Monterey: Outlook still grim for new water authority, says commentary
Posted by: Maven on April 1, 2012 at 6:32 amFrom the Monterey County Herald, this commentary by Ron Weitzman, founder of WaterPlus:
“The Monterey Peninsula Regional Water Authority, the new kid on the block in our water-challenged neighborhood, inspired high hopes for our local water team. Now, after several practice sessions with it as our new pitcher, the outlook for our team looks as grim as before. Shades of Charlie Brown.
As ratepayer advocates, WaterPlus members at first cheered on the new kid. Our hope was the mayors’ joint powers authority would become the public agency that built our new desalination plant or would persuade another local public agency to do so. It has done neither. When we saw it was focusing on evaluating water supply options proposed by others, we strongly suggested its evaluation be objective. We should have known better. … “
Continue reading from the Monterey County Herald by clicking here.
Supervisors use Nipomo water woes as warning for Paso Robles
Posted by: Maven on March 30, 2012 at 8:13 amFrom the San Luis Obispo Tribune:
“The county Board of Supervisors on Tuesday used long-standing water woes on the Nipomo Mesa as a cautionary tale about what they should not allow to happen to the Paso Robles groundwater basin.
Nipomo Mesa property owners face a vote to increase property taxes to finance a connection to water from Santa Maria. The vote and the water it could bring are the culmination of years of problems in Nipomo, difficulties that have included costly litigation.
The county owns a tiny bit of property in the affected area, and the supervisors on Tuesday voted 4-1 to accept the levy, with Supervisor Paul Teixeira dissenting. … “
Continue reading from the San Luis Obispo Tribune by clicking here.
Monterey: Marina Coast Water District warns it could sue over desal plan
Posted by: Maven on March 29, 2012 at 7:20 amFrom the Silicon Valley Mercury News:
“A Marina Coast Water District attorney has notified the district’s former desalination partners that it could sue and warned they should not destroy any evidence.
In letters to attorneys for Monterey County, the county Water Resources Agency and California American Water, Marina Coast attorney Mark Fogelman wrote that the district “may have claims against” the county and Cal Am related to the regional desalination project and its alternatives.
The letters, dated March 27, don’t “formally assert claims, but will serve as notice that (Marina Coast) may assert such claims.” It informs the former partners “of the duty to preserve all relevant evidence” from Jan. 1, 2010, to the present. … “
Continue reading from the Silicon Valley Mercury News by clicking here.
San Luis Obipo County votes in favor of Nipomo water project
Posted by: Maven on March 29, 2012 at 7:14 amFrom New Times SLO:
“San Luis Obispo County has cast its vote in favor of a controversial supplemental water project for Nipomo.
On March 27, SLO County supervisors, acting in their side role as the SLO County Flood Control and Water Conservation District, cast a ballot in favor of the Nipomo Supplemental Water Project. The Nipomo Community Services District (NCSD) issued a ballot to property owners, who have been asked to vote on whether they want to pay an assessment for the project.
If approved, the NCSD will begin work on a $27 million pipeline to bring water from Santa Maria to Nipomo. … “
Continue reading from New Times SLO by clicking here.
Peninsula residents get tsunami advice: Learn the warning signs
Posted by: Maven on March 25, 2012 at 6:22 amFrom the Monterey County Herald:
“If you’re in the pink, you’re in the drink.
On tsunami inundation maps of the California coastline, pink indicates areas that could potentially be flooded by a major tsunami occurring at high tide.
The maps by the California Geological Survey depict a worst-case scenario, said geologist Cynthia Pridmore of the Department of Conservation.
According to the maps, available online, the places vulnerable to flooding include most of Moss Landing Harbor village, the Monterey waterfront from Del Monte Beach to Cannery Row, and low-lying areas around rivers emptying into Monterey Bay. … “
Continue reading from the Monterey County Herald by clicking here.
Monterey commentary: Public agencies can fix our water woes
Posted by: Maven on March 23, 2012 at 7:35 amFrom Water World, this commentary by Veronica Morales Rodriguez, a founding member of the Seaside Merchants Association and a member of the Latino Water Coalition of the Monterey Peninsula:
“It’s no wonder Cal Am slinked away from the public-private Regional Desalination Project in favor of pursuing its own privately managed water solution (Cal-Am: Agencies didn’t hold up their end of the bargain Monterey Herald, March 2).
As a private company, its first responsibility isn’t clean drinking water for the Peninsula, but profit for its parent company in New Jersey. It is exactly this singular focus on profit over people that should be generating the ire of residents from Seaside to Pebble Beach.
Don’t get me wrong. I own and operate a small business to make a profit, too. But this is different! I’m not a utility company serving the community. Cal Am is! … “
Continue reading this commentary at Water World by clicking here.
Monterey Peninsula Regional Water Authority group seeking to address growth as well as replacement
Posted by: Maven on March 22, 2012 at 7:56 amFrom the Monterey County Herald:
“Providing water for growth could be part of the Monterey Peninsula Regional Water Authority’s mission if proposed language is adopted at the panel’s meeting today.
The word “supplemental” has been added to a proposed version of the authority’s mission statement, which the panel of six Peninsula mayors is set to consider at 6 p.m. today at Chautauqua Hall in Pacific Grove.
As proposed, the authority’s mission statement would read, in part: “The MPRWA exists to promote timely development of supplemental and replacement water projects … at a reasonable cost to sufficiently meet the water needs of city and county general plans.” … “
Continue reading from the Monterey County Herald by clicking here.
Central Coast: New water quality rules mostly reject cooperative effort
Posted by: Maven on March 21, 2012 at 8:49 amFrom the California Farm Bureau Federation:
“Farm groups that had sought a cooperative approach to water quality regulation said they were reviewing their options after the Central Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board voted 6-0 last week to adopt new wastewater discharge requirements for the region’s farms. The final order included few recommendations made by farmers on how to achieve water quality improvements.
The new rules, which are effective immediately, require individual farmers to monitor and report more closely on water quality and runoff from their operations.
How the new regulations will affect individual farmers and how much it will cost them to implement is unclear. California Farm Bureau Federation legal and policy specialists who attended the two-day board hearing in San Luis Obispo said so many last-minute changes occurred that the actual impact of the new regulations remains “foggy” for now. … “
Continue reading from the California Farm Bureau Federation by clicking here.
SEE ALSO: Central Coast farmers face tougher rules on water quality, from the Santa Maria Times
Grover Beach water rates to rise starting in April
Posted by: Maven on March 21, 2012 at 7:49 amFrom the San Luis Obispo Tribune:
“Water rates in Grover Beach will increase about 10 percent starting in April.
The Grover Beach City Council voted 4-1 on Monday, with Councilwoman Phyllis Molnar dissenting, to raise water rates and establish a fee to pay for new state regulations to the city’s storm water system.
City officials have said the water rate increase is needed to cover basic operational and maintenance costs, re-establish a reserve fund and close an estimated $196,186 deficit in the water fund budget. … “
Central Coast: Farmers face new water runoff rules
Posted by: Maven on March 20, 2012 at 7:31 amFrom the Morgan Hill Times:
“Despite a tremendous appearance of farmers and members of the public in opposition to new rules regarding water runoff, the Central Coast Regional Water Quality Board voted unanimously to pass the proposal that will require farmers to closely monitor their water runoff.
In a meeting in San Luis Obispo that lasted nearly 15 hours on Wednesday and Thursday, and was packed with 400 people on both sides of the issue, the board voted 7-0 to pass the ordinance, according to Gilroy farmer Pete Aiello, who attended the event. … “
Continue reading from the Morgan Hill Times by clicking here.
Grover Beach water rates would rise 10 percent unless 2,400 protest
Posted by: Maven on March 19, 2012 at 8:04 amFrom the San Luis Obispo Tribune:
“A 10 percent water-rate increase would take effect in April in Grover Beach unless more than half of the city's property owners or water customers say they oppose it.
Grover Beach officials say the increase is needed to cover basic operational and maintenance costs, re-establish a reserve fund and close an estimated $196,186 deficit in the water fund budget.
The budget for the water fund was adopted with a deficit, but city officials had planned to close it by repaying a $900,000 loan the water fund had made to the city's former Redevelopment Agency several years ago, City Manager Bob Perrault said. … “
Continue reading from the San Luis Obispo Tribune by clicking here.
Contamination conundrum: Spotlight on nitrate in Salinas Valley drinking water: Water-quality board votes to adopt controversial regulations for irrigated lands over ag leaders’ objections
Posted by: Maven on March 17, 2012 at 8:24 amFrom the Salinas Californian:
“The Central Coast’s fields are iconic as a source of fresh produce, but decades of intensive fertilizer and pesticide use have left a legacy of water pollution in the region’s surface and groundwater.
Awareness of the problem, especially drinking-water contamination, has grown among consumers, farmers and regulators. But stakeholders on the Central Coast are locked in a battle over how to maintain agricultural economic viability while monitoring and reducing water contamination by nitrates, pesticides and sediments.
The battle culminated Thursday evening in San Luis Obispo, when the Central Coast Regional Water Quality Board voted to adopt controversial regulations for irrigated lands. But ag leaders, unhappy with some of the new regulations, said the debate is likely to continue. … “
Continue reading from the Salinas Californian by clicking here.
Friday’s top of the scroll: Water quality board approves new ag rules: Contentious issue likely to face a higher court
Posted by: Maven on March 16, 2012 at 6:06 amFrom the Mercury News:
“Regional water quality officials rejected a growers’ plan to protect wells and waterways from agricultural pollution, but left the door open for reconsideration if revisions are made.
The Central Coast Regional Water Control Board on a 6-0 vote Thursday approved a plan developed and recommended by its staff with last-minute changes that give growers more time and flexibility to comply with rules and relax requirements for control of nitrates – the toxic residue of nitrogen fertilizer.
The rules, debated by agricultural, environmental and public health interests for more than three years, are conditions of a waiver that allows farmers to discharge wastewater from their fields without individual permits. … “
Continue reading from the Mercury News by clicking here.
SEE ALSO: At SLO hearing, water board and farmers seek pollution solutions, from the San Luis Obispo Tribune
LAFCO denies Pismo Beach project
Posted by: Maven on March 16, 2012 at 2:36 amFrom Cal Coast News:
“The San Luis Obispo Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO) denied a request to annex a 182-acre proposed development, known as Los Robles Del Mar, into Pismo Beach on Thursday primary because of an alleged lack of water to support the project.
San Luis Obispo County Supervisor and LAFCO Chairman Bruce Gibson led the charge against the future development of 300 homes saying that state water is unreliable while also promoting the controversial idea that seawater intrusion has put the groundwater supply at risk.
Following a 2009 report of seawater intrusion contaminating the unincorporated community of Oceano's groundwater supply, numerous local agencies have used the information to promote or stop projects based on the idea that sea water intrusion has made ground water throughout the basin, which includes Pismo Beach, unreliable. … “
Continue reading from Cal Coast News by clicking here.
Central Coast: Crowd to weigh in on ag water quality rules
Posted by: Maven on March 14, 2012 at 11:59 pmFrom the Silicon Valley Mercury News:
“A standing room only crowd of about 200 people turned out Wednesday to express their support or opposition to proposed rules aimed at scrubbing agricultural pollutants from Central Coast water.
The Central Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board has been working on the rules that govern agricultural water discharge for nearly four years and is scheduled to make a decision today.
Growers oppose the rules developed by staff during a process that has included dozens of informal stakeholder meetings and several formal hearings, and have developed a plan of their own. Environmentalists and public health advocates say the grower plan doesn’t do enough to protect water supplies and the time has come to approve regulations. … “
Continue reading from the Silicon Valley Mercury News by clicking here.
At water forum, Cal Am says desal obstacles can be overcome
Posted by: Maven on March 14, 2012 at 11:44 pmFrom the Monterey County Herald:
“California American Water officials believe it’s possible to address crucial issues that represent potential obstacles to the search for a new desalination project.
At a well-attended forum on water supply alternatives in Seaside on Wednesday night, Cal Am’s director of engineering told Peninsula residents there are potential solutions to public ownership and water rights issues in connection with a possible desal plant north of Marina.
Rich Svindland said the county’s public ownership requirement may be open to interpretation including on its legality and revision unless a public agency agrees to back Cal Am’s effort. … “
Continue reading from the Monterey County Herald by clicking here.
Commentary: Montery regional desal plan and financial reality
Posted by: Maven on March 14, 2012 at 11:43 pmFrom the Monterey County Herald, this commentary by Bill Lee:
“As the clock continues to run out on the Peninsula’s need to find a new and sustainable source of clean water for residents and businesses, much has been stated and misstated about the financial reality of the Regional Desalination Project.
A closer look at the facts reveals that not only is the Regional Desalination Project the best answer for the region’s water woes, it is the one that makes the most sense financially.
Marina Coast Water District along with project partner Monterey County Water Resources Agency jointly retained the services of Piper Jaffray, a well known investment advisory consulting firm, to create a comprehensive conceptual financial plan for the project. The plan was presented to MCWD in May 2011 and has since been available on the Regional Desalination Project’s website. … “
Continue reading from the Monterey County Herald by clicking here.
Monterey Peninsula agencies hammering out an agreement on wastewater recycling
Posted by: Maven on March 14, 2012 at 11:42 pmFrom the Monterey County Weekly:
“Your household wastewater is more valuable than you may realize, especially in a region facing crunch time in its water-supply crisis.©
Monterey Peninsula Water Management District has drafted a memorandum of understanding to partner with Monterey Regional Water Pollution Control Agency and California American Water Co. on a wastewater recycling project, also known as groundwater replenishment.©
“It's new to the area, but it's more cost-effective than desal,\” MPWMD General Manager David Stoldt says. “It's environmentally benign. It should have a whole host of supporters. \”© … “
Continue reading from the Monterey County Weekly by clicking here.
Monterey water forum hopes to build public consensus
Posted by: Maven on March 12, 2012 at 10:45 pmFrom the Contra Costa Times:
“Aiming for as much public consensus on an alternative water supply as possible, the co-sponsors of Wednesday’s public water forum are calling the event an opportunity for everyone to make the case for their preferred project.
Supervisor Dave Potter, who has taken the lead in organizing the forum, called it a kind of “public mediation” in the effort to come up with a plan for a replacement source of water for the Peninsula, which is facing a state-ordered cutback in pumping from the Carmel River that takes full effect by the end of 2016.
Potter said the event is a chance to consider the various proposed alternatives on equal footing in the wake of the failed Regional Water Project, following California American Water’s decision to withdraw support for the $400 million public-private proposal in January. … “
Continue reading from the Contra Costa Times by clicking here.
‘Fix a Leak Week’ now under way on Monterey Peninsula
Posted by: Maven on March 12, 2012 at 6:36 amFrom the Monterey County Herald:
“The Environmental Protection Agency has named March 12ÃÂ18 “Fix a Leak Week” to encourage water conservation and remind residents and businesses to check for and repair water leaks. California American Water believes this to be an especially important initiative on the Monterey Peninsula due to severe constraints on our water supply.
Furthermore, a quarter-gallon per minute toilet leak can add over $100 per month to a residential water bill.
The average U.S. household loses 10,000 gallons per year to leaks. We’ve posted information to our website on how to identify and repair leaks around your home or business at www.calamwater.com. … “
Continue reading from the Monterey County Herald by clicking here.
Support for desalination may be evaporating: Cambria services district to hear comments from the public about sources of water
Posted by: Maven on March 12, 2012 at 6:31 amFrom the San Luis Obispo Tribune:
“Is a desalination plant still in Cambria's future Will the town's ultimate water project be something else entirely Or a blend of several options
There will be more questions asked than answers given about a supplemental source of water for the town at a meeting Thursday, more than 10 years after Cambria Community Services District directors declared a water emergency and put a nearly complete stop to new water hookups.
The district and Army Corps of Engineers will host what's known as a scoping meeting, one of the early steps in preparing a formal environmental review. … “
Continue reading from the San Luis Obispo Tribune by clicking here.
Salinas Californian editorial: Inclusion is key to Salinas Valley water health
Posted by: Maven on March 10, 2012 at 6:51 amFrom the Salinas Californian:
“One of the most contentious issues facing the Salinas Valley will come to a head this week when water quality regulators meet in San Luis Obispo to decide on an update of rules governing pollution runoff from agriculture.
The Central Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board regulation update called a conditional discharge waiver is long overdue. Originally established in 2004, the waiver was to be updated in 2009. The delays are particularly frustrating when considered in context with the fact that Salinas Valley water is some of the most contaminated in the state. … “
Continue reading this editorial from the Salinas Californian by clicking here.
Monterey Peninsula Regional Water Authority wants supply plan by mid-April
Posted by: Maven on March 10, 2012 at 6:25 amFrom the Monterey County Herald:
“The Monterey Peninsula Regional Water Authority wants its new technical advisory committee to propose a plan for a preferred water supply alternative by the middle of next month, before California American Water submits its proposal to the state Public Utilities Commission.
The seven-person committee, set up by the authority at its meeting late Thursday in Seaside, will be charged with vetting Cal Am’s proposed project after it is submitted. Cal Am plans to file a new project application to the PUC on April 23, about three months after announcing it was withdrawing its support for the ill-fated regional desalination project.
Three people were named to the advisory committee on Thursday George Riley, Roger Dolan and Bill Reichmuth. The rest of the committee’s members, to be named later, will represent the Monterey Peninsula Water Management District, the Monterey Regional Water Pollution Control Agency, the city of Seaside and a Monterey business coalition. … “
Continue reading from the Monterey County Herald by clicking here.
Commentary: Looking beyond the Monterey regional desal plan
Posted by: Maven on March 9, 2012 at 6:57 amFrom the Monterey County Herald, this commentary by Roger Dolan:
‘The end of the Regional Desalination Project came with a bang, not a whimper.
The project was falling apart of its own accord, but the fusillade that finally brought it down was rejection of the environmental report followed by the withdrawal of Cal Am and the county from the sponsoring partnership.
Having the RDP gone clears the way for a Peninsula-based water supply. There is general consensus that a three-component solution will be best,desalination, groundwater recharge (GWR) using highly treated recycled water and aquifer storage and recovery (ASR), where treated winter flows from the Carmel River are stored for summer use.
But before getting to the question of what to build, a decision needs to be made about who should plan, finance, build and own the components. … “
Continue reading this commentary at the Monterey County Herald by clicking here.
In UCSC expansion vote, panel waits on fish protection plan, lowers overall water limit
Posted by: Maven on March 7, 2012 at 9:18 pmFrom the Silicon Valley Mercury News:
“The Santa Cruz Local Agency Formation Commission signaled narrow support Wednesday for a city water expansion at UC Santa Cruz under two new conditions that left city and university officials shaking their heads.
The essential question facing the panel, which is charged with approving such boundary and utility service changes, is whether the city has enough water to supply more to the university for development outside city limits at a time of drought-year shortages and uncertain reductions in surface water supply. … “
Continue reading from the Silicon Valley Mercury News by clicking here.
New water quality rules for ag land? Regional Control Board readies for long-awaited vote on controversial policy tweak
Posted by: Maven on March 7, 2012 at 9:13 pmFrom the Santa Barbara Independent:
“Environmentalists have been waiting for this day for nearly four years, but farmers and ranchers on the Central Coast are anything but excited. At a meeting next week in San Luis Obispo, the Central Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board is scheduled to give a thumbs-up,°,,°or -down,°,,°to a long-simmering plan to overhaul the agency's Agricultural Waiver. The regulatory tool allows irrigated ag land to be exempt from certain mandates of the Porter-Cologne Water Quality Act in exchange for promises of, among other things, on-site monitoring of discharge and reporting. … “
Continue reading from the Santa Barbara Independent by clicking here.
Water quality board exec doesn’t want another delay on new ag runoff rules
Posted by: Maven on March 7, 2012 at 8:12 amFrom the Monterey County Herald:
“The executive officer of the Central Coast Regional Water Quality Board reacted coolly to calls by local legislators to delay action this month on new water pollution rules for runoff from irrigated farm fields.
“We could allow more comments and tweak the order for another four years,” said Roger Briggs in an email to the Herald. “But it makes little sense to continue on an endless search for a perfect order while we ignore the urgency of public health threats.”
Briggs’ comments came after U.S. Rep. Sam Farr, D-Carmel, and state Assemblyman Luis Alejo, D-Watsonville, said at a news conference Friday that they adamantly oppose a proposal up for possible approval March 14 by the regional water quality board. … “
Continue reading from the Monterey County Herald by clicking here.
Coastal Commission weighs in on UCSC water case: Agency says it may have oversight role in related fisheries debate
Posted by: Maven on March 7, 2012 at 7:20 amFrom the Contra Costa Times:
“At the urging of a conservation group seeking to halt a city water expansion for UC Santa Cruz, the state Coastal Commission weighed in at the 11th hour Tuesday, warning it may have authority to review the controversial case because weakened fish habitat central to the debate could affect the coast.
The Santa Cruz Local Agency Formation Commission is scheduled Wednesday to finalize its approval of applications tentatively approved in December to expand the city’s sphere of influence and extend water and sewer service to an undeveloped northern corner of campus. The university has requested up to 100 million gallons more water each year to support new housing and other buildings as outlined in a pact with the city and county if student growth hits a projected maximum of 19,500 by 2020, about 3,000 more than what it is now. … “
Continue reading from the Contra Costa Times by clicking here.
RELATED: As We See It: Another water diversion, editorial from the Santa Cruz Sentinel
Monterey: Community must act quickly on water, says commentary
Posted by: Maven on March 7, 2012 at 7:18 amFrom the Monterey County Herald, this commentary by David J. Stoldt, general manager of the Monterey Peninsula Water Management District:
“Since the announcement in January that Cal Am Water was no longer supporting the Regional Desalination Project and planned to deliver an alternative proposal to the Public Utilities Commission by April 23, members of the community have expressed a desire to revisit every possible project and begin anew the planning process for a regional water supply.
I will confess to dusting off feasibility reports and environmental documents on more than 50 projects that have been considered by the Monterey Peninsula Water Management District since the 1980s. But the practical reality is that most of the planning has already been done.
We have to look for projects that meet five criteria: there must be a large component of drought-resistant storage; it must be reliable year-round; it must meet “peak demand” when usage is much above the averages; the project must be technically proven; and it must be implemented in time to meet legally mandated reductions from the Carmel River and Seaside groundwater basin, the biggest of which is in December 2016. … “
Continue reading this commentary at the Monterey County Herald by clicking here.
Monterey: A project worthy of support, says commentary
Posted by: Maven on March 6, 2012 at 7:30 amFrom the Monterey County Herald, this commentary by Nadar Agha, a developer and proponent of a desalination project on property he owns in Moss Landing:
“How many more groups will need to be formed, and how much more money will it take, to find a water solution
How many more groups, including the recently formed coalition that includes hospitality associations, local chambers, even the local Monterey hospital, will it take to do what certain public officials were elected to do find an affordable water solution
How much money has already been spent to provide an affordable water solution to the Monterey Peninsula ratepayers and communities (Dave Potter and others have not done their job this is clear.) … “
Continue reading this commentary at the Monterey County Herald by clicking here.
Ag industry and environmentalists wrestle over new runoff rules
Posted by: Maven on March 5, 2012 at 7:10 amFrom the Silicon Valley Mercury News:
“An epic wrangle over water pollution heads for a showdown this month with the Central Coast agricultural industry steadfastly pitted against environmental interests over new rules for runoff from irrigated farm fields.
The Central Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board is scheduled March 14 to consider adopting the fiercely debated rules after nearly four years and what regional water officials call “the most extensive public process in the (board’s) history.”
The aim is to reduce groundwater and surface water pollution from nitrate fertilizers, pesticides and sediment carried from irrigated farm fields. … “
Continue reading from the Silicon Valley Mercury News by clicking here.
Santa Cruz City Council agrees to hold desal vote no sooner than June 2014
Posted by: Maven on March 5, 2012 at 5:48 amFrom SantaCruz.com:
“The city's discussion of desalination took another surprise turn at the Feb. 28 Santa Cruz City Council meeting. The change has to do with two competing plans from activists and city officials to put desalination to a vote. Originally it looked like the plan advanced by Mayor Don Lane and Councilmember David Terrazas would call for a vote in 2013, while the activists’ measure would call for a vote in 2014, a delay that Lane had insisted could cost the city millions of dollars. … “
Continue reading from SantaCruz.com by clicking here.
Fisheries agencies warn LAFCO against UCSC water expansion: Final vote set for Wednesday
Posted by: Maven on March 3, 2012 at 6:20 amFrom the Contra Costa Times:
“State and federal natural resource agencies have warned a panel charged with approving a city water extension for UC Santa Cruz that it shouldn’t give final approval to the plan until accord is reached about the protection of fish habitat.
Representatives from California Fish and Game and the National Marine Fisheries Service have told the Santa Cruz Local Agency Formation Commission that a key condition the commission placed on its preliminary approval of the project has not been met. In December, LAFCO tentatively approved requests from the city and university to extend up to 100 million more gallons of water two-thirds more than UCSC used all last year to support growth planned in an undeveloped area outside city limits.
LAFCO is set to take a final vote at a hearing that begins at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday. … “
Continue reading from the Contra Costa Times by clicking here.
Monterey: Cal Am: Public agencies didn’t hold up their end of the bargain; Company seeks payback for money it lent to agencies
Posted by: Maven on March 3, 2012 at 6:16 amFrom the Monterey County Herald:
“California American Water blames its public agency partners for the demise of the regional desalination project, wants to be repaid for money they borrowed and plans to move ahead with a new desal project by April 23.
And, though it didn’t publicly withdraw from the project until January, Cal Am believed in September that the agreements with the county Water Resources Agency and Marina Coast Water District were invalid.
Cal Am submitted a report with the state Public Utilities Commission on Thursday outlining its efforts on behalf of the project, which was intended to be a replacement water source for the Carmel River. Cal Am is under a state order to reduce pumping from the river by 2016. … “
Continue reading from the Monterey County Herald by clicking here.
Monterey Peninsula must quickly act on water, says commentary
Posted by: Maven on March 3, 2012 at 6:14 amFrom the Monterey County Herald, this commentary by Ron Weitzman, president of WaterPlus, a group that advocates a public takeover of California American Water:
“The current cease-and-desist order by the State Water Resources Control Board has put our community into a virtually Catch 22 bind.
It prohibits Cal Am from drawing most of its draw from the Carmel River basin by the beginning of 2017. The major alternative source of water the state board suggests for the Peninsula is desalination, but Cal Am cannot pursue that option because county ordinance prohibits it from doing so without a public partner. The county requires a public agency develop the desalination plant that we need to ensure a drought-proof water supply.
Sound reasons support that requirement, not the least of which being up to a half billion dollars in savings to ratepayers, but no local public agency has stepped forward to do the job. … “
Continue reading from the Monterey County Herald by clicking here.
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