Second day of Mokelumne River raft trips a big success!
Thanks to the generous donation of OARS and 72 rafters, our second day of fundraising trips on the Mokelumne River was a big success. Rafters from age 8 to 80 floated the beautiful Electra-Middle Bar run in thee trips on Sunday, July 19. We hope to be able to run similar trips next year. Meanwhile, if you think adding commercial river rafting to the Electra-Middle Bar run is a good idea, please send an e-mail to info@oars.com. And be sure to thank them for donating two full days of raft trips to us to help with our Mokelumne River conservation efforts!
Pardee Expansion
Growth at any cost
One Bay Area writer's perspective on EBMUD's plan to expand Pardee Reservoir. BeyondChron, July 20, http://www.beyondchron.org/news/index.php?itemid=7150
EBMUD to discuss its water plan
Considering the strong opposition to the Pardee expansion, the EBMUD board will hold a workshop August 11 to discuss water plan alternatives. East Bay Express, July 22, http://www.eastbayexpress.com/news/ebmud_to_re_evaluate_dam_proposal/Con...
Water
Bay Area plumbing a patchwork (relates to EBMUD's Pardee expansion)
East Bay water agencies aren't very connected. But they could be -- East Bay MUD could help Contra Costa Water District raise Los Vaqueros Reservoir in the East Bay instead of expanding Pardee Reservoir on the Mokelumne. SF Chronicle, July 19, http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/07/19/MN0S17MKN8.DTL
Innovative water programs could be replicated elsewhere
Inland Empire water agency gets 70 percent of its water locally. Other water agencies could do it, too. Los Angeles Times, July 20, http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-water-local20-2009jul20,0,103252...
Downstream effects
While this editorial is about the Delta, it's good to remember that any chemicals you used around the home end up somewhere ... Sacramento Bee, July 22, http://www.sacbee.com/editorials/story/2035750.html
Growth and Development
Trinitas opponents upset by hearing delay
Illegal activity continues on golf course built on Williamson Act land. Calaveras Enterprise, July 17, http://www.calaverasenterprise.com/articles/2009/07/17/news/news01_plann...
Court upholds Calaveras County road fee
Developers had challenged the legality of Calaveras County's road impact fee. Union Democrat, July 17, http://www.uniondemocrat.com/2009071797287/News/Local-News/Judge-upholds...
Climate Change and Sustainability
Climate change could affect agriculture
Winter chilling hours in the Central Valley already in decline, per UC Davis study. Los Angeles Times, July 22, http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-climate-farms22-2009jul22,0,7564...
Public Lands
State parks system may dodge a bullet
The state's conservation and resource agencies -- which generally don't have dedicated funding sources -- depend on bonds or the general fund and are especially vulnerable to cuts. Given that, the state parks system may have dodged a bullet. The agreement calls for a $70-million cut, about half the agency's annual budget. But legislators were able to find $62 million to backfill for this year only, leaving the parks with an $8-million shortfall.
That is expected to force the closure of some parks, but is a far better scenario than the governor's proposal to close 220 parks, or 80% of the nation's largest state park system.
Roy Stearns, a spokesman for the parks agency, said officials were still examining the options, but Traci Verardo-Torres, vice president of government affairs for the California State Parks Foundation, said there is no question that some parks will be closed. The organization estimates as many as 30 parks will be shuttered.
Left unresolved is where state parks funding will come from next year. "The governor's offer was to totally cut the state parks from the general fund over two years. The legislation has agreed with him on the first step, for this year at least," she said. "Where do we go next year?"
Economic Development
Vintners seek local content for locally sold wine
Winemakers want to ensure that wine sold in local tasting rooms includes at least 50 percent local grapes. Amador Ledger Dispatch, July 16, http://www.ledger-dispatch.com/news/newsview.asp?c=258980
El Dorado growers adapting
Flexibility and diversity help growers survive. Sacramento Bee, July 21, http://www.sacbee.com/ourregion/story/2042040.html
Odds and Ends
Conserving California
Website featuring information on public investment in land, water and parks. http://www.conservingcalifornia.org/
Cities and counties to sue over state budget
Proposed budget would divert $4 billion from local government. SF Chronicle, July 22, http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2009/07/22/MNC518SN2...
Budget has mixed results for state parks
from a longer story in the Los Angeles Times, July 22: http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-impact22-2009jul22,0,2501792.sto...
The Shuttle and the International Space Station are linked and will be visible as they pass over our area Saturday night.
It should be quite a show. Between the crew of 6 on the ISS and the crew of 7 on the Shuttle, there are 13 people onboard! At 9:06 PM look for them coming out of the NorthWest and heading towards the SouthEast. They should be visible for 4 minutes.
For information on other visible passes go to: http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/realdata/sightings/cities/view.cgi?country=U...
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