From The Sacramento Bee, in a commentary by Linda S. Adams and Karen L. Hathaway:
As early as next month, the State Water Resources Control Board could take up the Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board’s recommendation for the maximum level of copper particulates allowed in Marina del Rey, one of the largest man-made harbors in the world.
From the Santa Rosa Press Democrat, in a commentary by former U.S. Rep. Lynn Woolsey:
On a warm evening in 1988 at the Democratic National Convention in Atlanta, I sat with a group of women delegates from the North Coast listening to Rachel Binah — our coastal protection political and spiritual leader — who was rallying us to oppose offshore oil and support then-Rep. Barbara Boxer.
In the North Bay, protecting family farms is a popular cause. So is maintaining natural habitat and open space. The battle over Drakes Bay Oyster Co. is a product of a clash between those values.
It looks as if the last oyster may finally be shucked at the Drakes Bay Oyster Co. by the end of December, judging by what both sides in the long legal fight over the future of the farm said in federal court Monday. Then again, maybe not.
Student teams controlling underwater robots from the United States, Canada and Russia were the winners Saturday in a global competition at the only federal freshwater marine sanctuary in the United States.
From the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) Switchboard Staff Blog, in a post by Alisa Valderrama:
Stormwater runoff is a primary source of water pollution nationwide—be it a local river, lake, or ocean beach, so I knew cities in California would have their share of stormwater management challenges. What surprised me is just how far many of California’s cities are from meeting their water quality goals.
San Francisco’s Ocean Beach may be one long stretch of sand, but no fewer than six government bureaucracies are tasked with keeping it and the neighboring Great Highway from washing away as winter storms and rising seas batter them.
President Obama announced a series of measures Tuesday to protect parts of the world’s oceans, including the creation of a marine sanctuary that would close a large swath of the central Pacific to fishing and energy development.
“The crews are building what boosters say represents California’s best hope for a drought-proof water supply: the largest ocean desalination plant in the Western Hemisphere. The $1 billion project will provide 50 million gallons of drinking water a day for San Diego County when it opens in 2016.”
“U.S. Department of the Interior attorneys have filed a brief opposing the Drakes Bay Oyster Co. fight to stay open by appealing to the nation’s high court.”
“Seven out of 10 of the state’s most polluted beaches are in Northern California, according to environmental group Heal the Bay’s annual Beach Report Card, released Thursday.”
“In Congress, seniority still matters. Although lawmakers can no longer earmark funds for home-state projects, Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) has written into a massive water bill a measure that promises to bring more money to the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach.”
“Lack of oxygen caused the death of tens of thousands of fish that likely sought shelter in a Southern California harbor, state officials said Tuesday.”
“In addition to improving conditions for fish and visitors, recently completed restoration work at Muir Beach has another benefit — improved water quality.”
