Higher water bills vex neighbors; One Alvarado Estates resident saw a 13-fold increase in his invoice
Posted by: Maven on February 9, 2012 at 5:56 amFrom the San Diego Union-Tribune:
“Residents of the Alvarado Estates subdivision above Mission Valley are protesting a sudden spike in their water bills in the last months of 2011 — in one case a 13-fold increase.
Officials with the San Diego Public Utilities Department said the hikes can’t be explained by any of the typical reasons — a water leak, a faulty meter or a billing error — or even a more unique possibility — a potential reset of the sprinkler system caused by September’s power outage. … “
Continue reading from the San Diego Union-Tribune by clicking here.
GrokSurf’s San Diego blog: Equinox Center releases new “Regional Quality of Life Dashboard”
Posted by: Maven on February 4, 2012 at 6:58 amFrom GrokSurf’s San Diego blog:
“San Diego’s non-profit Equinox Center (actually it’s located in Encinitas) has published a new 2012 report Regional Quality of Life Dashboard on its website.
The Dashboard front page (which also has reports for 2010 and 2011) states that it aims to
“…shine a spotlight on the questions that truly matter to San Diegans: Are we leaving our children a heritage of thriving, rejuvenating nature? Will our businesses have access to resources such as energy and water so they can provide economic opportunities to all of the region’s inhabitants? Do we have efficient and adequate transportation options? Simply, is our quality of life improving?” … “
Continue reading from GrokSurf’s San Diego blog 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
Commentary: Water shortage —- here we go again, maybe
Posted by: Maven on January 24, 2012 at 8:16 amFrom the North County Times, this commentary by Gary Arant, General Manager of the Valley Center Municipal Water District:
“We are starting to see the articles: “Record Dry December,” “Water Officials Worried About Dry Year,” “Ski Resorts Hope for Snowy January,” etc.
Even though last year was plentiful and record setting in terms of snow pack, rainfall and filling previously parched reservoirs, water officials are now, “cautious,” “concerned,” and “wary” about what 2012 might bring.
Like so many scenarios in the “Jekyll and Hyde” world of California water supply, this news likely has the public scratching its collective head. People must think: “Weren’t you the same guys who just had us taking out lawns, catching rain water and taking short showers because there was a drastic shortage, then you told us that the shortage is over and things are back to normal?”
Now the public is hearing the soft but audible drum beat that things might not be going so well again with our state’s water supply. … “
Continue reading this commentary at the North County Times by clicking here.
Column: Where toilet-to-tap fears circle the drain
Posted by: Maven on January 22, 2012 at 6:57 amFrom the San Diego Union-Tribune, this column by Karla Peterson:
“Test subject: The “toilet-to-tap” tour of the Advanced Water Purification Facility.
The big picture: The AWP Facility is the latest step in the city’s Water Purification Demonstration Project, which is designed to test the feasibility of turning recycled wastewater (Ewww!) into water that is clean enough to drink (Yum!).
As part of the campaign to convince leery consumers that the maligned and misnamed “toilet to tap” concept is neither as simple nor as gross as it sounds, the city is offering free public tours of the facility off Miramar Road. (You can register online at purewatersd.org.) I joined one last week to see if a little bit of knowledge makes extreme water recycling easier to swallow. … “
Continue reading this column from the San Diego Union-Tribune by clicking here.
Water plant land deal for desal plant in Mexico misses deadline; The Otay district is counting on the Mexico desal plant for supply
Posted by: Maven on January 18, 2012 at 6:09 amFrom the San Diego Union-Tribune:
“A partner in the group proposing a desalination plant in Mexico that the Otay Water District hopes will supply a majority of its future water needs is having trouble securing the land to build the plant.
According to its most recent filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, Cayman Islands-based Consolidated Water said that NSC Agua, the project developer, was not able to complete a purchase of two key parcels before the Dec. 11 closing date and now expects it will lose the $400,000 deposit it put down for the land. … “
Continue reading from the San Diego Union-Tribune by clicking here.
San Diego County Water Authority responds to San Diego Taxpayers Educational Foundation report
Posted by: Maven on January 18, 2012 at 6:06 amFrom GrokSurf’s San Diego Blog:
“The San Diego County Water Authority today responded to a report by the San Diego Taxpayers Educational Foundation that studied labor costs at the agency between 1999 and 2009.
“The Taxpayers Educational Foundation and the San Diego County Taxpayers Association serve important roles informing our community on issues impacting taxpayers and water ratepayers,” said Maureen Stapleton, general manager of the Water Authority. “The Taxpayers’ study focuses primarily on how much labor costs at the agency rose between 1999 and 2009. We believe it is equally important for ratepayers to be fully informed why the Water Authority’s workforce and labor costs grew during the decade. The Taxpayers’ report does not provide an equal focus on that part of the story.
“Ratepayers need to know what value they receive for their dollars.” … “
Continue reading from GrokSurf’s San Diego blog by clicking here.
San Diego County Water Authority signs 55-year habitat plan
Posted by: Maven on January 10, 2012 at 7:07 amFrom the San Diego Union-Tribune:
“San Diego County Water Authority leaders have agreed with state and federal agencies on a 55-year plan to conserve open space while allowing for continued construction of water-supply infrastructure.
The habitat conservation plan announced Monday is designed to safeguard wild lands and streamline processing of the water authority’s permits by the state Department of Fish and Game and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Documents related to the plan are at sdcwa.org.
“This is a great example of innovative and effective environmental planning,” Jim Bartel, field supervisor for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Carlsbad office, said in a statement. “Our three agencies worked closely and collaboratively to find a way to comprehensively address potential endangered species impacts from the water authority’s projects and activities.” … “
Continue reading from the San Diego Union-Tribune by clicking here.
MORE: Read the press release from Department of Fish & Game.
San Diego: ‘Disappearing’ park in need of erosion control
Posted by: Maven on January 8, 2012 at 7:40 amFrom the San Diego Union-Tribune:
“Across Sunset Cliffs Natural Park, fast-flowing water has carved chasms in the iconic seaside spot so that one prominent website recently named it one of the nation’s top five “disappearing places.”
Pounding waves such as the big ones that hit last week are the most obvious force and the impetus for armoring the shoreline so that Sunset Cliffs Boulevard doesn’t give way. But the problem that’s getting the most attention these days is the urban runoff that carries loads of soil to the ocean and leaves behind a labyrinth of increasingly frail dirt formations.
Because so much of the land uphill from the park is covered by roads and buildings, there’s relatively little space for rain water to soak into the soil, a classic environmental conundrum that defies cheap or quick solutions. … “
Continue reading from the San Diego Union-Tribune by clicking here.
San Diego County Water Authority press release: Court grants discovery in Water Authority’s rate case against MWD
Posted by: Maven on January 7, 2012 at 9:15 amFrom the San Diego County Water Authority:
“San Francisco Superior Court Judge Richard A. Kramer today granted motions to allow discovery in the San Diego County Water Authority’s case against the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, motions which MWD had vigorously opposed. The judge also denied without prejudice MWD’s motion to bifurcate the case, saying he will consider how the case should be tried after the parties complete discovery.
“This is a good outcome,” Water Authority Board Chair Michael T. Hogan said. “We continue to believe that having all six Water Authority causes of action tried in a single trial will expedite a final decision. Trying all of the Water Authority’s causes of action in the same trial will provide a more complete picture to the court about how MWD’s governance is broken, allowing the self-dealing system in place there to illegally set rates and take other actions that harm not only San Diego County ratepayers, but all of Southern California.”
During Friday’s court session, Judge Kramer asked the parties to work with a special master to develop and implement a plan for discovery. He expressly declined to impose any limitations on the Water Authority’s right to conduct discovery into bias or corruption at MWD, despite repeated requests to do so by MWD’s counsel. A further case management conference was set for February 17, 2012. … “
Continue reading from the San Diego County Water Authority by clicking here.
Metropolitan Water District press release: Lawsuit challenging Metropolitan’s water rate structure moves ahead
Posted by: Maven on January 7, 2012 at 9:12 amFrom Metropolitan Water District, this press release:
“Continuing a hearing that began two days ago, the Superior Court for the County of San Francisco today considered the remaining motions in the San Diego County Water Authority’s lawsuit challenging Metropolitan Water District’s rate structure.
The court granted Imperial Irrigation District’s motion to obtain discovery relating to the validation action challenging the rates. The court declined to address the scope of the discovery that would be allowed at this time and recommended that the parties engage a discovery master.
“Unfortunately, engaging in discovery will be costly and time consuming,” said Metropolitan interim General Counsel Marcia Scully.
The court deferred a decision at this time on separating the initial rate challenge from the remaining causes of action in San Diego’s first amended complaint filed in October. The motion was denied without prejudice, meaning it can be refiled in the future. The court noted that it prefers to address bifurcation after the scope of the case is clarified by the discovery process.
On Wednesday, the court sustained without leave to amend Metropolitan’s demurrer to
the Water Authority’s breach of fiduciary duty cause of action. This ruling determined that Metropolitan does not have a fiduciary duty to San Diego in adopting rates or taking other board actions. A demurrer is a request for dismissal because the allegations are not sufficient to state a claim.The parties will return to court Feb. 17 at 10 a.m. to report on the progress made on the discovery process and other matters.
More information on the lawsuit is available on Metropolitan’s website, www.mwdh2o.com.
The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California is a cooperative of 26 cities and water agencies serving nearly 19 million people in six counties. The district imports water from the Colorado River and Northern California to supplement local supplies, and helps its members to develop increased water conservation, recycling, storage and other resource management programs.“
San Diego: Dam cams show dam construction work
Posted by: Maven on January 7, 2012 at 8:15 amFrom Government Technology:
“Watching the construction of San Diego’s San Vicente dam raise in its entirety would take roughly four years. But with the help of webcams, viewers can literally watch the dam grow in a matter of minutes through a time-lapse video of still shots.
The San Vicente dam — a main source of water for the San Diego region — is currently under construction to be raised an additional 117 feet high. There’s online access to a compilation of photos showing the time lapse of the progress of the dam raise, according the San Diego County Water Authority. … “
Continue reading from Government Technology by clicking here.
Thursday’s top of the scroll: Split decision in Metropolitan water rate case
Posted by: Maven on January 5, 2012 at 9:05 amFrom the San Diego Union-Tribune:
“Both San Diego County and Metropolitan Water District officials claimed elements of victory after a court hearing Wednesday in their high-stakes case over Southern California water rates.
Metropolitan said that an important element of the San Diego County Water Authority’s lawsuit related to an alleged breach of “fiduciary duty” was thrown out.
“This eliminates from the case SDCWA’s allegations that Metropolitan and its member agencies engaged in any improper procedures in adopting rates or taking other board actions,” Metropolitan’s interim General Counsel Marcia Scully said in a memo to the district’s board of directors.
But water authority lawyer Dan Purcell said the judge left open the possibility for his client to address those issues in other ways as it tries to prove Metropolitan illegally set its rates. “The case is entirely intact,” Purcell said. … “
Continue reading from the San Diego Union-Tribune by clicking here.
From the North County Times:
” … Hundreds of millions of ratepayer dollars are at stake in the case, which alleges that Metropolitan is illegally overcharging the San Diego County Water Authority..
Two claims by the Water Authority against Metropolitan were struck down in a hearing in San Francisco Superior Court. The claims were for breach of fiduciary duty and breach of good faith. Judge Richard A. Kramer allowed a claim for breach of contract to go ahead.
Another claim, challenging Metropolitan’s rate structure, was not addressed in the decision. The hearing is scheduled to continue this Friday at 2 p.m. … “
Continue reading from the North County Times by clicking here.
YouTube: Tour San Diego’s Advanced Water Purification Facility
Posted by: Maven on December 31, 2011 at 1:24 pmFrom the San Diego County Water Authority, posted on YouTube:
“The Advanced Water Purification Facility is the centerpiece of the City of San Diego’s Water Purification Demonstration Project. The facility is demonstrating the purification of 1 million gallons of water per day using membrane filtration, reverse osmosis and UV light/advanced oxidation. Tours of the facility are available to the public by registering at purewatersd.org/tours.shtml. Come see the latest in water purification technology up close!”
SEE ALSO: The Advanced Water Purification Process, also from the SDCWA, posted on YouTube
Otay water contracts tied to board chairman: General manager awards them, without bids, up to $50,000, a practice he calls standard
Posted by: Maven on December 30, 2011 at 7:23 amFrom the San Diego Union-Tribune:
“The general manager of the Otay Water District approved more than $200,000 in no-bid contracts this year to associates of the board’s chairman, Jaime Bonilla.
Three of the contracts involved a desalination plant planned in Baja California that Otay officials hope will be a key source of future water. One covered redistricting of the agency’s political boundaries and another was for public relations.
Otay allows General Manager Mark Watton to award contracts up to $50,000 without board approval, a set-up he said is standard across the industry. … “
Continue reading from the San Diego Union-Tribune by clicking here.
Poseidon desal project vote likely for June
Posted by: Maven on December 26, 2011 at 7:39 amFrom the North County Times:
“Poseidon Resources Corp. now expects its proposed desalination project to cost about $750 million and a completed contract to be ready for public review in April 2012, company executives said this week.
A vote by the San Diego County Water Authority on whether to sign a 30-year water purchase agreement with Poseidon could then occur by June, the executives said. The Water Authority, supplier of the great majority of drinking water for the county, has been studying the issue since the summer of 2010. It’s now negotiating terms of the contract with Stamford, Conn.-based Poseidon. … “
Continue reading from the North County Times by clicking here.
San Diego: Web-based camera system provides time lapse progress of San Vicente Dam raise
Posted by: Maven on December 23, 2011 at 6:05 amFrom the San Diego County Water Authority:
“The San Diego County Water Authority has a new web-based camera system at San Vicente Dam that allows the public to watch progress on the world’s largest roller-compacted concrete dam raise. Two cameras offer broad views of construction activities, enabling viewers on the website to see the dam rise up from its foundation, as concrete is placed layer upon layer to bring the new dam to its full height of 337 feet.
Weeks of dam raise work are compressed into brief time-lapse videos. The camera system also posts two new high-resolution photographs every 30 minutes. The updated photographs and time-lapse images are posted on the San Vicente Dam Raise web page at www.sdcwa.org/san-vicente-dam-raise.
“The value of this camera technology is that it helps the Water Authority document the historic record of this major construction project, while at the same time allowing members of the public to view its progress online,” said Water Authority Board Chair Michael T. Hogan. “This dam raise will help protect the region’s economy, job base and quality of life by increasing the amount of water available for use within the county.”
… “
Continue reading from the San Diego County Water Authority by clicking here.
San Diego: Fireworks subject of a fourth lawsuit
Posted by: Maven on December 20, 2011 at 6:30 amFrom the San Diego Union-Tribune:
“The Coastal Environmental Rights Foundation has lobbed another lawsuit against San Diego in the ongoing debate over regulatory oversight of fireworks — and it doesn’t appear that the disagreements will end any time soon.
The Encinitas-based group has dogged pyrotechnic displays in San Diego for the past two years in an attempt to force more environmental safeguards, particularly for displays over water at La Jolla Cove and Lake Murray. However, the legal effort has dragged in thousands of annual events because they fall under some of the same city permitting rules as fireworks shows. … “
Continue reading from the San Diego Union-Tribune by clicking here.
Court ruling provides surety for water supply, says the Desert Sun
Posted by: Maven on December 16, 2011 at 8:41 amFrom MyDesert.com (The Desert Sun), this editorial:
“Coachella and Imperial valley water officials are breathing sighs of relief after a higher court overturned a lower court’s ruling that blocked the largest water transfer in U.S. history.
A Sacramento Superior Court judge ruled in 2009 that the Quantification Settlement Agreement (QSA) that supposedly ended a decades-long debate over Colorado River water rights was unconstitutional because it was a blank check for the California Legislature to restore the Salton Sea.
The 3rd Appellate Court ruled last week that the QSA did not violate the California Constitution because drawing money from the treasury still requires an appropriation by the Legislature. … “
Continue reading this editorial by clicking here.
Water deal would benefit both San Diego and Imperial counties, says commentary
Posted by: Maven on December 16, 2011 at 8:39 amFrom the San Diego Union-Tribune, this commentary by Tibor Varga, a senior engineer for San Diego’s Public Utilities Department:
“Before 1907, Imperial and San Diego counties were one, but their water and economic situation could not be more different today. As San Diego is set to spend hundreds of millions of dollars each year for desalination and water reclamation, a smarter use of existing resources would pay dividends to both counties.
Imperial County, with 167,000 people, has rights to more water from the Colorado River than the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (MWD) and the State Water Project combined. San Diego County, with 3 million people, imports 80 to 90 percent of its water supply from MWD, but MWD has insufficient and junior water rights to water supplies compared to Imperial County. … “
Continue reading this commentary by clicking here.
Escondido council OKs 12 percent water rate hike
Posted by: Maven on December 15, 2011 at 7:51 amFrom the San Diego Union-Tribune:
“The city’s agricultural community got a reprieve Wednesday night as the Escondido City Council excluded agricultural customers in a unanimously approved 12 percent water rate increase.
The rate increase will take effect Feb. 1. Wastewater rates will not change. Single-family residential customers using 7,000 gallons of water a month, so-called Tier 1 users, will see their monthly bill increase an estimated $5.84.
The additional revenue not collected from agriculture users instead will be collected from other customer groups, except Tier 1, via a rate increases of up to 14 percent. … “
Continue reading from the San Diego Union-Tribune by clicking here.
California approves bond issue for Carlsbad desalination
Posted by: Maven on December 13, 2011 at 6:00 amFrom Desalination and Water Reuse:
“Poseidon Resources has submitted and had approved an application for US$ 780 million in tax-exempt bonds for the Carlsbad seawater desalination project.
The Private Activity Bonds (PABs) are issued on Poseidon’s behalf by the California Pollution Control Financing Authority (CPCFA) and were approved in October 2011. … “
Continue reading from Desalination and Water Reuse by clicking here.
San Diego: Water billing problems persist; City says help is on the way, with added staff and phone lines
Posted by: Maven on December 12, 2011 at 8:04 amFrom the San Diego Union-Tribune:
“San Diego’s Public Utilities Department is hiring a dozen temporary customer service representatives, adding dozens of phone lines, establishing 25 walk-in payment centers and installing a pay-by-phone with credit card option in hopes of providing relief to water customers frustrated with its new billing system. … “
Continue reading from the San Diego Union-Tribune by clicking here.
San Diego man at odds with Calistoga over water issues
Posted by: Maven on December 11, 2011 at 6:48 amFrom the Napa Valley Register:
“The legal battle has dragged on for three years and cost Calistoga taxpayers almost $1 million, maybe headed for $2 million next year.
It has caused bitter divisions in town, led City Council members to ponder retirement, forced layoffs and pay cuts at the already cash-starved City Hall. It has even led to an ongoing inquiry by the Napa County grand jury.
But for all the havoc wrought by the legal fight over how the city manages water at its Kimball Dam, the figure behind it, a San Diego man named Grant Reynolds, remains a mystery. … “
NC Times blog: Carlsbad desalination project cost keeps rising
Posted by: Maven on December 10, 2011 at 8:08 amFrom the North County Times blog, this post by reporter Bradley J. Fikes:
“How much will the Carlsbad desalination project by Poseidon Resources cost? It could be close to a billion dollars, a number that can be inferred by the company’s latest request to sell tax-exempt bonds through the state.
Poseidon has asked to sell up to $780 million of the bonds, which I point out in my accompanying story.
I came across the bond information in a very modern way, via Facebook. A post there linked to a Forbes article by water policy specialist Peter Gleick, a longtime foe of the Poseidon project. … “
Continue reading this blog post at the North County Times by clicking here.
Poseidon asks to sell up to $780M in tax-exempt state bonds
Posted by: Maven on December 9, 2011 at 8:34 amFrom the North County Times:
“Poseidon Resources, developer of a desalination plant in Carlsbad, is asking the state to approve a sale of up to $780 million in tax-free bonds to help finance its construction —- $250 million more than its original request two years ago.
Poseidon’s request received initial approval Oct. 25 by the California Pollution Control Financing Authority, spokesman Tom Dresslar said Thursday. However, final approval can’t be granted until Poseidon concludes a water purchase agreement with the San Diego County Water Authority.
“That water purchase agreement is vital to the viability of those bonds,” Dresslar said. … “
Continue reading from the North County Times by clicking here.
Press release: San Diego County’s water supply outlook brightens for 2012; Wet winter, continuing wise water use by residents, businesses help improve conditions
Posted by: Maven on December 9, 2011 at 5:57 amFrom the San Diego County Water Authority, this press release:
“The San Diego region’s water supply outlook for 2012 is much better than it was a year ago, but residents and businesses should still make efficient water use a part of daily life, the San Diego County Water Authority reported today.
The Water Authority Board of Directors received a report on water supply and demand conditions at its monthly meeting. Staff attributed the improved supply conditions to several factors. They included a very wet winter in 2010/2011 that led to substantial improvements in reservoir levels locally, statewide and on the Colorado River. In addition, regional water use has remained well below pre-drought levels in 2011, enabling water agencies to better manage available supplies.
“Mother Nature and continuing wise water use by our residents, businesses and agricultural customers has helped lead to our best water supply situation in several years,” said Water Authority Board Chair Michael T. Hogan. “I commend our water customers for continuing to use water wisely, even after shortage-related mandatory water use restrictions were lifted this spring. However, it will be important for all of us to continue to use water wisely as a part of everyday life. We are still at the end of a long water supply pipeline, and a return to dry conditions or ongoing regulatory challenges in the Bay-Delta can threaten our supplies again.” … “
Continue reading from the San Diego County Water Authority by clicking here.
Jamul residents concerned over pond plans; Homeowners say proposal to build new ponds will impact well water
Posted by: Maven on December 9, 2011 at 5:55 amFrom San Diego’s Channel 10:
“A plan to train hunting dogs to retrieve water has turned into a major worry for some homeowners in Jamul.
While building a couple of new ponds may sound harmless to many, some Jamul homeowners learned the project would take hundreds of thousands of gallons of well water to fill those ponds. The issue is raising concern over what would happen to residents’ groundwater. … “
Continue reading from Channel 10 by clicking here.
Carlsbad: Residential water rates to climb by 10 percent in 2012
Posted by: Maven on December 7, 2011 at 7:15 amFrom the North County Times:
“Saying they did so “reluctantly,” the leaders of the Carlsbad Municipal Water District agreed Tuesday to raise residential water rates by 10 percent in the coming year and another 10 percent in 2013.
An average residential water user now pays $50.40 a month, district officials said. With the rate increase, the bill will rise to $55.44 a month starting in January. A year later, it will be $61.02 a month.
About 85 percent of Carlsbad gets its water from the Carlsbad Municipal Water District. Parts of southern Carlsbad are served by Olivenhain Municipal Water District and Vallecitos Water District. … “
Continue reading from the North County Times by clicking here.
Balboa Island trying to outsmart a rising sea
Posted by: Maven on December 5, 2011 at 7:31 amFrom the Los Angeles Times:
“As people stroll Balboa Island’s picturesque waterfront, some wonder how much one of those cozy cottages costs. City officials think about another price tag: how much it will take to defend those homes against rising sea levels.
City engineers revealed last month that it could cost about $60 million to replace Balboa Island’s aging seawalls; otherwise, residents could risk more high tides washing into their streets and homes.
The island, 4 to 8 feet above sea level, represents only a small portion of coastal communities’ looming problems from climate change. Replacing all of Newport Beach’s seawalls could require nearly $500 million, engineers say, although some structures could be retrofitted, so the actual price would be less. … “
Continue reading from the Los Angeles Times by clicking here.
Will San Diego bay turtles flourish without power plant?
Posted by: Maven on December 5, 2011 at 7:29 amFrom the San Diego Union-Tribune:
“Shrouded by darkness, federal researcher Camryn Allen perched on the bow of a skiff in the shallows of San Diego Bay last week scouting for green sea turtles. She pulled up a net that was submerged near the shoreline hours before as part of a decades-old research program on the South Bay’s turtle population. No luck. Wet and muddy, she motored back toward the recently shuttered South Bay Power Plant where nearly a dozen colleagues settled in for a long night of waiting.
The hulking facility once sucked in huge volumes of bay water for cooling, then discharged the heated effluent into a narrow channel that biologists called “the Jacuzzi” or “the bedroom in the bay” because turtles regularly warmed themselves there.
The big question now is how the turtles, an endangered species, will respond in their first full winter without the discharge. … “
Continue reading from the San Diego Union-Tribune by clicking here.
San Diego: Tunnel cost increase was overstated
Posted by: Maven on December 3, 2011 at 7:18 amFrom the San Diego Union-Tribune:
“A story posted on Oct. 29 compared a series of cost figures for the San Diego County Water Authority’s San Vicente tunnel and pipeline system in a misleading way, making the increase in cost seem significantly larger than it was.
The water authority has accounted for the costs of the system a number of times. Several of those cost estimates were included in the story about the project.
The smallest number was $161 million. That was an early estimate of construction costs only. The first paragraph of the story was not precise in labeling that number as a construction-costs projection, although an accompanying breakout box was. … “
Continue reading from the San Diego Union-Tribune by clicking here.
San Diego: We want generators to prevent sewage spills
Posted by: Maven on December 2, 2011 at 7:16 amFrom the Voice of San Diego:
“When the Sept. 8 blackout hit San Diego, it left millions without power and sent millions of gallons of sewage into the ocean. Two key sewage facilities failed because they didn’t have backup generators.
Now the city wants to change that. It’s proposing to spend $10 million to $15 million on backup generators for five sewage facilities, including the two that caused the Sept. 8 spill.
The only problem? San Diego doesn’t have the money. … “
Continue reading from the Voice of San Diego by clicking here.
Otay still believes in Rosarito water project
Posted by: Maven on December 2, 2011 at 6:22 amFrom the San Diego Union-Tribune:
“The Otay Water District’s general manager said the water district is still committed to a proposed desalination plant in Mexico, even if the current partnership steering the project falls apart.
Mark Watton informed the board of directors of the continuing commitment at a special board meeting on Wednesday, less than a month after one of the partners in the proposed plant announced plans to pull out.
“I said to the board that I have a firm belief in the project,” Watton said, “that the project developer (NSC Agua) has made some substantial progress over that last couple years on the project. The deal project is very important to the regional water supply, enough so that in some fashion NSC Agua or a successor entity will move the project forward.” … “
Continue reading from the Voice of San Diego by clicking here.
Otay Water District directors meet, talk in secret
Posted by: Maven on December 2, 2011 at 6:21 amFrom the Voice of San Diego:
“Good luck if you wanted to attend the Otay Water District committee meeting in late March 2010. Two directors were talking about legal issues.
The district was facing lawsuits from Chula Vista business owners who’d been drinking treated sewage for months. The water district hadn’t noticed the wrong pipe was connected to the business park’s taps.
But to know a meeting was happening that day, you would’ve needed a tip that the public agency was holding one. No announcement was made. … “
Continue reading from the Voice of San Diego by clicking here.
San Diego storm water plans face new hurdle
Posted by: Maven on November 30, 2011 at 6:06 amFrom the San Diego Union-Tribune:
“San Diego’s freshly minted storm water system maintenance plans have been appealed to the California Coastal Commission, where staff have found what they describe as substantial issues with the city’s centerpiece strategy for keeping channels clear.
The commission’s governing panel will take up the issue on Dec. 7 during a meeting in San Francisco.
In October, the San Diego City Council unanimously approved a citywide “master maintenance” plan for channel clearing after years of drafting and debate. It’s designed to minimize flooding in low-lying areas along Chollas Creek, Los Penasquitos Creek and several other waterways. At about the same time, the council signed off on a separate strategy for removing sediment from the heavily polluted Tijuana River Valley. … “
Continue reading from the San Diego Union-Tribune by clicking here.
Escondido water rates could rise
Posted by: Maven on November 26, 2011 at 5:50 amFrom the San Diego Union-Tribune:
“The Escondido City Council will consider a proposed 12 percent water rate increase next month.
The public hearing will take place during the City Council meeting at 4:30 p.m. Dec. 14.
Single-family residential customers using 7,000 gallons of water a month would see their monthly bill increase an estimated $5.84. … “
Continue reading from the San Diego Union-Tribune by clicking here.
Governor Brown appoints three to San Diego Regional Water Quality Control Board, bringing the number of members to six out of a possible nine
Posted by: Maven on November 24, 2011 at 6:55 amFrom the San Diego Union-Tribune:
“Gov. Jerry Brown announced Wednesday the reappointment of Eric Anderson to the San Diego Regional Water Quality Control Board.
Anderson, 54 of Escondido, is the panel’s most senior member dating back to 2002. The farmer and vice president of La Costa Flower Shop and Nursery has also served on the board of the San Diego County Farm Bureau for the last 20 years. … “
Continue reading from the San Diego Union-Tribune by clicking here.
San Diego County Water Authority now placing concrete to raise main San Vicente Dam; Tallest dam raise in United States will more than double reservoir’s capacity
Posted by: Maven on November 23, 2011 at 6:00 amFrom the San Diego County Water Authority:
“Major construction on the San Diego County Water Authority’s San Vicente Dam Raise project has reached its biggest phase. Concrete placement to raise the main dam at the San Vicente Reservoir by 117 feet is now under way.
Upon completion, the raised dam will create room for an additional 52,100 acre-feet of water for potential emergency use, and an additional 100,000 acre-feet of capacity to store water during wet years, for use in subsequent dry years. (An acre-foot is about 326,000 gallons, or enough to supply two average single-family households of four people for a year.)
“We’ve entered the phase of construction where the new, bigger dam will really take shape,” said Water Authority Board Chair Michael T. Hogan. “This vital regional water infrastructure project will help enhance the reliability of San Diego County’s water supply for generations to come.” … “
Continue reading from the San Diego County Water Authority by clicking here.
Tuesday’s top of the scroll: Appellate court in Sacramento hears QSA debate; State judge may lean toward San Diego water transfer
Posted by: Maven on November 22, 2011 at 8:07 amFrom the Imperial Valley Press:
“For nearly two hours, lawyers from both sides of the nation’s largest agriculture-to-urban water transfer gave their case before a group of judges, a crowd of Imperial Valley residents, and other interested parties.
Now all there is to do is wait to see how the three third district appellate court judges decide about the fate of selling the Imperial Valley’s water.
The Quantification Settlement Agreement, a set of agreements that send a portion of the 4.1 million acre-feet of Imperial Irrigation District entitlement water to urban areas like Los Angeles and San Diego, was heard before the Sacramento-based state appellate court Monday with a decision pending in the next few months. … “
Continue reading from the Imperial Valley Press by clicking here.
From the San Diego Union Tribune:
“Judging from his sharp line of questioning Monday, a state appeals court justice appeared reluctant to toss out a landmark agreement that cleared the way for a vast new supply of Imperial Valley water to flow to the San Diego region.
Justice Ronald Robie, who served as director of the Department of Water Resources during Jerry Brown’s first turn as governor, was the only one of the three-judge panel of the 3rd Appellate District to banter with attorneys in the nearly two-hour hearing challenging the transfer and broader pact to share the Colorado River. … “
Continue reading from the San Diego Union-Tribune by clicking here.
MORE COVERAGE: Judge voices support for big California water pact, from the AP via the Capital Press
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 | |||
Click here for full-sized calendar
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