In California, May is Water Awareness Month. As May draws to a close,  and the summer heats up, 10 Valley will be following water issues affecting the San Gabriel Valley, including the $11 billion water bond on California’s November’s ballot.

The bond, backed by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger (R), Senator Dianne Feinstein (D), and farming and some environmental interests, aims at getting water more efficiently from the State Water Project based in the San Joaquin-Sacramento River Delta to to the rest of the parched state.

The measure would seem to help solve the water delivery problems of the local area and the state as a whole since it aims at upgrading the infrastructure of the state’s water delivery system. But as the New York Times reported today, there is much controversy surrounding the bond–especially in the environmental community–over the motivations behind such upgrades. Opponents to the bond argue that the money benefits agribusiness and promotes the construction of environmentally harmful dams. Those who support the bill, including environmentalist Jay Ziegler of the Nature Conservancy, argue that the bond is the best thing on the table so far and a much needed measure to update California’s water delivery network.

What’s clear is that California has been in a drought since 2006, though this year the state received more than expected rainfall. The question remains as to whether the bond will help communities around the state make up the difference.

The California Department of Water Resources reports that spring storms have allowed it to increase its final 2010 State Water Project allocation to 45% of requested amounts. That’s a big jump from this year’s earlier estimate of 5%. But the water supply remains at risk, says DWR Director Mark Cowin, until the organization can improve its “conveyance system, increase storage, and resolve the complex environmental problems of the Delta.”  Both low rainfall and restrictions on Delta pumping to protect native fish populations of salmon and smelt have contributed to the limited water delivery. The DWR issued a statement asking Californians to conserve water this summer.

What happens waterwise in northern California trickles down to the Southland. Darin Kasamoto, Director of the San Gabriel Valley Municipal Water District (SGVMWD) says that despite this year’s slight increase in rainfall, the water supply is at suboptimal levels, especially for his district, which serves the cities of Azusa, Sierra Madre, Alhambra, and Monterey Park. The SGVMWD is the only independent water district in Southern California other than the Municipal Water District (MWD), which supplies water throughout the rest of Southern California. While the MWD gets its water from the ever-shrinking Colorado River and the State Water Project up north, the SGVMWD gets water only from the State Water Project.

“Things have actually gotten worse,” says Kasamoto. The supply has always been limited in the area. But now supplies are being limited—the State Water Project is being limited by some environmental constraints—so that adds to the problem. Plus we’re in the fourth year of below average rainfall—although this year is slightly above average. But as a whole the last four years have been below average. All these things have kind of hit at once—the environmental, the drought, and contamination issues. It’s all been adding up in terms of the open water supply.”

In April, an EPA investigation found high levels of cancer-causing agents in the groundwater supply of Alhambra, San Gabriel, and other nearby cities. Kasamoto said that the SGVMWD has contributed funds to aid in the cleanup effort.

In the face of such challenges, the SGVMWD promotes water conservation through a number of community outreach programs, many of which target youth. And such efforts to change the behavior of individuals amounts to much more than a drop in the bucket. According to Kasamoto, the City of Long Beach reduced water usage by 16% through conservation efforts alone. One popular program offered to customers of Azusa Light & Power is the annual toilet giveaway. In April, the District distributed free low-flow toilets to customers who promised to bring back their older, less-efficient models. Residents look forward to the event, which is organized by Teri Boughn of the company Conservision . But Boughn says that despite the incentive programs, there’s a lot less awareness about water conservation than one would imagine:

“As much as conservation is talked about, you read about it, you hear about. you’d be surprised, most of the people aren’t all that interested, unfortunately,” says Boughn. We do have handfuls, and people participate because they get free items. But sometimes I wonder if they had to pay for it, would it be as important to them. I think it’s a behavior thing. We’re getting more towards learning because we hear so much about it, but there’s still a lot of people who aren’t so much interested.”

The event is also a fundraiser for area high schools, which earn $15 for each old toilet a resident brings in. Boughn said her company visits schools prior to the toilet giveaway to teach them about why conservation is important: “Our population grows, but the water does not grow, ” Boughn says. “Right now we’re fighting over oil, but in their lifetime, I can see it will be fighting over water. These are things that we try to impress upon them. High schoolers ask questions sometimes. But many times they’re eating their lunch or talking or texting. But there’s always a handful—the brighter ones—who go, ‘Oh really?’ It’s a fundraiser for them, but we want them to know why we’re doing it.”

Here’s what a handful of students and residents at this year’s toilet giveaway in Azusa had to say to 10 Valley about water conservation and the environment:

Kwavaughn Mack, 17, Azusa High School

“I heard that we have a drought around this region. That affects us pretty bad.  We do try to help conserve water. My brother brought home these little nozzles for the faucets that change the way the water sprays out. We put that on our sink. What I’m really curious about is how we can get out of this drought.”– Kwavaughn Mack, Azusa High School

“I understand this is the only town that gives toilets. So I figured, I’ll bring my old one. The new one works beautifully. They got us restricted as it is to watering three times a week, so this helps too. I just water in the morning when it’s my turn to water, that’s it. Don’t waste too much water anymore.”– Joe Leon, Azusa

Elena Carpio, Azusa

“The cheapest that I pay for my light and water is $86. Sometime it goes up to $200.  Other people are teasing me, ‘Do you have a factory here? Why you have to pay so much money?’ I say, ‘I don’t know.’ I’m a widow, I live by myself. I’m thinking of all the plants I can save, especially the lawn. I can put stones so I don’t have to water it. With the economic situation now, I like to pinch any penny I can save.”– Elena Carpio, Azusa

Claudio Mulko, Covina

“I think it’s the thing to do nowadays to save water and whatever else. I’m getting into recycling too. Plastic bottles and papers–they all go to the recycling bin. I still have a lot of improvements to do everywhere else, but at least at home I’m doing pretty good.”– Claudio Mulko, Covina

Alex Vira, Azusa

“I was here in 1956 when the smog first came. I remember growing up in Arizona and having the beautiful skies and thunderstorms. It was cleaner during that time during the early 50s when people were coming out of the war. It was a lot simpler then. Nowadays you have so much technical stuff with the TVs, the VCRs, the cellphones. It’s ridiculous how many companies come in. I can’t believe that this country can’t come up with a good solution to the gas problem. We have so many scientists. We’ve done so many leaps and bounds in other areas as far as technical (sic). Whenever we find a good gas cure the oil companies buy it up. For every person who comes up with something good, there’s ten people who will take it away.”– Alex Vira, Azusa

Brian Goodman, Altadena

“I’m handling the used toilets. But you know what, I really haven’t felt low about handling the old toilets, or “Ew, I don’t wanna do that,” because it’s for a good cause. People are getting rid of their old toilets, getting more efficient toilet, helping the environment. It’s all about state of mind. If you have a positive state of mind, it doesn’t matter what you’re doing. It’s a good thing I brought gloves too. If I didn’t have gloves, it would be a whole different story.” –Brian Goodman, Altadena

Last Saturday, at the May Day March in downtown Los Angeles, 10 Valley talked to residents from around the San Gabriel Valley about what immigration reform means to them.

Recent efforts by the 2010 Census to count the homeless have brought to light the challenges of reaching that population in the eastern San Gabriel Valley, which is flanked by the 57 and 605 freeways to the east and west, and the 210 and 60 to the north and south.

Last week, as part of the recent nationwide efforts by the 2010 Census to count the homeless population, the Los Angeles County Community Outreach Policing Service (C.O.P.S.) provided free medical, dental, and animal care services to draw the itinerant homeless population living in the more remote parts of the Valley.

Deputy Paul Archambault of C.O.P.S organized the three-day event in local parks, saying that, given the winter conditions, they had a reasonable turnout of 500 people who partook of a number of free services, including H1N1 vaccines and mobile dental treatments.  Census workers were on site as well, giving away $5 gift cards to McDonalds to those who filled out a form.

In high-density areas like downtown Los Angeles, Pasadena, and Pomona, many Census offices partnered with local agencies and soup kitchens that house a regular stream of homeless. That isn’t possible in the eastern San Gabriel Valley, according to L.A. County public health worker Marie Cryman. She said that in the San Gabriel Service Planning area, county workers have to travel to different areas to provide homeless services. This logistical challenge, she said, is compounded by the dearth of services available and the difficulty in building trust with the homeless population. And without an accurate count, Cryman said, city and county governments would not be eligible for the federal funding that would help provide needed services.

Census data directly affects more than $400 billion in federal funding for infrastructure and services that will be distributed throughout the United States over the next 10 years.  And the funding those numbers generate will be over and above federal funding that is earmarked for county departments of housing and health and social services.

Deputy Archambault explained that C.O.P.S. strategically chose the sites for the clinic in order to help the Census effort make a count of the homeless population that was far removed from county services.  He said the Monday event in La Puente’s Bassett Park area targeted those living in the San Gabriel Riverbed along the 605 freeway.  The Tuesday event in the Schabarum Regional Park was designed to draw the many homeless living among the hills in the southern part of the park. The last event, he explained, in Charter Oak Park in Covina, aimed at attracting the homeless who live behind markets in the Covina Town Center and the San Gabriel mountains to the north.

Because of such challenges in locating the homeless, many community leaders fear that the count will be too low. But, according to Kim Thompson, Director of Communications at L.A. Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA), it is difficult to know at this point whether the Census count of homeless people will be accurate, particularly given anecdotal reports of double and triple counting.  Thompson explained that counting people that are homeless is a difficult task at best. LAHSA produces a biannual, county-wide homeless count for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, but there was much controversy after the last count in 2009, which reported a nearly 60% drop in homelessness in the San Gabriel Valley, with similar results across the county. Thompson explains that the disparity can be attributed to refinement of data collection, variation in the definition of homelessness among various federal departments, as well as a real reduction of the homeless population.

But groups who work firsthand with the homeless, like the Eastern San Gabriel Valley Coalition for the Homeless (ESGVCH), have little faith in LAHSA’s  2009 numbers. Irene Kubo, the Executive Director of the ESGVCH, says that their records do not show a decrease in the numbers of people they serve, particularly in the El Monte, Baldwin Park, and La Puente areas, but have remained steady over the past few years. Because organizations like the ESGVCH rely on a variety of funding sources, including LAHSA,  Kubo says she is hoping that the results of the Census homeless count will reflect more closely the reality that her organization sees. But, she adds that any attempt to count the homeless population, particularly in the eastern San Gabriel Valley, is going to be challenging.

Resources on Homelessness in the SGV

Eastern San Gabriel Valley Coalition for the Homeless

L.A. Homeless Services Authority

211- L.A. County Services

L.A.  Coalition to End Hunger & Homelessness

Earlier this year,  the South Coast Air Quality Management District stated in an environmental report requested by Azusa officials that a new mining plan proposed by Vulcan Material Company will not impact air quality.  However, mining activities in general remains controversial for residents in Azusa, Duarte, and neighboring cities who have expressed concerns about dust, noise and particulate pollution, and decreased property values.

For years it seems as though Azusa and Duarte have been odds about where mining should actually take place, campaigning against Vulcan to protect each city’s own interest to prevent “visual blight”  and local environmental depredation.  However, members of  Save Our Canyon, which includes residents from both cities, have been at forefront of the opposition to “any extension of the Vulcan Materials Company open face rock mine in Fish Canyon”, fighting to preserve the beauty of the San Gabriel mountains.

In the past, Duarte and Azusa city managers have  questioned Vulcan’s motives in their proposal to mine 80 acres in Azusa near the Duarte border.  The San Gabriel Valley Tribune rigorously documents disputes around this particular issue, but currently at the core of the debate is whether or not the Azusa City Council will accept the Planning Commission’s recommendation for approval of the new plan.

Residents are invited to attend a meeting when the proposal is scheduled to go before the Azusa City Council for the first time on Monday, April 19^th, 2010 at 213 E. Foothill Blvd.

When the editors of 10 Valley brainstormed about what core issues we should address on the news site, we decided that by covering the San Gabriel River watershed it would educate and inform our readers about one of the most thriving cultural and historical landmarks in Los Angeles County. To be honest, I didn’t know too much about the river until recently (and it’s a relatively short drive from my home in Highland Park). By researching news outlets, reading blogs, and reviewing updates posted on various sites of local organizations, I’ve learned about the tremendous impact it has on communities, about the amount of effort demonstrated to preserve its biodiversity to keep it accessible to future generations and the serious undertakings to keep it clean and safe.

So last Sunday I ventured out to (re) discover the SGV- a region I often taken for granted while driving east bound on the 210 – and travelled route 39 North onto San Gabriel Canyon Road. For the first time, I journeyed through this part of the Angeles National Forest, took in the stirring views of deep canyons and couldn’t help but be in awe of the fact that I was still in Los Angeles County! After driving past Morris Reservoir and San Gabriel Reservoir, I found myself huddled between the inspiring formations of the San Gabriel Mountains on a part of the river known as the West Fork. For major city dwellers, this is literally a refreshing (and very accessible) change of scenery from the urban sprawl.

The West Fork trail is a mild hike but will challenge even the most energetic pedestrians. The paved trail runs along side the river with fishing platforms every 2 miles where you can catch and release various bass and trout. For the most part, I perched myself on one of large rocks directly on the river. I watched diverse people pass by with their dogs and bikes and watched families wade in the crisp, greenish water. I even peered from a distance as one group spoke in tongues while they bathed and blessed new members into their congregation. This place is indeed a sacred retreat for everyone.

Since I wasn’t able to trek the entire length of the trail leading up to Cogswell Reservoir, I’m excited about my next trip. Maybe I’ll pitch a tent out at Glen Camp and attempt to catch a fish or two. Perhaps I’ll discover a waterfall and swim in one of those secluded swimming holes written about by river enthusiasts. I might even attempt to venture out onto the sporty ruggedness of the East Fork trail. However I decide to spend my next visit, I left this last trip more appreciative and knowledgeable about river’s environmental and cultural assets. It’s important for communities like these to be conserved because of their natural and historical resources. Earth Day quickly approaches, but in the spirit of “earth day everyday”, I’m reminded by the abundance of natural beauty about the importance of nature conservation as tireless work in the interest of wildlife and humanity.

Hundreds of educators from San Gabriel Valley (SGV) school districts continue to cope with millions in budgets cuts and face looming lay-offs.

On March 15, 2010, over 700 teachers in Pasadena and Whittier area schools received Reduction in Force (RIF) notices.

The RIF notices come just two weeks after a yearlong grassroots effort, organized in part by the California Campaign to Save Public Education, was capped off by the “Day of Action” on March 4, 2010, when thousands protested across California in response to additional cuts in the state’s education budget. Only one day later, California was disqualified from receiving federal funds from the U.S. Department of Education’s Race to the Top reform program.

However, according to the San Gabriel Valley Tribune, RIF notices assist district financial officials in future budget planning, so employee cuts are not certain until state passes a budget.

While teachers are worried about their jobs, families and students worry about their education. The SGV Tribute reports that the cuts impose larger class sizes and eliminate important programs. The cuts can have potentially harmful long-term effects, especially for young students who will have to delay their entry to school. Longfellow Elementary School in Whittier, for instance, will be closing down its kindergarten.

The cuts also have dire consequences for schools that aren’t overcrowded. Smaller school districts, such as Valle Lindo Unified in South El Monte, have to work extra hard to reduce the impact of the cuts on their schools. A two-school district that employs only three administrators, two principals, and one superintendent, Valle Lindo is stretched to its limit. Superintendent Mary Louise Labrucherie told the Tribune that, “Valle Lindo is already working on the bare necessities.”

10 Valley will continue to update the community on how cuts in the state education budget affect local schools. We’ll also explore how students and teachers cope with these latest setbacks. Stay tuned!

[via SGV Tribune]

According to the Pasadena Weekly’s letters, there was no agreement within the community over the $350 million TT bond.

Yes on TT
Voter approval of Measure TT, which will raise $ 350 million in bond proceeds and makes the Pasadena Unified School District eligible for an additional $ 115 million from other sources, will bring urgently needed facilities and improvements to the public schools of Altadena, Pasadena and Sierra Madre –an enormous benefit to our young people an our entire community (G & M Brumder, Pasadena).

No on TT
The Board of Directors of the Pasadena Republican Club urged Pasadena area voters to oppose Measure TT.
However, Measure TT passed, Andre Coleman, Pasadena Weekly reporter, told 10 Valley that TT was approved on Nov.4, “ I hope they watch the money,” he added.

Peter Rodriguez, spokesman for the USGVMWD, told 10 Valley, “ Our mission is to provide a reliable supply of high quality drinking water at the lowest possible cost.” According to its latest brochure,” Water recycling, also known as reclamation or reuse, is a reliable, economically feasible and environmentally responsible means to maximize California’s water resources.”

Recycling programs treat wastewater so that it can be safely used to irrigate landscape, golf courses, crops and freeway medians, replenish groundwater basins, and act as a barrier to seawater intrusion. Recycled water is also increasingly being used by industry in cooling processes and for other purposes. Pipes and other infrastructure carrying recycled water are clearly colored purple to eliminateany confusion. Recycled water is highly treated and safe, but can only be used for irrigation and industrial purposes.

Rodriguez informed 10 Valley that USGVMWD hosts on regular basis a high efficiency toilet exchange.  Older models usually need 7 gallons per flush compared to the new ones that require only 1.6 gallons per flush. Image Additionally, Rodriguez said that there is also a high efficiency clothe-washer $ 255 rebate program, and a SAV-A-BUC program which offers commercial, industrial and institutional facilities rebates for exchanging several types of high water-use fixtures/equipment for more efficient ones. Finally, Rodriguez told 10 Valley, “The next toilet exchange is Feb 28, 2009 at Mountain View High School in El Monte.”