The week that was, 10/25-31/2009

Posted on | November 1, 2009 | 1 Comment

Freelan_SalishSea_125-1

Salish Sea map by Stefan Freelan. Click on the image for the cartographer's notes.

“What’s in a name?” — Bert Webber, Bellingham, Washington biologist, “State board adds Salish Sea to region’s watery lexicon,” Seattle Times, October 30, 2009

“This bay is a nursery.” — Larry Collins, president of the Crab Boat Owners Association of San Francisco, “Fuel spill taxes an already fragile bay,” San Francisco Chronicle, October 31, 2009
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The union was in line for a 3.25% pay hike this year but will take the money as a cash payment so that it will not add to the utility’s pension burden … — Los Angeles Times on Brian D’Arcy, business manager for the electrical workers’ union, “Department of Water and Power workers get pay hikes, but not police,” October 31, 2009
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Someone is stealing our water. Many someones. But who and how much? No one knows today, mostly because the agency responsible for keeping an eye on water rights and use–the State Water Resources Control Board–is blind, deaf, and dumb. — Peter Gleick, San Francisco Chronicle, October 30, 2009

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The most mind-boggling is their insistence on softening penalties for agricultural water users who illegally divert water. — “Lawmakers on wrong track for water deal,” San Jose Mercury News, October 29, 2009. Via Aquafornia.
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Judge Norman Robison ruled that State Engineer Tracy Taylor “abused his discretion” and “acted arbitrarily, capriciously and oppressively” when he cleared the [Southern Nevada Water] authority to pump more than 6 billion gallons of groundwater a year from Cave, Delamar and Dry Lake valleys. –– “Pipeline plans: Judge kills water ruling,” Las Vegas Review-Journal, October 28, 2009
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“We are not used to big natural disasters, but this is one of them.” — Julia Parrish, associate director of Aquatic and Fisheries Sciences at the University of Washington, “Algae bloom killing seabirds mystifies researchers,” Seattle Times, October 30, 2009
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“I’ve never seen it this bad.” — California legislature Senator Lois Wolk (D-Tracy), on the secrecy of the closed-door water bill negotiations in Sacramento, “Scary bill has water grab aura,” Tracy Press, October 31, 2009. Via Aquafornia

“This land belongs to us but now it is dry.” — Mohammed Nawaja, “Thirst fuels conflict in West Bank,” Financial Times, October 29, 2009

Three Gorges Dam, China. Image: Earth Observatory. Click on the Yangtze River to be taken to a NASA history of the image and dam.

Three Gorges Dam, China. Image: Earth Observatory. Click on the Yangtze River to be taken to a NASA history of the image and dam.

Fan said the dam company was driven by profit, had ignored the plight of people living downstream and had never addressed the many environmental and geological woes its construction had triggered. — Environmentalist Fan Xiao, “Three Gorges Dam is ‘making drought worse’ ,” South China Morning Post, October 29, 2009

“We won. We actually won.” — Ben Taylor, Citizens for a Clean Tangipahoa, “Tangipahoa runs clear,” The Advocate, Baton Rouge, October 25, 2009

“You polish up the water by sending it through the wetland so when it’s discharged it’s super-clean.” — San Benito, Texas Assistant City Manager Chuck Jalomo, “Sewer ponds become nature wetlands,” Valley Morning Star, Harlingen, Texas, October 31, 2009

In September, 5 Seasons Brewing began making all of its beer with water collected from the roof of its own facility. — Joe Sixpack: “Brewers go with the flow on conservation,” Philadelphia Daily News, October 30, 2009

There’s good news and bad news … The bad news first: the civic body has proposed to curtail the time for water supply by 30% in order to conserve lake levels till next monsoon … And now for the good news: all residents will get to meet civic officials and discuss water problems in their areas. — “You may now get water for fewer hours,” The Times of India, October 29, 2009. Via ProQuest.

Water is to be cut off in Caracas for up to 48 hours a week from Monday, possibly lasting until next May or June. — “Chavez fails to deliver power to the people,” Financial Times, October 30, 2009

“This is an organization that is more interested in getting even than in getting water.” — Former Fresno Mayor Alan Autry on his resignation from ‘Families Protecting the Valley,’ Fresno Bee, October 27, 2009

“Is it math or is it voodoo?” — Tim Buchanan, an attorney objecting to modeled estimations of what sources of groundwater could be used to replace injuries to senior surface users, San Luis Valley, Colorado, Pueblo Chieftan, October 31, 2009

Nearly 90 percent of New York’s beverage containers are now covered … — “New bottle bill takes effect,” Buffalo News, October 31, 2009

If California’s water leaders followed Robert Glennon’s advice, the state would find a replacement for flush toilets, get off the ethanol fuel bandwagon and find a way for people to realize that water is not as plentiful as air. — Chico Enterprise Record, October 28, 2009. Via Aquafornia.

San Francisco County residents used 48.5 gallons a day, Sacramento County residents used 101 gallons a day, and Los Angeles County residents used 111 gallons a day. The average resident of Kern County used 173 gallons of water a day. — “Kern County just can’t shut off the tap,” The Bakersfield Californian, October 31, 2009


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Comments

One Response to “The week that was, 10/25-31/2009”

  1. Gayle
    November 1st, 2009 @ 11:15 pm

    “Is it math or is it voodoo?” It’s both!

    Nice roundup, proving yet again that a sharp discerning eye still trumps any RSS or news feed.

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