Paul Rodriguez — A latin king with a thirst for comedy, water and a cause
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on March 6, 2010 at 6:09 amFrom Wayne Trujillo at the Huffington Post, this article on comedian and Chairman of the California Latino Water Coaliton Paul Rodriguez:
” … Rodriguez said he wants to entertain, not indoctrinate. Whatever pursuits are occupying his free time don’t command his performance. That said, when I do inquire about his extracurricular endeavors, those efforts that have gained him applause from organizations like the Hispanic Scholarship Fund and the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation, Rodriguez hones in on the cause that has consumed his life — and nearly his career — the last three years.
Chairman of the California Latino Water Coalition, Rodriguez is public spearhead of a cause that has sundered traditional political alliances, not to mention personal and professional relationships. It has even allied political opponents. I was only vaguely aware of the clash between California environmentalists, sports fishermen and area farmers over water allocation in the Golden State’s San Joaquin Valley, mainly from scattered Internet reports last year of Sean Hannity in an uproar about liberal activism (nothing new) and his filming on location to prove a point. Seems to me a small fish was involved. I didn’t know much else about the fracas.
At least not before yesterday when Rodriguez relayed the situation and his involvement. And the fallout. And, according to his recount, the affair is no laughing matter for any of the participants, including himself. … “
Continue reading this article from Wayne Trujillo at the Huffington Post by clicking here.
Jasperse named interim chief engineer at Sonoma County Water Agency
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on March 6, 2010 at 5:26 amFrom the Sonoma News:
“The Sonoma County Water Agency has named Jay Jasperse of Sonoma as the agency’s interim chief engineer.
Jasperse has worked for the water agency since 1998 and is currently the deputy chief engineer of Engineering and Resource Planning. Prior to joining the water agency, Jasperse worked for 11 years as an environmental engineering consultant specializing in water quality and groundwater. … “
Continue reading this article from Sonoma News by clicking here.
Wally Bishop, longtime head of Contra Costa Water District, is leaving
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on February 19, 2010 at 6:23 amFrom the Contra Costa Times:
“Soon after Wally Bishop became general manager of the Contra Costa Water District, a customer walked into his office and gave the new head of the troubled agency a drawing of the Mayan water god. “It might give you good luck,” the man said. “You’ll need it.”
No kidding.
Bishop, who announced Thursday he is leaving the job he held for 18 years, was coming in at a difficult time.
The district was trying to build the first major reservoir in California since the 1970s, its water rates were among the highest in the country, according to Bishop, and it was the subject of scathing investigations by both the Contra Costa Times and the county grand jury.
The grand jury probe found district officials were spending district money lavishly on meals, questionable public relations contracts and other expenses. “They were using it like their own personal fundraising,” Bishop said. “I was brought in essentially to clean up Dodge.”
He was probably a pretty good choice. … “
Read more from the Contra Costa Times by clicking here.
Kingsburg grad new state water director
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on February 18, 2010 at 6:35 amFrom the Kingsburg Recorder:
“Mark Cowin, a 1976 graduate of Kingsburg High, was sworn in by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger as the new director of the California Department of Water Resources on Feb. 1. Cowin has been with the California Department of Water Resources for 30 years. Cowin, who was deputy director for Integrated Water Management since 2007, has managed the Department of Water Resources’ flood management and dam safety programs, implemented integrated regional water management, coordinated the water department’s climate change efforts and updated and finalized the California Water Plan.
“Mark is an exceptional public servant with a long history of dedicated service in state government and water resource management,” said Governor Schwarzenegger. “His skills and experience make him the perfect choice to lead the department, and I am committed to working with him to ensure a safe and stable water supply to meet the needs of California’s growing population.”
Cowin, 51, was raised on a family farm near Kingsburg. In 1980, he graduated from Stanford University with a bachelor of science degree in civil engineering. … “
Continue reading this article from the Kingsburg Recorder by clicking here.
Former ACWA Executive Director Steve Hall dies at 58; Respected leader played key role in bringing diverse water interests together
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on January 20, 2010 at 4:53 pm
From the Association of California Water Agencies, this press release:
“Stephen K. Hall, a respected water leader who played a central role in some of the biggest achievements in recent California water policy history, died Tuesday, Jan. 19, after a lengthy battle with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. He was 58.
Hall served as executive director of the Association of California Water Agencies from 1993 until his retirement in 2007. During his 30-year career in water, he worked to bring diverse interests together and advance policies to address the state’s water supply challenges.
“Steve Hall made a lasting mark as a water professional,” ACWA President Paul Kelley said. “He brought a unique brand of leadership to the table when it was needed most and forged relationships that transcended political and ideological circles. Steve’s ability to bring people together was a determining factor in some of the key water successes of our time.”
Manager in hot water again: PWD’s Randy Hill faces ouster vote Wednesday
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on January 13, 2010 at 8:12 amFrom the Antelope Valley Press:
“PALMDALE – Déjà vu happens: Randy Hill, current general manager of Palmdale Water District and former GM of the defunct Victor Valley Water District, rebounded from an agency shake-up in the past and again finds himself on rocky ground in Palmdale.
District board members on Wednesday will consider whether to terminate Hill’s employment contract that provides a $215,000 annual salary plus thousands more in perks. Hill’s departure could cost the district more than $380,000, under the terms of his contract.
During his time at the Victor Valley agency – from February 1999 to July 2006 – disputes raged between people supporting the city of Victorville’s takeover of the Victor Valley and Baldy Mesa water districts and those who opposed that plan. In July 2006, the Victor Valley board released Hill from duty after having placed him on administrative leave in late March of that year. … “
Read more from the Antelope Valley Press by clicking here.
Lindmore Irrigation District boasts 50-year veteran
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on January 12, 2010 at 6:00 amFrom the Porterville Recorder:
“Veteran, farmer and proud father Quinten Luallen knows water.
The Lindsay grower has served on the Lindmore Irrigation District board for the past 50 years, and watched environmental lawsuits proliferate and farmers fight dry years to stay in business. The fight for access to water — one of the most divisive issues in California — has only intensified during his half century tenure.
“I have enjoyed every bit of it,” he said. “There have been times I’ve wanted to blow my stack, but you just have to use your common sense to do your best for everyone.”
Since 1959, the Illinois native has spent the second Tuesday of each month setting aside his personal goals as a farmer and working to distribute water as equitably and affordably as he could. … “
Read more from the Recorder by clicking here.
Wednesday’s top of the scroll: Lester Snow named natural resources secretary, Visalia’s Chrisman to leave state post
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on January 6, 2010 at 9:08 am
From the Los Angeles Times:
“Lester Snow, a Democrat who has headed California’s water resources department for the last five years, has been named the state’s new natural resources secretary.
Snow, 58, succeeds Mike Chrisman, who is retiring from state service Feb. 1 after serving as resources secretary since 2003. He is taking a post with the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, where he will direct the nonprofit’s Southwest Partnership Office in San Francisco.
Created by Congress, the foundation works with private and public agencies to fund conservation programs.
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger also announced two other appointments. He picked Mark Cowin, 51, a Democrat and veteran of the water resources department, to succeed Snow. Acting Fish and Game Director John McCamman will become director of the Department of Fish and Game. … “
Read more from the Los Angeles Times by clicking here.
The Fresno Bee reports on outgoing secretary Chrisman’s retirement:
“Visalia rancher Mike Chrisman will retire next month as the state’s Natural Resources Agency secretary to take a job at a fish and wildlife foundation, he said Tuesday.
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger — who continues to deal with turnover among top officials in his final year — appointed Department of Water Resources Director Lester Snow to replace Chrisman, who will depart Feb. 1.
Chrisman, a 65-year-old Republican, is the third-longest-serving secretary in Schwarzenegger’s Cabinet. He took the job in November 2003, but kept his Visalia home, commuting to Sacramento nearly every weekend.
“For the past seven years, Mike has worked tirelessly with me to safeguard our state’s precious natural resources and I am grateful to him for his service to the people of California,” the governor said in a statement. … “
Read more from the Fresno Bee by clicking here.
Blog commentary: Here’s commentary from Record reporter Alex Brietler’s blog, and here’s Dan Bacher’s commentary at IndyBay.org.
Paul Kelley: No comment on water agency post; Sonoma County supervisor won’t confirm or deny online reports that he has applied
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on January 6, 2010 at 8:36 amFrom the Santa Rosa Press Democrat:
“Sonoma County Supervisor Paul Kelley declined Tuesday to confirm or deny reports that originated on the Twitter social network that he is a candidate for the job of general manager of the county’s Water Agency.
Kelley acknowledged Tuesday that the reports have gained wide circulation among the state’s water interests, but would not comment on whether he has applied for the position.
“I don’t comment on issues of human resources or executive management recruiting,” Kelley said. “The board will make an announcement at a time when it is appropriate. You want to know my plans, you can check out my re-election Web site.”
If the four other supervisors were to apppoint Kelley as Water Agency general manager, it would considerably rearrange the political landscape in this year’s election contest for the 4th Supervisorial District. … “
Read more from the Santa Rosa Press Democrat by clicking here.
This just in … Chrisman to head new National Fish and Wildlife Foundation Southwest Partnership office; Distinguished former head of California Natural Resources Agency to lead major program expansion in six-state region
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on January 5, 2010 at 6:35 pmFrom The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF):
“WASHINGTON – The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) today announced that Mike Chrisman, the California Secretary for Natural Resources since 2003, has been named the director of its new Southwestern Partnership Office. Based in San Francisco, Chrisman will oversee program development in a region that includes Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico and Utah.
“It is difficult to match Mike’s depth of experience as an administrator and natural resource steward anywhere in this country,” said Jeff Trandahl, NFWF executive director. “His addition to our team represents a significant infusion of talent and passion that will pay huge dividends for the fish and wildlife resources of the Southwest.
“Time and again, Mike has proven himself extremely adept at bringing diverse interests to the table and fostering productive dialogue that advances the cause of conservation,” said Trandahl. “Because partnership building represents the core of the Foundation’s work, we fully expect that Mike will take our programs to new heights throughout the Southwest.”
In its first 25 years, NFWF has made noteworthy investments in several landmark conservation initiatives throughout the Southwest, such as the ongoing efforts to bring the California condor back from the brink of extinction and the establishment of land trusts led by ranchers and farmers in California, Colorado and the Malpai Borderlands of Arizona and New Mexico. In 2009 alone, the Foundation made 53 grant awards totaling $4.13 million in the six Southwestern states. By building partnerships in both the public and private sectors, the Foundation was able to leverage those investments into a total of more than $11 million for conservation.
“While the Foundation has a long track record of grantmaking in the Southwest and has maintained staff in California for a decade,” said Trandahl, “the hiring of Mike Chrisman represents a new high-water mark for the Foundation’s involvement in the region. Our growing work to improve San Francisco Bay, the Klamath watershed and the meadows of the high Sierra – to cite only a few examples in his home state – will get a major boost from Mike’s base of knowledge and experience.”
A fourth-generation Californian and long-time rancher and farmer, Chrisman has served as Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s chief advisor on issues related to the state’s natural, historic and cultural resources. Prior to joining the governor’s cabinet, Chrisman served as Region Manager for Southern California Edison from 1996 to 2003. He also served as Undersecretary for the California Department of Food and Agriculture from 1994 to 1996. In 1997, Gov. Pete Wilson appointed Chrisman to the California Fish and Game Commission, where he also served as Chairman of the Wildlife Conservation Board. From 1991 to 1994, he served at the Natural Resources Agency as Deputy Secretary for Operations and Legislation.
The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation is an independent conservation leader that in 25 years has awarded 10,800 grants to more than 3,700 organizations. By building partnerships, the congressionally chartered Foundation has leveraged $635 million into $1.5 billion to sustain, restore and enhance fish, wildlife and plant populations. “
Gov. Schwarzenegger appoints Lester Snow as Natural Resources Secretary; Mark Cowin named Director of Department of Water Resources
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on January 5, 2010 at 5:07 pmFrom the Office of the Governor:
“Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger today announced the appointment of Lester Snow as secretary for the California Natural Resources Agency and also thanked Secretary Mike Chrisman who is retiring from state service effective February 1, 2010 for his dedicated years of service.
“Throughout the course of my Administration, Lester has used his high-level expertise in public resource management to protect California’s water supply. With his skills and knowledge, Lester served a key role in developing the historic comprehensive water package to reform and rebuild our state’s water infrastructure that will benefit future generations of Californians,” said Governor Schwarzenegger. “I am confident that he will bring that same level of commitment and dedication to managing the agency in this new role and I look forward to working with him to preserve California’s invaluable natural resources.”
“For the past seven years, Mike has worked tirelessly with me to safeguard our state’s precious natural resources and I am grateful to him for his service to the people of California,” said Governor Schwarzenegger. “He is a dedicated public servant and I wish him the best of luck in his future endeavors.”
Senator Cogdill applauds Governor’s Natural Resources Agency appointments
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on January 5, 2010 at 5:04 pmFrom the Office of Senator Dave Cogdill:
“Senator Dave Cogdill (R-Modesto), who serves as vice chair of the Senate Natural Resources Committee, today issued the following statement after Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger announced the appointment of Department of Water Resources (DWR) Director Lester Snow as the new Natural Resources Agency Secretary. DWR Deputy Director Mark Cowin will serve as the DWR Director.
“With water as my top legislative priority, I’ve had the distinct pleasure of working closely with both Lester Snow and Mark Cowin on the comprehensive solution to improve the state’s water supply.
“Lester is a tireless public servant and his expertise on managing the state’s resources is unparalleled. I have no doubt that Lester will be a successful new leader of the Resources Agency.
“I am also glad that the transition will be seamless with the appointment of Mark Cowin as the new Department of Water Resources Director. Together, we’ve made tremendous strides to ensure clean and safe water is available for all Californians and I look forward to working with Mark and Lester on the additional work that lies ahead to protect our state’s natural resources.”
Senator Cogdill proudly represents part or all of the counties of Fresno, Madera, Mariposa, San Joaquin, Stanislaus and Tuolumne.”
Former Metropolitan Chairman Wes Bannister remembered
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on December 15, 2009 at 8:04 amFrom Earth Times, this statement from Metropolitan Water District:
“Wes Bannister, immediate past chairman of the board of directors of the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, was remembered by district officials today as a dedicated, focused and energetic leader who helped guide the agency through record drought on the Colorado River.
Bannister, who chaired Metropolitan’s 37-member board from January 2005 through October 2006 and represented Orange County on the district’s board for 13 years, passed away at his Huntington Beach home last Thursday (Dec. 10) after a long illness.
“Wes was dedicated to Metropolitan and water policies and made numerous contributions to critical issues regarding water supply reliability and delivery to the residents of Orange County and throughout the district’s six-county service area, particularly the advancement of water recycling and desalination,” said MWD board Chairman Timothy F. Brick.
“He also was passionate about the general welfare of his city, the region and the state. He will be greatly missed,” Brick said.
Water industry loses a great leader: The Orange County Water District Board and staff mourns the untimely loss of First Vice President, Director Wes Bannister
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on December 14, 2009 at 8:00 am
From the Orange County Water District:
“FOUNTAIN VALLEY, Calif. (Dec. 11, 2009) – In the late hours of December 10, 2009, the water world and Orange County lost an important trailblazer and public servant, Wesley “Wes” Mastin Bannister lost his battle with cancer. Wes Bannister was elected to the Orange County Water District (OCWD) Board of Directors in 1991 representing Division 6, which includes Fountain Valley, Huntington Beach and parts of Westminster. He was re-elected to four consecutive four-year terms in 1996, 2001, 2004 and 2008. He was elected in 2007 and 2008 by his fellow board members to serve as the District’s 1st Vice President.
“The Board and staff of the Orange County Water District have lost an incredible leader who lived and breathed water,” stated OCWD Board President Stephen R. Sheldon. “Those who had the privilege of working with Wes know that he had the tenacity to get to the core of critical issues and drive and inspire others to do what was right and economically sound. He stood true to his principles and convictions, like no other person. We are truly sorry for his family’s great loss.”
During his tenure as a Board Member, the District celebrated many important achievements including the building and operation of the Groundwater Replenishment (GWR) System, the largest water purification project of its kind in the world, and a state-of-the-art Advanced Water Quality Assurance Laboratory.
In addition to serving on the OCWD Board, in 1993 Director Bannister was appointed Director to the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (MWD) representing the Municipal Water District of Orange County. In 2004, Director Bannister was elected as Chair of the MWD Board of Directors, for which he served until October 31, 2006.
“Wes was a principled leader and committed advocate for Orange County and its water interests who also worked faithfully to address the water challenges facing the entire southern California region,” said Wayne Clark, President of the Municipal Water District of Orange County (MWDOC). “We were honored to have had Wes represent MWDOC as one of our appointed representatives to the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California and we are going to miss our good friend.”
Public celebration of Tom Graff’s life set for Jan. 10; EDF says ‘thank you for remembering’
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on November 26, 2009 at 12:09 pmFrom the Environmental Defense Fund’s On the Water Front blog:
“We at EDF thank you for all your comments, stories, and memories of Tom. Below, we’ve also included some of the thoughtful articles and blog posts in honor of Tom. As a testament to Tom’s remarkable life, these remembrances come from all corners of the political world and from all spectrums of the environmental movement. To be sure, he will be missed.
Please join us for a public celebration of Tom’s life at 1 P.M. on January 10, at the Oakland Scottish Rite Center, 1547 Lakeside Drive, Oakland. Please RSVP by email to celebratetom@edf.org or call our San Francisco office at 415-293-6050. … “
More from the EDF’s On the Water Front blog by clicking here.
San Diego Coastkeeper’s Reznik speaks out, quietly
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on November 23, 2009 at 2:26 pmFrom the San Diego News Network:
“Bruce Reznik is a self-professed policy wonk who is comfortable spouting statistics and data. Considered one of the leaders of the San Diego environmental community, the 41-year-old executive director of San Diego Coastkeeper speaks quietly, yet passionately, about his quest to leave the world a better place. While his words might seem phony, Reznik sounds believable.
In the 10 years since he joined Coastkeeper (then known as San Diego Baykeeper), the organization has grown from an annual budget of $225,000 to $1.5 million in 2009. And despite the recession which has hurt many non-profits, Coastkeeper’s budget has grown, and it expects to end the year in the black.
A few weeks ago, the organization won a major victory when a statewide Blue Ribbon Task Force recommended expansion of marine sanctuaries off the coast of San Diego. The final decision will be made by the state Fish and Game Commission which is meeting Dec. 9 in Los Angeles. … “
Read more from the San Diego News Network by clicking here.
Thomas J. Graff, an expert on West Coast water use, is dead at 65
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on November 22, 2009 at 6:14 amFrom the New York Times:
“SAN FRANCISCO — Thomas J. Graff, a leading environmentalist who championed the idea of offering financial incentives for environmentally friendly behavior, an approach that had far-reaching impact on state and federal policies, especially on water use in the drought-prone West, died Nov. 12 in Oakland, Calif., where he lived. He was 65.
The cause was thyroid cancer, his family said.
Mr. Graff, who founded the first California office of the Environmental Defense Fund and led it for 37 years, dealt with a host of environmental issues, including AB 32, the first-of-its-kind legislation, adopted in 2006, that sets limits on greenhouse gas emissions in California. But he made his biggest impact in the realm of water use, a constant source of vexation in the West. … “
Read more from the New York Times by clicking here.
Video tribute to Tom Graff
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on November 19, 2009 at 1:08 pmPosted on vimeo by the Environmental Defense Fund:
Tom Graff Tribute from Environmental Defense Fund on Vimeo.
Sonoma Supervisor Kelley set to lead Association of California Water Agencies in December
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on November 17, 2009 at 8:30 amFrom the North Bay Business Journal:
“North Sonoma County Supervisor Paul Kelley will become president of the Association of California Water Agencies in December, putting him at the helm of one of the key agencies shaping statewide water policy.
This is the first time anyone from the North Bay area has been president, which means there will be more attention to this area, said Brad Sherwood, public information officer of the Sonoma County Water Agency.
“This is a prime time year for ACWA and Paul,” he said, because of the passage of the $11 billion overhaul of the state’s water system that includes the Safe, Clean and Reliable Drinking Water Supply Act of 2010.
“The bond has money slated for the North Coast,” he said. “There is almost $200 million for the region.” … “
Read more from the North Bay Business Journal by clicking here.
Tom Graff: A water warrior who won respect from all sides
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on November 15, 2009 at 7:57 amFrom the Sacramento Bee, this from editorial page editor Stuart Leavenworth:
“A lion of California’s environmental movement died Thursday. Tom Graff, who helped lead the 1980s fight against the peripheral canal and blocked the East Bay from diverting water from the American River, finally succumbed to the cancer that snuck up on him two years ago.
I feel fortunate to have known Graff for as long as I did. When I returned to California a decade ago, Graff was one of many people who helped school me on my home state and its Byzantine water politics.
Graff, a Harvard-educated lawyer with a degree from the London School of Economics, was not a native Californian. (He was born in Honduras, the son of Jewish parents who had fled Nazi Germany). But he knew more about my home state than almost anyone you could imagine.
I soon learned that Graff was a hero for Sacramento residents who care about the American River. In 1971, he founded the California office of the Environmental Defense Fund in an attic in Berkeley. When the East Bay Municipal Utility District attempted to tap water from the American River, Graff was asked by local residents to file a lawsuit. …”
Read more from the Sacramento Bee by clicking here.
Thomas J. Graff: LA Times obiturary, plus Barry Nelson & Tom Turner on the passing of their friend and colleague
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on November 14, 2009 at 6:45 amFrom the Los Angeles Times:
“Thomas J. Graff, 65, a lawyer and environmentalist who helped influence California water policy as regional director of the Environmental Defense Fund for 37 years, died Thursday at an Oakland hospital of complications from thyroid cancer.
Graff, of Oakland, opened the California office of the Environmental Defense Fund in 1971 and helped it become one of the most powerful voices on environmental issues such as climate change, oceans and water policy. …”
Read the rest of this LA Times obituary by clicking here.
From Barry Nelson at the NRDC Switchboard blog:
“Yesterday, California lost one of its environmental heroes. Our friends at the Environmental Defense Fund have posted a moving tribute to Tom Graff here. Tom was a leading advocate on California water issues for more than three decades. He was a champion for the Bay-Delta ecosystem and particularly for market-based solutions to address our environmental and water supply problems. Tom showed that sound economic policy can make sound environmental policy. But Tom was far more than that.
For a generation of activists in California, including myself, Tom was a friend and a generous mentor. He had a unique combination of unusual strategic insight, an impish sense of humor, and a gift for putting together unusual collaborations. Tom’s skills, personality and style of advocacy also made him immensely likeable. …”
Read more from Barry Nelson at the NRDC Switchboard blog by clicking here.
From Tom Turner at EarthJustice:
“I met Tom Graff in about 1970 or so. I was at the brand-new Friends of the Earth. Tom had come out from New York to open an office for the slightly older Environmental Defense Fund near the Berkeley campus. He immediately dove (pun intended) into the fractious, messy and endless battles over water in California, the place where, Mark Twain supposedly said, “water flows uphill toward money.” …”
Read more of Tom’s remembrance at the UnEarthed blog by clicking here.
Environmental Defense Fund: In memoriam of Thomas J. Graff
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on November 13, 2009 at 9:13 am
From the Environmental Defense Fund:
“EDF mourns the loss of Thomas J. Graff and pays tribute to his extraordinary leadership and achievement. We invite you to share your remembrances of Tom.
Life and Achievements
Thomas J. GraffTom Graff helped to found the California office of Environmental Defense Fund in 1971 and served as EDF’s regional director for 37 years. He pioneered the use of market incentives to protect the environment, hiring Ph.D. economists at a time when some in the environmental community were denouncing economics. His efforts to restore rivers, wetlands and estuaries, to reform energy policy and to reduce air pollution leave an enduring legacy.
Tom worked for decades to protect California’s rivers for multiple uses, creating ways to use conservation and water pricing to benefit both water users and the environment. He was a primary architect in the drafting and passage of the Central Valley Project Improvement Act, sponsored by Congressman George Miller and Senator Bill Bradley in 1991 and signed into law in 1992. This legislation authorized the use of water markets to encourage farmers to adopt conservation measures and sell the saved water to urban areas, thereby reducing the need for dams and river diversions. These water policy reforms were the most comprehensive ever passed by Congress. … “
More from the Environmental Defense Fund by clicking here.
Sun-Star editorial: Cogdill’s departure a loss to Valley
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on November 13, 2009 at 8:14 am
From the Merced Sun-Star, this editorial:
“The Legislature will lose an authority on California water issues and the Valley will lose an influential voice when state Sen. Dave Cogdill completes his Senate term at the end of 2010.
The Modesto Republican caught many of us by surprise with his announcement Tuesday that he won’t seek a second term representing the 14th District.
The sprawling district stretches all the way from Lodi to Fresno. He previously served six years in the Assembly.
During his tenure in Sacramento, Cogdill earned a reputation for credibility and civility, while being able to handle the political wars that break out in the divided Legislature.
He demonstrated that politics and integrity are not mutually exclusive. …”
Read more of this editorial by clicking here.
Afternoon update: On the Water Front blog: In memory of Tom Graff
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on November 12, 2009 at 12:56 pm
Sad news today from the Environmental Defense Fund’s On the Water Front blog:
“All of us at the Environmental Defense Fund mourn the passing of Tom Graff, our leader in California for more than 35 years. A public celebration of his life will take place in about a month.
The following account of Tom’s professional life was written by longtime friend and colleague Tom Philp. Readers are invited to share memories of Tom [at the On the Water Front blogsite].
Thomas J. Graff, a Harvard-educated attorney whom California Lawyer once dubbed “The Godfather” for transforming the politics and policies of California water and power through a unique style of litigation and persuasion via his Rolodex of trusted inside connections, has died after a prolonged battle with cancer. Graff was 65.
Graff in 1971 founded the California office of the Environmental Defense Fund. There, he pioneered a new style of environmental activism by hiring PhD economists and computer specialists who developed a mastery of energy and water issues that would rival their many adversaries. Whether by using the courts, regulatory proceedings, legislation or public opinion via national media contacts that he assembled over the years, Graff advanced EDF’s trademark philosophy that embraced a positive role for markets in solving environmental problems. …”
Continue reading at the EDF’s On the Water Front blog by clicking here.
Cogdill won’t run in 2010: Senator says success of water measure is factor
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on November 11, 2009 at 7:07 amFrom Stockton’s Record:
“Modesto Republican Sen. Dave Cogdill announced Tuesday he will not seek re-election in 2010, a decision his staff said was prompted in part by the state Legislature’s approval of an $11 billion water infrastructure bond measure that he championed.
Cogdill, whose 14th District includes Escalon, Linden, Lockeford, Lodi, Morada and Woodbridge in San Joaquin County, and stretches south to Fresno, said he was opting out of public office to re-enter the private sector when his term ends after the 2010 election. He also said he wants to spend more time with his family.
On Monday, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger said Cogdill was on his short list to replace Lt. Gov. John Garamendi, who left office after being elected to Congress.
Cogdill’s office said approval of the $11.1 billion water bond, which will go before California voters next year, provided a positive footnote on his single term in the state Senate. He served three terms in the Assembly before being elected to the upper house in 2006.
Cogdill called the water legislation “the pinnacle of my legislative career.” …”
Read more from the Record by clicking here.
Head of Sonoma County Water Agency announces retirement
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on November 10, 2009 at 3:41 pmFrom the Santa Rosa Press Democrat:
“The top official of the Sonoma County Water Agency, Randy Poole, has announced his plans to retire at the end of February.
Poole, 56, has been with the agency since 1991, overseeing its role as a supplier of water to the major cities and water districts from Windsor to San Rafael, while also assuming the duties as the county’s sewer agency.
Under his direction, the agency has become a force in local energy conservation efforts and in developing policies to limit global warming.
In a reorganization approved Nov. 3 by the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors, Poole’s position as general manager-chief engineer will be split into two, said Brad Sherwood, Water Agency spokesman. …”
Read more from the Santa Rosa Press Democrat by clicking here.
Autry quits private farm-water post: Ex-mayor cites group’s campaign against Rep. George Radanovich
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on October 28, 2009 at 7:49 amFrom the Fresno Bee:
” Former Fresno Mayor Alan Autry has stepped down as head of a farm-water advocacy group to protest its campaign against Rep. George Radanovich of Mariposa.
Autry quietly resigned his paid, part-time position last month as executive director with Families Protecting the Valley. Autry, a longtime friend and political ally of Radanovich, now says the mostly Republican farmers who founded the Madera group seem primarily intent on undermining Radanovich.
“This is an organization that is more interested in getting even than in getting water,” Autry said in an interview.
But Kole Upton, a prominent Madera County farmer and board member of the group, disagreed.
“We are not in business to support or attack politicians,” Upton said. “We are in the business of public education.” …”
Read more from the Fresno Bee by clicking here.
California GOP gov hopefuls call for new water storage
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on October 23, 2009 at 8:56 pmFrom the Silicon Valley Mercury News:
“Two Republican candidates for California governor agree the state needs to solve its water problems quickly to stop further economic collapse.
Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner and former eBay chief executive Meg Whitman spoke Friday to the California Partnership for the San Joaquin Valley, which seeks to improve the economy in California’s agricultural heartland. …”
Read more of this brief story from the Silicon Valley Mercury News by clicking here.
San Francisco’s Mayor Newsom dives into water negotiations
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on October 22, 2009 at 10:06 amFrom Capitol Weekly:
“San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom, a candidate for governor, has gotten involved in water negotiations around the Capitol, seeking to protect the water rights enjoyed by his home town while also staying on the same page with major environmental groups.
Newsom is just one of many local officials who have been involved both publicly and privately around the water question. Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, for instance, sent a letter to Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger on Oct. 9 urging more emphasis on “statewide conservation efforts” in any water deal.
However, Newsom appears to have gotten more directly involved in negotiations. He’s also running for governor next year, though polls show him trailing Attorney General Jerry Brown for the Democratic nomination.
Newsom participated in a conference call on Oct. 16 led by Senate Leader Darrell Steinberg, D-Sacramento. Other participants, either on the phone or in Steinberg’s office, included Natural Resources Defense Council California advocacy director Ann Nutthoff, Senator Mark Leno, D-San Francisco, and representatives of the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC)and Environmental Defense Fund. …”
Read more from Capitol Weekly by clicking here.
Dan Bacher commentary: Department of Fish and Game Director resigns
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on October 22, 2009 at 9:56 amFrom Dan Bacher, this commentary:
“Donald Koch, the director of the Department of Fish and Game for 18 months, sent his letter of resignation to Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger today.
He said that his decision to resign is “unrelated” to his duties as director, but Koch had recently acquired the reputation for impersonating the “invisible man” for his refusal of requests from reporters for information on the state’s trout hatchery program.
“It is with regret that I tender my resignation as the Director of the Department of Fish Game (sic), effective November 1, 2009,” said Koch. “My decison is unrelated to my duties regarding the State’s cherished fish and wildlife resources.”
In informing the Governor of his resignation, Koch praised Schwarzenegger for his “leadership” regarding the development of a draft settlement agreement on the Klamath and for taking “immediate action” on climate change.
“I appreciate your personal efforts to acknowledge and address head on complex resource issues,” said Koch. “For example, your steadfast support for resolving in a collaborative manner decades of conflict on the Klamath River has resulted in significant accomplishments culminating with the public release of a draft settlement agreement that sets the stage for the largest dam removal and fish restoration project in history. I am confident that with your continued support the parties will be able to finalize the agreements in the next few months.” …”
Firebrand style draws yeas, nays for Nunes
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on October 20, 2009 at 8:52 amFrom the Fresno Bee:
“Rep. Devin Nunes has never been known as a mild-mannered diplomat. But the debate about water policy has put his firebrand spirit on national display, energizing his supporters — and irritating others, including some potential allies.
The 36-year-old Visalia Republican routinely calls environmentalists “extremists,” akin to “yesterday’s communists.” California’s senior senator, Democrat Dianne Feinstein, is sometimes a “liar” and her staff members are “radicals.” Bay Area lawmakers want to “turn the Central Valley into a desert.”
He’s unapologetic about his take-no-prisoners style.
“I decided a couple of years ago that there was no dealing with the radical environmentalists, because they have such control over the [Democratic] politicians,” Nunes said. “The only thing they understand is pain.” …”
Read more from the Fresno Bee by clicking here.
Schwarzenegger appoints to horse-racing board Keith Brackpool (Cadiz) who employed his chief of staff
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on September 25, 2009 at 6:03 amFrom the Los Angeles Times:
“Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has appointed to the state horse-racing board a politically connected businessman who once employed his chief of staff, the governor’s office announced today.
The company run by Keith Brackpool, 52, of Los Angeles paid Schwarzenegger Chief of Staff Susan Kennedy $120,000 in 2005 as a consultant. She advised the firm, Cadiz Inc., on a project to store water from an underground aquifer in the Mojave Desert for use during droughts in Southern California.
Schwarzenegger, who is now negotiating with lawmakers on a water deal that could fund billions of dollars in new projects, endorsed Cadiz’s proposal earlier this year, though he has not committed to making it part of an agreement to bolster the state’s water supply.
As Schwarzenegger’s highest-ranking aide since 2006, Kennedy approves all appointment recommendations made to the governor for state boards and commissions and is deeply involved with his water policy. In 2006, after her income from Cadiz was disclosed, the governor’s office said she would recuse herself from matters connected to its water project. …”
Read more from the Los Angeles Times by clicking here.
The Chance of Rain blog notes:
” … While Cadiz Inc has yet to formally request environmental permissions for the latest incarnation of its water project, the governor is overseeing draft legislation for billions of dollars of California water projects and a spokesman for the governor confirms that he “likes” the Cadiz project. …”
More from the Chance of Rain blog by clicking here.
Inkstain blog: John Fleck interviews Mike Connor
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on September 22, 2009 at 8:00 amFrom John Fleck at the Inkstain blog:
“I love history as a journalistic storytelling technique for two reasons. First, it often can provide built-in context. Second, it can provide a natural narrative arc. So when I sat down Friday with Mike Connor, the new head of the Bureau of Reclamation, I tried to frame his job today in terms of the western water giants who held the job before him, larger-than-life figures like Arthur Powell Davis and Floyd Dominy.
Connor, who’s only been in the job for a couple of months, was clearly thinking the same way. As he was preparing a talk recently, he reread the Dominy chapter in Cadillac Desert. And realized, he said, that there was less there than he might have hoped. …”
Read more from the Inkstain blog by clicking here.
T.D. Allin helped bring water to Pasadena
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on September 22, 2009 at 6:39 amFrom the Pasadena Star-News:
“One of the talented people who came to Pasadena from Iowa was Thomas D. Allin who arrived at age 18 with his family from West Branch, Iowa, in 1882. He started his engineering work here as a chain man on railroad surveys and advanced to be a transit and level man.
T. D. Allin was the first young man from Pasadena to enter the University of California where he took a special course in civil engineering for two and a half years. In 1891, he established a private engineering business in Pasadena. He became the engineer for the principal water company supplying Pasadena, the Lake Vinyard Land & Water Company.
In 1901, he was appointed City Engineer of Pasadena, while also carrying on his private practice, and made studies of future water supplies for the fast-growing city. …”
Read more from the Pasadena Star-News by clicking here.
Orange County Water District Director Philip L. Anthony to be keynote speaker at international conference
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on September 18, 2009 at 7:19 am
From the Orange County Water District:
“FOUNTAIN VALLEY, Calif. (Sept. 17, 2009) ––Orange County Water District (OCWD) Director Philip L. Anthony will provide the keynote address to more than 700 international water industry stakeholders who will converge for a joint opening session of the 12th International Riversymposium and REUSE ’09 conferences in Brisbane, Australia on September 21, 2009. (www.riversymposium.com, www.reuse09.org)
Mr. Anthony, who has served on the OCWD Board for 28 years and was a former Supervisor for the County of Orange, will share the challenges and successes the Santa Ana Watershed Project Authority (SAWPA) has had bringing together five diverse water agencies in Southern California that combined serve more than five million residents. Together, these agencies are able to sustain water supplies in an arid desert while balancing the needs of each service area.
SAWPA was born out of a regional collaboration following a series of lawsuits over water rights along the Santa Ana River. Though conceived out of litigious circumstances, it has grown to be much more, creating a model integrated regional approach to water management. So much so, that the State of California has designated 11 geographic areas in California and has called upon each region to implement their own solutions to the state’s ever growing water crisis. This model program can be replicated worldwide, and is a vital approach when dealing with continually threatened water supplies and insufficient funding for new projects and infrastructure. …”
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