Santa Rosa Plain Groundwater Basin Planning Workshop November 17 About the Workshop The Sierra Club, Sonoma County Water Coalition and League of Women Voters are sponsoring a workshop to inform interested parties about groundwater planning currently under consideration. Workshop Date and Location The workshop will be held on November 17, 2010, from 6:30-9:00 p.m. located […]
Read MoreCategory: Waste Discharge Pollution
Urban Water Management Plan Session for Santa Rosa–Nov. 8
At 2:30 there will be a study session addressing the preparation of the Urban Water Management Plan, a state-required document that includes demand projections. How much water will Santa Rosa officially request for future growth? This will take place in the SR City Council Chambers on Tues. Nov. 9th. Brenda
Read MoreChemicals Survive Waste Treatment to be Released into Environment: Study
Bob Weber, The Canadian Press October 14, 2010 Chemicals in household drugs and cleaning products routinely survive waste treatment and are released into the environment, where little is known about their effects on land, water and human health, according to a government-funded study. “What are really needed are risk assessments,” said Hugh Monteith, a research […]
Read MoreGravel Mining Action in Russian River
Hello River Friends, Tomorrow, Tuesday, October 26th, Syar Industries’ proposal to mine a massive 350,000 ton per year 15-year instream mining project for Alexander Valley near Geyserville that would extract 5.25 MILLION tons of gravel from the Russian River. The EIR is being rushed through the review process so that outgoing Supervisors Kelley and Kerns […]
Read MoreFish on Drugs
The Mellowing of Minnows and Other Consequences of Antidepressants in the Water By Melissa Knopper Minnows don’t swim away from predators after they’re exposed to antidepressants. © Photos: U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Back in the 1990s, Theo Colborn, then-senior scientist with the World Wildlife Fund, sounded the first alarms about endocrine disrupters. In the […]
Read MoreKLAMATH RIVER WATER QUALITY STANDARDS APPROVED
The RB is already working on it – and a Dairy WDR and Waiver too. Hi all,I have heard it said for many years by a number of folks, including staff with the NCRWQCB, that after the Klamath TMDL is done, the Russian TMDL is next. Anyone have the latest heads up on this reality […]
Read MoreKLAMATH RIVER WATER QUALITY STANDARDS APPROVED
NEW AND STRONGER KLAMATH RIVER WATER QUALITY STANDARDS APPROVED BY CALIFORNIA On 7 September, after much debate, the California Water Resources Board formally approved new water quality standards (called ³TMDLs,² or ³total maximum daily loads² in Clean Water Act parlance) for the mainstem of the Klamath River. This decision gives final California agency approval to […]
Read MoreCanyon Rock Quarry and Forestville Citizens Settlement
Settlement of dispute between Canyon Rock Quarry and Forestville Citizens for Sensible Growth I am pleased to let you know that the dispute between Forestville Citizens for Sensible Growth and Canyon Rock Quarry has been settled. Under the terms of the settlement agreement, Canyon Rock has agreed to the following: Operations Eliminate back-up whistles to […]
Read MoreManufacturing Facilities Release Pharmaceuticals to the Environment
This scientific paper is published in Environmental Science and Technology. The paper, an accompanying USGS data report, and related information are available online at toxics.usgs.gov/highlights/PMFs.html. Pharmaceutical manufacturing facilities can be a significant source of pharmaceuticals to surface waters, according to a new study by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) conducted in cooperation with the State […]
Read MoreRussian River Riverfest this Saturday, Sept. 25th
The Riverfest is right around the corner and we hope to see many of you there. We’ll gather on the banks of the River at Burke’s Canoe Trips on Saturday, September 25th from 4:30-7:30 p.m. for our annual fun fest. Come enjoy a great gourmet dinner, organic wine & beer tasting & local musicians as […]
Read MoreSonoma County Board of Supervisors Meeting
Tuesday at the BOS: SPECIAL DISTRICTS REGULAR CALENDARSONOMA COUNTY WATER AGENCY23. Water Supply Strategies Action Plana. Consider staff presentation and public input on the draft Water Supply Strategies Action Planb. Approve the Water Supply Strategies and direct the General Manager to complete the Water Supply Strategies Action Plan, incorporating any changes requested by the Board. Also […]
Read MoreGravel Mining Action in Russian River
Hello River Friends, Syar Industries has proposed a massive 350,000 ton per year 15-year instream mining project for Alexander Valley near Geyserville that would extract 5.25 MILLION tons of gravel from the Russian River. The EIR is being rushed through the review process so that outgoing Supervisors Kelley and Kerns can vote on it. It […]
Read MoreSlow it. Spread it. Sink it! Guidebook
Slow it. Spread it. Sink it! A Homeowner’s and Landowner’s Guide to Beneficial Stormwater Management This exciting new guidebook will help landowners and homeowners make the most of the many potential benefits of innovative stormwater management. Once thought of as a nuisance, stormwater is now universally recognized as one our most important natural resources and […]
Read MorePlants take up Drugs, Antibacterials from Biosolids Used as Fertilizers
Uptake of pharmaceuticals and personal care products by soybean plants from soils applied with biosolids and irrigated with contaminated water Wu, C, AL Sponberg, JD Witter, M Fang and KP Czajkowski. Synopsis by Heather Stapleton and Wendy Hessler. Environmental Science and Technology, Aug 30, 2010 New research shows that the drugs and contaminants that often contaminant […]
Read MoreThe Hot Poop on Fertilizer from Sewage
Lloyd Alter, Toronto June 14, 2008 In Ontario, Canada, they get a lot of sewage sludge out of the treatment plants; 120,000 tonnes are spread on 37,000 acres of agricultural land. Some farmers love it because it is free, while other fertilizers are getting very expensive; others refuse to touch the stuff. The Star is […]
Read MoreOil, Mining and Gas (OMG) Water Pollution
Clean Water Network’s next regional caucus, “Oil, Mining and Gas (OMG) Water Pollution in the Lower Mississippi River Basin,” is right around the corner! This caucus is scheduled for September 15-16, 2010, and will take place in Little Rock, Arkansas, at the Holiday Inn Presidential, 600 Interstate 30, Little Rock, AR 72202 This interactive event […]
Read MoreTell Senate EPW to Support Safe Treatment of Polluted Stormwater Runoff!
Tell Senate EPW to Support Safe Treatment of Polluted Stormwater Runoff! Senator Cardin has just introduced the Safe Treatment of Polluted Stormwater Runoff (STOPS Runoff) bill, S.3602. This bill creates a standard to control stormwater pollution for all federally funded highway projects (see fact sheet from Senator Cardin’s office). The standard that would apply to […]
Read MoreMeds wind up in tap water despite drug disposal regulations
Christina Jewett, California Watch July, 2010 The federal government has a patchwork of laws attempting to deal with the problem of pharmaceutical drugs showing up in city tap water across the nation. Senator Herb Kohl, D-Wis., highlighted the issue during a congressional hearing in Washington, D.C. “We need to provide Americans with better information about […]
Read MoreMeds wind up in tap water despite drug disposal regulations
California Watch—7/1/10 By Christina Jewett The federal government has a patchwork of laws attempting to deal with the problem of pharmaceutical drugs showing up in city tap water across the nation. Sen. Herb Kohl, D-Wis., highlighted the issue during a congressional hearing in Washington, D.C., yesterday. “We need to provide Americans with better information about […]
Read MoreBreast Cancer Cells Regulate Multiple Genes in Response to Estrogen-Like Compounds
ScienceDaily (July 20, 2010) — Cancer researchers have discovered a previously unknown type of gene regulation and DNA behavior in breast cancer cells that may lead to better insight about environmental exposure to estrogen-like compounds. A new study, published in the journal Genome Research by researchers at The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center-Arthur G. […]
Read MoreTell Your Senators to Support Green Infrastructure!
Tell Your Senators to Support Green Infrastructure! Last week Senators Udall (D-NM) and Whitehouse (D-RI) introduced the Green Infrastructure for Clean Water Act of 2010 (S. 3561) the Senate companion to H.R. 4202 introduced by Representative Edwards (D-MD) last year. These companion bills would provide critical support for green infrastructure strategies, improving our ability to […]
Read MoreWater quality and dairies. Hearing July 20
Water quality and dairies. Hearing July 20. http://www.swrcb.ca.gov/northcoast/water_issues/programs/dairies/ Stephen
Read MoreBest Family Winery Hearing June 8, 2:10 pm
There is a public file at Sonoma County Permit and Resource Management Department (PRMD) 2550 Ventura Ave. Santa Rosa- in the county complex buildings. All of the reports, letters, etc. are there. A report by Dr. Bob Curry, hydrologist, was submitted. There is also a very interesting letter from the California Regional Water Control Board, […]
Read MoreTips for protecting our drinking water
To All, Here is important information for protecting our water sources into the future. –Larry Tips for protecting our drinking water Sacramento Bee-3/22/10 By Andy Mead Whether your drinking water comes from a spring, a well, a river or a lake, protecting ground water is essential to protecting all water resources. Wells draw upon water […]
Read MoreClean Water Network Support Letter for Green Infrastructure–H.R. 4202
Clean Water Network Support Letter for Green Infrastructure–H.R. 4202 March 26th, 2010 Brought to you by Clean Water Network,the largest national coalition in the country working to protect ALL of the waters of the U.S., including the nation’s Great Waters, rivers, streams, lakes, bays, estuaries, coastal areas and wetlands. Today, the Clean Water Network submitted […]
Read MoreDiscussion: “Drugs in Wastewater” Article
Clean Water Friends: This is a wonderful first step and one that has been requested for at least 15 years now. Unfortunately, they don’t include study of estrogens and other hormones, which may be the most critically important substances to study. That will happen down the road, but at least we are now on the […]
Read MoreForestlands Draft Waiver of WDRs
At the Public Workshop on March 25, 2010, we will discuss a draft order that would waive waste discharge requirements for nonpoint source discharges related to certain Federal land management activities on United States Department of Agriculture, Forest Service (USFS) lands in the North Coast Region contained an incorrect link to the draft Order and attachments. […]
Read MoreToxic Waters: Rulings Restrict Clean Water Act, Foiling E.P.A.
CHARLES DUHIGG and JANET ROBERTS February 28, 2010 Thousands of the nation’s largest water polluters are outside the Clean Water Act’s reach because the Supreme Court has left uncertain which waterways are protected by that law, according to interviews with regulators. As a result, some businesses are declaring that the law no longer applies to […]
Read MoreContaminants of Emerging Concern
The Board of Public Utilities (BPU) has requested Utilities staff to present an annual update to the Board on contaminants of emerging concern – a topic that has become an area of focus in the water/wastewater industry. Presentations were made to the BPU in April 2007 and July 2008, and a third presentation is scheduled […]
Read MoreTake Action on Wastes
To All, The problem of “waste” in the U.S. is both a local and a federal issue, with the Environmental Protection Agency providing the scientific veneer, among others, for the nation’s profit-at-any-cost, multibillion dollar sewage sludge, garbage, and chemical fertilizer industries. Several decades ago, after public pressure forced corporations and municipalities to stop dumping toxic […]
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