world of seawater desalination in California, where nothing is quite as clear as it seems.
More than 20 large-scale desal projects have been proposed in California since 2005. If all of the projects were implemented, seawater desal would provide six percent of the state's water. Instead, only the Carlsbad plant has been permitted, and if it moves forward on its current schedule, the earliest that it is estimated to begin delivering water is 2016. … “
Continue reading from Desalination.com by clicking here.
Muddying the waters in Santa Cruz: Competing desal measures further cloud water debate, says the Santa Cruz Sentinel
Posted by: Maven on February 17, 2012 at 7:21 amFrom the Santa Cruz Sentinel, this editorial:
“One vote.
That’s what should happen with dueling proposals to raise taxes for Californians — and that’s also the preferable outcome in the local desalination debate.
Local water customers in Santa Cruz and Mid-County probably have enough on their minds as the nearly rainless winter grows ever drier without trying to decipher the politics of just who will approve turning salt water into fresh water and when and how this will happen.
First, opponents of building a Westside desal plant said they planned a ballot measure that would ask voters whether they want to approve the facility in the future. The measure would also prohibit the city from incurring future debt associated with the plant. The opponents, Santa Cruz Desal Alternatives, need to collect 5,500 signatures to get their initial measure on the November ballot. … “
Continue reading this editorial from the Santa Cruz Sentinel by clicking here.
Santa Cruz puts up its own desal plan for voters: Council will consider new ordinance Feb. 28
Posted by: Maven on February 16, 2012 at 8:02 amFrom the Santa Cruz Sentinel:
“Mayor Don Lane announced a proposed city ordinance Wednesday designed to short-circuit a citizen-driven initiative to give voters the final say on a controversial seawater desalination project.
Like the charter change amendment sought by desalination opponents, the ordinance to be considered by the City Council on Feb. 28 also would require Santa Cruz to put the question of a Westside desalination facility up for a popular vote.
Santa Cruz Desal Alternatives, which hopes to collect the required 5,500 signatures to get a competing measure on November’s ballot, is asking voters whether they want a future opportunity to approve a plant. The measure also would bar the city from incurring any debt for the project. … “
Continue reading from the Santa Cruz Sentinel by clicking here.
Developer Agha pitches desal plan to Pacific Grove City Council
Posted by: Maven on February 16, 2012 at 8:00 amFrom the Monterey County Herald:
“The Pacific Grove City Council gave developer Nader Agha his first sympathetic ear to his proposed People’s Moss Landing Water Desal Project late Wednesday, but fell short of offering the city’s services as lead agency to see it through.
Agha said he has approached Monterey and Seaside, as well as possible sponsors of his project, and received no reply from them.
But, he said, he will attempt to form a separate public agency if necessary to build the People’s Project. … “
Continue reading from the Monterey County Herald by clicking here.
Commentary: Monterey needs desal plan now
Posted by: Maven on February 16, 2012 at 7:38 amFrom the Monterey County Herald, this commentary by Ron Weitzman, president of WaterPlus, which advocates a public takeover of Cal Am:
“To make headway on our local water problem, we must distinguish between taxpayers and ratepayers.
Since voter approval of Proposition 13 in 1978, the difference between these two sources of money for public projects has made the difference locally in the success or failure of our quest for a new affordable and drought-proof water supply. From 1978, and especially since voter approval of Proposition 218 in 1996, public officials have found it so difficult to get taxpayer support for projects that they have resorted to other means, particularly, in the case of water projects, to ratepayer support. Now a relatively docile cash cow, ratepayers are an inappropriate source of funds for many projects. … “
Continue reading this commentary at the Monterey County Herald by clicking here.
Campaign launched to put desal before Santa Cruz voters
Posted by: Maven on February 14, 2012 at 8:04 amFrom the Salinas Californian:
“Organizers of a ballot measure designed to put a planned desalination plant to a vote are set to begin circulating petitions around the city.
About 100 people attended a kickoff party Sunday for a drive to place a measure on the November ballot that would require Santa Cruz city leaders to obtain voter approval before the desal plant is built.
If passed by a majority of city voters, the measure would amend the city’s charter to ensure the city “does not approve, permit or fund a desalination plant without voter approval.” The amendment also would bar the city from incurring debt for the controversial project. … “
Continue reading from the Salinas Californian by clicking here.
SEE ALSO: Ballot Bound from Good Times Santa Cruz
Proposed Huntington Beach desalination plant gets key permit
Posted by: Maven on February 14, 2012 at 7:30 amFrom the Voice of the O.C.:
“The Santa Ana Regional Water Quality Control Board last week approved a modified permit that would allow the proposed desalination facility in Huntington Beach to draw water directly from the ocean.
If built, the plant, proposed by Poseidon Resources, would be one of the largest desalination facilities in the Western Hemisphere.
This latest permit will allow the Huntington Beach plant to draw up to 126.7 million gallons of ocean water per day instead of the original plan to reuse water already drawn by an adjacent power plant. That plan became unworkable in 2010 when the state decided that power plants must vastly reduce their use of seawater intakes over the next decade. … “
Continue reading from the Voice of the O.C. by clicking here.
Group kicks off campaign to put desal before Santa Cruz voters
Posted by: Maven on February 13, 2012 at 7:14 amFrom the Santa Cruz Sentinel:
“Organizers of a ballot measure designed to put a planned desalination plant to a vote are set to begin circulating petitions around the city.
About 100 people attended a kickoff party Sunday for a drive to place a measure on the November ballot that would require Santa Cruz city leaders to obtain voter approval before the desal plant is built.
If passed by a majority of city voters, the measure would amend the city’s charter to ensure the city “does not approve, permit or fund a desalination plant without voter approval.” The amendment also would bar the city from incurring debt for the controversial project. … “
Continue reading from the Santa Cruz Sentinel by clicking here.
Proposed desalination facility in Huntington Beach wins permit
Posted by: Maven on February 11, 2012 at 8:33 amFrom the Los Angeles Times:
“The bid to bring a large-scale desalination plant to Southern California cleared a major hurdle Friday when water regulators approved a permit for a facility in Huntington Beach that would turn ocean water into drinking water.
Connecticut-based firm Poseidon Resources is proposing a seawater desalination plant on a 12-acre site next to a coastal power plant. According to company, it be the largest such facility in the Western Hemisphere.
The $350-million facility would supply 50 million gallons of drinking water a day — enough to supply 300,000 people.
While local water agencies, lawmakers and the business community generally support building the plant, environmentalists say its ocean water intake system would kill fish, plankton larvae and other sea creatures, discharge extra salty water known as “brine\” and release water tainted with iron and cleaning fluids. … “
Continue reading from the Los Angeles Times by clicking here.
MORE COVERAGE: California plant to convert salt water to fresh water approved, from Southern California Public Radio
Commentary: Who is the loser in the Monterey desalination saga?
Posted by: Maven on February 6, 2012 at 7:19 amFrom American Water Intelligence, this commentary:
“Now that California American Water (CalAm) has pulled out of the Regional Desalination Project (RDP), it appears the company will move forward with an alternative : with no participation from regional agencies. It isn't clear what those entities, namely the Marina Coast Water District (MCWD) and the Monterey County Water Resources Agency (MCWRA), have gained from their refusal to play nice with CalAm.
The big paranoia in California is that desalination is a front for real estate development. At the moment, anyone building a new property has to be able to show a 100-year sustainable water supply. It has proved the most effective insurance coastal residents have against urban sprawl ruining the view. A privately owned desal plant changes the game: once one is built, any property developer with a bit of pipe will have a 100-year sustainable water supply. … “
Continue reading from American Water Intelligence by clicking here.
Hold the salt: Developer explores using desalinated water for Saltworks project
Posted by: Maven on February 4, 2012 at 7:50 amFrom the Silicon Valley Mercury News:
“Among many challenges facing the controversial Redwood City Saltworks project, securing water for a community that may have as many as 12,000 homes is high on the list.
DMB Pacific Ventures, a new company owned by Arizona-based DMB Associates that wants to develop Saltworks on Cargill’s salt flats, has promised not to tap into Redwood City’s limited water supply to hydrate the massive 1,436-acre project, which also would include office buildings, stores, schools, playing fields and restored marshlands.
Until recently, DMB has been focusing on a complex maneuver to transfer the rights to 2.7 billion gallons of water a year purchased from a Bakersfield farming collective to a Bay Area water agency for delivery. … “
Continue reading from the Silicon Valley Mercury News by clicking here.
Santa Cruz: Desal petition finalized: Group must now collect about 5,500 signatures from registered voters
Posted by: Maven on February 4, 2012 at 7:04 amFrom the Silicon Valley Mercury News:
“The city attorney finalized language Friday on a petition from desalination opponents who are aiming for a ballot measure that would change the city’s charter to let voters decide the project’s fate.
The charter amendment, if approved by a majority of voters, would remove the City’s Council authority to approve a seawater desalination plant designed to offset supply during severely dry periods. The amendment also would bar the city from incurring debt for the controversial project.
Rick Longinotti, a leader of the Right to Vote on Desal Coalition, said the group will have to work diligently to collect signatures from 15 percent of registered city voters, roughly 5,500, to place the matter on November’s ballot. Advocates, who are hosting a kick-off party Feb. 12, have a 180-day window from the petition’s publication in the newspaper, which Longinotti said would be soon. … “
Continue reading from the Silicon Valley Mercury News by clicking here.
Santa Cruz Looks to desalination for water; Construction of desalination plant under consideration to offset water shortage
Posted by: Maven on February 4, 2012 at 7:02 amFrom the City on a Hill Press:
“The Santa Cruz City Council approved the continuation of a contract with an environmental impact desalination consultant last week. Desalination has been in the works for decades now, and for Santa Cruz County it may serve as a feasible source of water in a city that just experienced its second driest December in history.
The plant is projected to produce 2.5 million gallons a day, and comes with a price tag of nearly $100 million. The cost will be split between Santa Cruz and Soquel County water districts, with Santa Cruz paying 59 percent of the bill. Cost aside, it will take some time for a desalination plant to become a reality in Santa Cruz, as controversies come with its construction. … “
Continue reading from the City on a Hill Press by clicking here.
Monterey desal EIR dealt blow; Review failed to consider water rights, judge rules
Posted by: Maven on February 4, 2012 at 7:01 amFrom the Monterey County Herald:
“In an amended ruling, a Monterey County Superior Court judge has found that the environmental review for the failed regional desalination project neglected to properly consider a number of issues, including water rights.
The revised ruling, which amends a tentative decision issued by Judge Lydia Villarreal in December, deals a severe blow to any thoughts California American Water may have had of using the project’s environmental impact report on an alternative desal project.
And it could raise questions about whether the EIR is adequate under the California Environmental Quality Act for Cal Am to go ahead with its portion of the regional project. … “
Continue reading from the Monterey County Herald by clicking here.
Ag-business group alleges Monterey County water agency used ‘creative accounting’
Posted by: Maven on February 2, 2012 at 7:56 amFrom the Monterey County Herald:
“An agri-business organization has accused the county Water Resources Agency of engaging in “creative accounting” in connection with its spending on the failed regional desalination project.
In a letter to the Board of Supervisors last week, the Salinas Valley Water Coalition raised a number of questions about the water agency’s use of public funds intended for other purposes to pay for project expenses.
According to the letter, signed by coalition President Nancy Isakson, the agency appeared to borrow money from various funds, including tax proceeds from its Salinas Valley Water Project account, “without proper authorization or transparency.” It used the funds to pay the up-front costs of the desal project, then identified them as overhead, the letter said. … “
Continue reading from the Monterey County Herald by clicking here.
Monterey: Desal sales pitch lacking, says commentary
Posted by: Maven on January 31, 2012 at 7:03 amFrom the Monterey County Herald, this commentary by Ed Mitchell, North County activist:
“For nearly a year the media have reported about the regional desalination project’s corrupted assault on the pocketbooks of Peninsula ratepayers. Less discussed is how some public officials in county water agencies traded away the livelihood of coastal farmers in North County for the financial benefit of subdivision developers.
This charade included Supervisor Lou Calcagno, county water agency manager Curtis Weeks and the indicted Steve Collins. These officials jawboned with farmers in the supervisor’s office and at other meeting sites, often out of public view, to support the desalination project. The good-deal arguments included claiming coastal farmers would not be harmed by brackish water withdrawals since only 10,000 acre-feet a year of potable water would be shipped out of Salinas Valley’s Zone 2C. Even better, withdrawals would prevent saltwater intrusion! Plus, by having coastal farmers excluded from the regional desalination project they would avoid expensive zone-of-benefit fees. … “
Continue reading from the Monterey County Herald by clicking here.
Monterey commentary: Resetting water priorities
Posted by: Maven on January 28, 2012 at 7:40 amFrom the Monterey County Herald, this commentary by Dale Hekhuis, former chairman of the Monterey Peninsula Water Management District and a founder of the Peninsula Water Ratepayer Coalition:
“Cal Am’s departure from the regional desalination project has opened the door to resetting water priorities. Suddenly, a number of water supply options appear attractive.
- Accelerating Cal Am’s water facility construction.
Cal Am has a request before the Public Utilities Commission to accelerate construction of the Seaside pipeline, the Monterey pipeline (not including the main transfer pipeline), two storage reservoirs and aquifer storage and recovery facilities. The pipelines are sized based on the aquifer storage project and would not change even if a smaller desalination plant is built. … “
Continue reading this commentary from the Monterey County Herald by clicking here.
Desal opponents plan November ballot measure: Petition for city charter change calls for voter OK of water project
Posted by: Maven on January 26, 2012 at 10:39 pmFrom the Santa Cruz Sentinel:
“Opponents of a proposed seawater desalination plant have submitted a preliminary petition notice to the city that would ask voters whether they want the opportunity to approve the controversial project in a future election.
City Attorney John Barisone has until Feb. 6 to reply to the notice filed by Rick Longinotti, a founder of Santa Cruz Desal Alternatives. The petition proposes a change in the city’s charter that would ensure Santa Cruz “does not approve, permit or fund a desalination plant without voter approval.” … “
Continue reading from the Santa Cruz Sentinel by clicking here.
Time is now for Cal Am’s desal plan, says the Monterey County Herald
Posted by: Maven on January 26, 2012 at 10:38 pmFrom the Monterey County Herald:
“If California American Water goes it alone to build a desalination plant of its own near Marina or anywhere else, it should be required to make the project similar to the long-discussed regional desalination project that also involved Monterey County and the Marina water district,and to get a move on.
With the possible exception of downsizing, dramatic changes in design and approach would almost certainly draw out the approval process and require another full environmental impact report,which, for practical purposes, could mean another environmental impact report after that.
A Cal Am official told a Public Utilities Commission judge this week that the company hopes to simply modify the PUC’s existing approval of the seemingly defunct regional project to expedite the process. Cal Am wanted 90 days to come back with a new plan, but was told to return by March 1. That is a positive sign from the PUC, because Cal Am faces a state order to start reducing the use of Carmel River water, the Peninsula’s primary supply, by 2016. The need to find or create an alternate suppy becomes more urgent with each passing day. … “
Continue reading from the Monterey County Herald by clicking here.
Carlsbad Desalination Project negotiations, due diligence proceeding on schedule
Posted by: Maven on January 26, 2012 at 10:27 pmFrom the San Diego County Water Authority, this press release:
“San Diego County Water Authority staff reported today they are making significant progress toward finalizing a draft agreement for purchasing water from the Carlsbad Desalination Project. Contingent on the successful completion of negotiations with Poseidon Resources, the project's private developer, staff told the Water Authority's Board of Directors they expect to bring the draft water purchase agreement to the board for consideration this summer.
“We're entering the home stretch of taking all the necessary steps to ensure we're protecting the interests of the Water Authority, our member agencies and our ratepayers in determining the proposed commercial terms for purchasing water from Poseidon,\” Director of Water Resources Ken Weinberg said. “We're close to knowing exactly what capital improvements we will need to make to our water distribution and treatment system to take water from the project. Financial and project due diligence activities are also moving forward. These activities will ensure our board knows the total costs that need to be reflected in the final draft water purchase agreement, as well as successful construction and operation of the desalination facilities, prior to the board's final consideration and vote on the project. … “
Continue reading from the San Diego County Water Authority by clicking here.
MORE COVERAGE: Draft Carlsbad desal agreement to be ready by spring, says Water Authority, from the North County Times
There is a solution now for Monterey water needs, says commentary
Posted by: Maven on January 26, 2012 at 7:26 amFrom the Salinas Californian, this commentary by Nader Agha, managing partner of The People’s Moss Landing Water Desal Project:
“It is a matter of fact that the Marina Regional Desalination Project was doomed from the beginning, and it is now clear that the project is defunct per Cal Am’s recent announcement. I don’t like saying so, but I have been saying that this project is “dead in the water” for the past year and a half for all the reasons noted.
In addition, I believe it is terribly wrong, after all this time, that the ratepayers have seen no solution to the water dilemma, especially after footing the bill and paying millions of dollars. Why, when there has been a realistic and affordable solution all along
The People’s Moss Landing Water Desal Project is on the site of\” the former National Refractories and Minerals Plant. Way back in 2002, this site was declared to be a “best apparent site for a desal plant” by a report prepared for The Water Division of the California Public Utilities Commission (PUC). … “
Continue reading this commentary at the Salinas Californian by clicking here.
Santa Cruz City Council OKs more desal spending, bullfrog ban
Posted by: Maven on January 25, 2012 at 7:40 amFrom the Santa Cruz Sentinel:
“The City Council on Tuesday approved a fifth contract with a San Francisco-based consultant amid ongoing objections from opponents of a seawater desalination plant.
Water Department Director Bill Kocher said the $95,000 contract for Kennedy/Jenks would cover work on the project’s Environmental Impact Report expected in April, including responding to public comments and questions about the analysis. The cost will be shared with the city’s desalination partner, Soquel Creek Water District. … “
Continue reading from the Santa Cruz Sentinel by clicking here.
RELATED: Advocates call for Santa Cruz planning to line up with climate action goals
Monterey: Cal Am gets deadline for new plan; Company already seeking alternative to stalled project
Posted by: Maven on January 25, 2012 at 7:27 amFrom the Monterey County Herald:
“An administrative law judge directed California American Water on Tuesday to come up with a new proposal for a water supply project on the Peninsula by the beginning of March.
The directive came after Cal Am announced it would file a request with the state Public Utilities Commission within three months to pursue a new water supply project. Last week, Cal Am said it would no longer support the long-stalled regional desalination project.
In a conference at PUC headquarters, Judge Angela Minkin gave Cal Am until March 1 to deliver a report on its efforts to provide a new supply and how it intends to move forward.
“The clock is ticking, and 2016 is just around the corner,” Minkin said, referring to the date when a state-ordered cutback in pumping from the Carmel River is set to take full effect. … “
Continue reading from the Monterey County Herald by clicking here.
Monterey: Water agency wants payment for Collins’ expenses
Posted by: Maven on January 25, 2012 at 7:25 amFrom the Monterey County Herald:
“Hundreds of dollars of bills charged by former county Water Resources Agency board member Steve Collins last year are among the regional desalination project-related expenses for which water agency officials want to be repaid using a California American Water credit line.
According to a review of a series of invoices submitted by the county water agency, Collins billed the agency for attending several meetings related to the project, including fees and mileage, through the first three months of the year, and sought reimbursement for a Washington, D.C. hotel stay and a per diem for meals stemming from a January visit last year. … “
Continue reading from the Monterey County Herald by clicking here.
RMC desal bills fuzzy on work for county: Invoices include tasks for other project partners
Posted by: Maven on January 22, 2012 at 7:18 amFrom the Monterey County Herald:
“A review of bills from RMC Water and Environment for work on the ill-fated regional desalination project raises a number of questions, including exactly what the county would be getting for its money.
In addition to listing nearly $700,000 of charges for work on the project from early January through late August 2011, RMC’s invoices to the county Water Resources Agency include a long list of tasks and other items for which the project manager is seeking payment.
But it’s not clear what portion of the work is being charged to the county water agency because the invoices include tasks done for all three project partners: the county, California American Water and Marina Coast Water District. … “
Continue reading from the Monterey County Herald by clicking here.
Monterey commentary: Making water go public
Posted by: Maven on January 22, 2012 at 7:09 amFrom the Monterey County Herald, this guest commentary by Ron Weitzman, who lives in Carmel, president of WaterPlus, a group that advocates a public takeover of Cal Am:
“Judge Lydia Villarreal’s order of a new environmental impact report for the regional desalination project and Cal Am’s withdrawal from it give our community some breathing time as we go racing across the desert like a mule train without a driver in search of a new water source, with the state Water Resources Control Board in hot pursuit.
Meanwhile, the regional project has run out of breath with buzzards already circling above the not-quite-dead carcass. The Peninsula cities are in the process of forming a joint powers agency (JPA) to seize the reins while environmentalists are trying to breathe new life into the Monterey Peninsula Water Management District to enable it to rein in any new development threatened by alternative projects.
Offering to help the district promote its conservation ethic is the Monterey Regional Water Pollution Control Agency, which sees no sense in wasting wastewater. … “
Continue reading from the Monterey County Herald by clicking here.
Monterey: Agency wants cap on Cal Am credit lifted; Supervisors will take up county’s desal project bills
Posted by: Maven on January 20, 2012 at 5:43 amFrom the Monterey County Herald:
“Although California American Water has withdrawn from the Regional Desalination Project, the county Water Resources Agency still plans to ask the Board of Supervisors on Tuesday to lift the cap on the company-backed credit line to pay for project expenses already incurred and for unspecified future spending.
However, Cal Am spokeswoman Catherine Bowie said the credit line is not open, and Supervisor Dave Potter said he believes that if the desal project is finished, then the credit line is, too.
Earlier this month, supervisors delayed the agency’s bid to lift the cap until more detail was provided on past bills and potential future costs. The board, which capped the agency’s access to the Cal Am credit line at $286,000 in March until a project financing plan was complete, did allow access to an additional $62,000 to pay for a low-interest state loan application for the ill-fated desal project at its Jan. 10 meeting. … “
Continue reading from the Monterey County Herald by clicking here.
Monterey: Desalination still deserves hard look, says commentary
Posted by: Maven on January 19, 2012 at 5:56 amFrom the Monterey County Herald, this commentary by Rudy Fischer, member of the Pacific Grove City Council:
“At a meeting I attended several weeks ago, someone made the statement that the local desalination project was dead; we just don’t have the coroner’s report yet. With Cal Am’s announcement this week that it is withdrawing from the deal, maybe we now have that report.
But what is the big deal with desal
Over 70 percent of the world’s surface is water, and during my four years in the Navy 30 years ago, I sailed over a good portion of that 70 percent. The problem with that water, of course, is that it is salt water. Even then, though, we made fresh water from salt water. On our ship (a destroyer) we had two evaporation units that we used to make enough water for about 300 people to drink, cook and shower with, and to run two steam plants that provided power and propulsion. Every ship in any Navy makes its own water while at sea. … “
Continue reading this commentary from the Monterey County Herald by clicking here.
Monterey: California American Water withdraws support for Regional Desalination Project Alliance; Alternative water project will be pursued
Posted by: Maven on January 17, 2012 at 8:21 amBig news for those of you following the Monterey desalination saga. From Business Wire:
“California American Water announced today that it has withdrawn its support of the three-party agreements behind the Regional Desalination Project that the company had proposed with Marina Coast Water District and the Monterey County Water Resources Agency in response to State imposed limitations on the Monterey Peninsula’s water supply.
“Desalination will be part of the Monterey Peninsula’s future water supply, but the Regional Desalination Project will not be the vehicle to deliver it,” said California American Water president Rob MacLean. “Recognizing the severity of the state’s cutback order, we must now move forward on an alternative water supply project as quickly as possible.” … “
Read the rest of this press release from Market Watch by clicking here.
Aquafornia's Information Desk
| Sun | Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | ||
| 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 |
| 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 |
| 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 |
| 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | ||
Aquafornia's Photos on Flickr
Aquafornia's Mission
Aquafornia's mission is to educate readers about the complex and often controversial issues surrounding water in California.
Aquafornia is affiliated with the Water Education Foundation, an impartial, nonprofit organization, whose mission is to create a better understanding of water resources and foster public understanding and resolution of water resource issues through facilitation, education and outreach.
E-mail Newsletter
To receive email announcements from the Water Education Foundation, sign up here.
Web Resources
Agriculture
Climate Change & Water
Conservation
Current Conditions
Delta & SF Bay Resources
- Bay Delta Developments
- Bay Institute
- Bay-Delta Conservation Plan
- Delta Atlas
- Delta Protection Commission
- Delta Stewardship Council
- Delta Vision Foundation
- Delta WaterMaster
- Discover the Delta Foundation
- Restore the Delta
- San Francisco Bay and Delta (Access USGS)
- San Francisco Baykeeper
- San Francisco Estuary and Watershed Science website
- San Francisco Estuary Partnership
Employment & Water
Environmental Organizations
Fishing Blogs/Organizations
Investing & Water
Landscaping
Legal Blogs
Legislative Committees - State & Federal
- California State Assembly Committee on Water, Parks and Wildlife
- California State Senate Committee on Natural Resources & Water
- House Natural Resource Committee, Water & Power Subcommittee
- New State Water Legislation Mandates (KMTG)
- Senate Commitee on Environment & Public Works, Water and Wildlife Subcommittee
- The California Channel
Los Angeles River
Maven's Other Websites
News
Public Policy Organizations
Regional Water Associations
Salton Sea
Stormwater & Flood Control
Water Agencies
- ACWA – Association of California Water Agencies
- Bay Area Water Supply and Conservation Agency
- Contra Costa Water District
- East Bay Municipal Utility District
- Imperial Irrigation District
- Kern County Water Agency
- Long Beach Water Department
- Los Angeles Department of Water & Power
- Metropolitan Water District
- Municipal Water District of Orange County
- San Diego County Water Authority
- Santa Clara Valley Water District
- Sonoma County Water Agencies
- South San Joaquin Irrigation District
- State Water Contractors
- West Basin Municipal Water District
- Westlands Water District
Water Agencies - State & Federal
Water Blogs
- ACWA's Voices in Water blog
- Aguanomics
- Alex Breitler's Blog
- American Water Resources Assn. Blog
- Barry Nelson at the NRDC Switchboard
- Bay Delta Blog
- California Water Blog
- California Water Wars blog
- Chance of Rain
- Chronicles of the Hydraulic Brotherhood
- Delta National Park Blog
- EDF's On The Waterfront
- Greed, Green & Grains
- Green Roots Blog (PCL)
- GrokSurf's San Diego blog
- Inkstain – jfleck
- Klam Blog
- L. A. Creek Freak
- On the Public Record
- Peter Gleick’s City Brights blog
- Restore the Delta's blog
- Southern California Water Committee Blog
- Spouting Off – Mark Gold of Heal the Bay
- State of the Planet Blog
- The California Spigot
- Thirsty in Suburbia
- Tom Philp's Blog
- Valley Economy Blog
- Water Cooler Blog
- Water Librarian's Blog
- Water SISWEB
- Waterblogged (Shawn McKinnon)
- Watering the Desert
- WaterWired
Water Information
News Article Archives
- Agriculture
- Aquafornia News & Exclusives
- Central Valley Project
- Climate change & water supply
- Conservation
- Delta Issues
- Desalination
- Development & Population
- Drinking Water & Bottled Water
- Drought Tolerant Landscaping
- Drought, Weather & Snowpack
- Energy & Water
- Events
- Flood Control/Stormwater
- General Water Issues
- Groundwater
- History
- Indian Water Rights
- Infrastructure
- Innovative Ideas
- International Water Issues
- Invasive Plants & Species
- Investing in water
- Legislation – State & Federal
- Levees
- National water news
- Oceans & Beaches
- People in the News
- Politics of Water
- Recycled Water
- Regional Water Issues
- San Joaquin River Restoration
- State Water Project (DWR)
- Storage and supply
- Transfers
- Uncategorized
- Water Agency News
- Water Banking
- Water Quality
- Water Rights
- Weird & Wacky Water News
- Wildlife & Endangered Species