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.”
