About Cambria

At the November 2009 Cambria Community Services District Meeting, two speakers raised concern that San Simeon is in talks with the CCSD about buying some of the desalinated water from Cambria’s plant – once it is producing water.

In November 2006, 78% of Cambrians approved Measure P-06. Below is the exact language from the League of Women Voters site:

Shall the ordinance requiring a majority vote of the electorate of the Cambria Community Services District to provide potable water service outside the 2006 District boundaries be adopted? The Board of Directors shall not authorize the extension of water service except non potable water for agricultural and irrigation purposes for outside of the District boundaries, as the boundaries exist at the enactment of this ordinance, for residential, industrial, or commercial purposes without first completing environmental review under the California Environmental Quality Act or its successor statute, amending the Water Master Plan, and then submitting the question for approval to the voters of the District. The property owner seeking water service will pay the costs of the application and election in advance.

A few thoughts occur as I’ve thought about how possessive some people seem to be about “our” water.

1. It is premature to be concerned about this at this point. It hasn’t even been shown that desalination is even feasible here.
2. Second, Measure P-06 does not forbid selling water outside the boundaries of the CCSD, just providing water service (except non potable…)
3. As a federally-funded project with the Army Corps of Engineers as the lead agency, the project funding could hinge on whether or not we will sell water to San Simeon, a water-short community less than 7 miles from a major federal project.
4. San Simeon may decide it is worth the money and effort to apply for water service and fund the election required.
5. CCSD wouldn’t be giving the water away for free. They would be selling it. If CCSD charges the amount it costs to create the potable water, it will not cost Cambrians anything.
6. By getting the San Simeon Community Services District in talks this early, we are more likely to be able to strike a deal that includes having San Simeon paying a share of the construction costs, which reduces the burden on Cambrians (and could increase the likelihood that we will get all the funding we need from the Federal Government.)

I favor better management of our current resources, rather than impressive capital expenditures, ongoing operations costs and the  environmental effects of a desal plant. But the CCSD Board is on the desalination path (for the time being).  If we are going to create a project with the environmental effects of a desalination plant, it seems to me that cooperating with San Simeon to help ease their water shortage, while reducing some of the potential costs to Cambrians is a sensible direction to follow.

Quite a few things have to happen before we should need to get all worked up about San Simeon getting “our” water, starting with determining whether we can even have desal.  And then San Simeon will have to decide whether it would be worth it for them to pursue. If the past is any indication, getting a deal in place between the two agencies will be next to impossible anyway.

The bottom line: “Worrying is like a rocking chair, it gives you something to do, but it doesn’t get you anywhere” – Unknown

Marin Municipal Water District (MMWD) is pursuing desalination as a supplemental supply for their customers. As in Cambria, there is vigorous debate over whether that is an appropriate solution for Marin.  In August,  James Fryer, Environmental Scientist and author of Sustaining Our Water Future wrote a paper entitled Water Supply Reliability and Catastrophic Planning Considerations that Cambrians may find interesting and familiar.

Fryer writes

There is a clear lack of consensus on the need to move forward with further effort and investment in developing a desalination facility. Continued investment in desalination with the present lack of consensus  will result in further conflict with a large portion of ratepayers which will create a diversion from focusing resources on viable water supply reliability and infrastructure improvements that have widespread consensus.

Fryer suggests the MMWD Board and a specially formed Citizen’s Advisory Council  work on resolving some specific policy issues:

What is the future water supply deficit and what future growth projections are reasonable for MMWD and NMWD?

Should carbon footprint reduction be used to offset large new energy uses or the existing footprint?

Is the $1,631/af marginal cost use in the MMWD conservation master plan a valid comparison point for conservation planning compared to the $2,900 to $4,400 marginal cost of desalination?

What is the definition of conservation first? Does this really mean simultaneous with desalination?

What is basis of a potential decision to move forward with desalination despite compelling evidence it is not needed?

These issues have significant bearing on water supply reliability planning and each should be specifically addressed before moving forward with a decision on desalination….

But an important question remains, what if Marin experiences a 3+ year severe drought event that far exceeds any drought event on record or detected in the 400 year tree ring analysis of local weather conditions? Is this a potential catastrophic event the MMWD Board should be considering and is it justified to approve a major capital investment of hundreds of millions of dollars for a desalination facility only needed for this type of unprecedented event?

The rest of the paper looks at planning for several different catastrophic events, including  comparison of a full range of relevant possibilities. This would enable the MMWD Board to allocate limited financial resources to preparing for the most likely events, instead of laying out huge sums chasing solutions for events extremely unlikely or completely unprecedented.

In Fryer’s words:

“First, it is important to briefly define and examine each type of catastrophic event. Then the individual events should be ranked for each category of risk and impact. Finally, the four types of catastrophic events should be ranked against each other.”

Read the full paper by downloading it here.

Let’s remember we are not alone in the world. We can learn from other communities – and should.

The agenda for next Monday’s Cambria CSD Board meeting is now available online. Below  are highlights of the  agenda. The main item looks to be the Fiscalini Ranch Preserve EIR. The closed session agenda includes the performance evaluation of the general manager (plus 3 legal matters). Download the full agenda packet from the CCSD’s website.  More to come….

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS/PRESENTATIONS
Receive Presentation by CAL FIRE (California Department of Forestry & Fire
Protection) on Emergency Medical Services and Fire Protection Services

REGULAR BUSINESS
A. Consider Adoption of Resolution 50-2009 Approving Certification of Fiscalini Ranch Preserve Master Environmental Impact Report (EIR);
Consider Adoption of Resolution 54-2009 Approving the Revised Community Park Plan; Authorize General Manager to Sign and File Notice
of Determination; and Consider Adoption of Resolution 56-2009 Approving a Contract Change Order for Morro Group SWCA
B. Consider Adoption of 2010 CCSD Regular Board Meeting Schedule

On November 12,2007, this site was created. The original intention of AboutCambria.com was to provide a way for people to share information about water and sewer rates among the forty or fifty folks who had come together to protest the rate increase of the fall 2007. That first post was titled “Why Did You Protest The Rate Increase?”
The look and direction of the site has changed somewhat over the last couple of years. The focus has broadened to include more than just water and sewer rates and the activities of the CCSD. There is still much more to include here and I hope that Cambrians are able to get the information they want and stay informed about the decisions their community leaders are making on their behalf.
I encourage you to take a stroll through the last two years. At the very bottom of every page are links to each month of the last two years. Simply click the month and all the posts from that month will be listed as links. Find something fun? Leave a comment and I’ll re-post it for all to read.
The last two or three moths here have been rather quiet, mostly because I was very involved in organizing the recent Day of Action on Climate Change with the Cambria Climate Action Group (including being the webmaven for Cambria350.org) and I have a new job. I am working part-time for an arborist in Morro Bay. I’m still getting the hang of the five-day per week job and plan to get back to more writing here at AboutCambria.com now that I’m not busy with the Cambria350.org anymore.
Thank you to all of you who have contributed your thoughts, writing and support over the last two years. Special thanks to those few folks who have helped this site (and me) survive financially. It’s still a struggle and even the new job may not be enough to keep us afloat, but I have no immediate plans to stop trying or to stop keeping my eye on the CCSD, CCHD, county and state leaders and bringing you the information you need to make better decisions about who you elect and how you participate in creating a better community.
See you Monday at the CCSD meeting (12:30pm, Veterans Memorial Hall). Agenda posted here when it’s available.

P.S. You can still donate to the cause. Just click on the little guy right below this post!

Cambria 93428

Cambria is home to many U.S. veterans. Today is a day set aside especially to honor those among us who have served our country. My genuine thanks to all our Veterans for their dedication to our country and its ideals.

As a civilian all my life and teacher from a non-military family (since the Civil War anyway), today seem a good opportunity to broaden my knowledge about this holiday and its importance. Below  a brief note about the holiday is a proclamation by President Obama declaring November 11, 2009 Veterans Day.

Many people confuse Memorial Day and Veterans Day. Both holidays were established to recognize and honor the men and women who have worn the uniform of the United States Armed Forces. But Memorial Day, which is observed on the last Monday in May, was originally set aside as a day for remembering and honoring military personnel who died in the service of their country, particularly those who died in battle or as a result of wounds sustained in battle.
While those who died are also remembered on Veterans Day, which is observed on November 11, Veterans Day is intended to thank and honor all those who served honorably in the military – in wartime or peacetime. In fact, Veterans Day is largely intended to thank living Veterans for their service, to acknowledge that their contributions to our national security are appreciated, and to underscore the fact that all those who served – not only those who died – have sacrificed and done their duty.

BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
A PROCLAMATION

We have a sacred trust with those who wear the uniform of the United States of America. From the Minutemen who stood watch over Lexington and Concord to the service members who served in Iraq and Afghanistan, American veterans deserve our deepest appreciation and respect. Our Nation’s servicemen and women are our best and brightest, enlisting in times of peace and war, serving with honor under the most difficult circumstances, and making sacrifices that many of us cannot begin to imagine. Today, we reflect upon the invaluable contributions of our country’s veterans and reaffirm our commitment to provide them and their families with the essential support they were promised and have earned.
Caring for our veterans is more than a way of thanking them for their service. It is an obligation to our fellow citizens who have risked their lives to defend our freedom. This selflessness binds our fates with theirs, and recognizing those who were willing to give their last full measure of devotion for us is a debt of honor for every American.
We also pay tribute to all who have worn the uniform and continue to serve their country as civilians. Many veterans act as coaches, teachers, and mentors in their communities,selflessly volunteering their time and expertise. They visits schools to tell our Nation’s students of their experiences and help counsel our troops returning from the theater of war.These men and women possess an unwavering belief in the idea of America: no matter where you come from, what you look like, or who your parents are, this is a place where anything is possible. Our veterans continue to stand up for those timeless American ideals of liberty, self-determination, and equal opportunity.
On Veterans Day, we honor the heroes we have lost, and we rededicate ourselves to the next generation of veterans by supporting our Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines, and Coast Guardsmen as they return home from duty. Our grateful Nation must keep our solemn promises to these brave men and women and their families. They have given their unwavering devotion to the American people, and we must keep our covenant with them.With respect for and in recognition of the contributions our servicemen and women have made to the cause of peace and freedom around the world, the Congress has provided(5 U.S.C. 6103(a)) that November 11 of each year shall beset aside as a legal public holiday to honor our Nation’s veterans.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of theUnited States of America, do hereby proclaim November 11,2009, as Veterans Day. I encourage all Americans to recognizethe valor and sacrifice of our veterans through appropriatepublic ceremonies and private prayers. I call upon Federal,State, and local officials to display the flag of theUnited States and to participate in patriotic activities intheir communities. I call on all Americans, including civicand fraternal organizations, places of worship, schools, andcommunities to support this day with commemorative expressionsand programs.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand thisthirtieth day of October, in the year of our Lordtwo thousand nine, and of the Independence of theUnited States of America the two hundred and thirty-fourth.

BARACK OBAMA

Since at least the 1950s,  the USGS has done a survey of water use in the U.S. The most recent one was recently released. The report includes some striking numbers and trends in use that might seem counter-intuitive, given that our population growth isn’t slowing down at all. The Pacific Institute, a well-known California-based nonpartisan research institute that works to advance environmental protection, economic development, and social equity reviewed the data and has issued their commentary on the report.

A more straight forward read for the “average joe”, in my opinion, was posted by Gretchen Weber on the website of  KQED, the San Francisco PBS station.  The article starts:

Despite the addition of 81 million people over the period, Americans were using less water in 2005 than they were in 1975.

And goes on:

The per-capita decrease of 30% since 2000, down to 1383 gallons per person per day, is a level not seen since the 1950s.  Of course this doesn’t mean that each person in the United States is using more than a thousand gallons per day at home–that number is somewhere between 54 (if you live in Maine) and 190 (if you live in Nevada).  The USGS number is derived from dividing total water withdrawals by total population.  In 2005, the total withdrawal was 410 billion gallons per day (5% less than in the peak year, 1980) and the total population was approximately 310 million.