Those wanting to get some insight into water issues on the Monterey Peninsula might well set aside some time this evening to attend a meeting of the Board of Directors of the Monterey Peninsula Water Management District. The District’s “Mission Statement” says that its assignment is to “manage, augment and protect water resources for the benefit of the community and the environment.” Most of the focus, these days, is on the “augment” part.

In order to develop some additional water resources for the Peninsula, the Water Management District is now “thinking small,” instead of “gigantic.” The “gigantic” approach, calling for a regional desalination plant under the auspices of the Marina Coast Water District, has pretty much gone “kablooey.” Now, the Monterey Peninsula Water Management District, which was essentially shut out of the earlier project, is trying to initiate a smaller-scale groundwater replenishment project, in cooperation with the Monterey Regional Water Pollution Control Agency, and the California-American Water Company (or “Cal Am”). Cal Am is an investor-owned water utility (i.e., it’s a private company), which actually delivers water to Peninsula customers.

The meeting this evening begins at 7:00 o’clock in the Regency Ballroom at the Hyatt Regency Conference Center. Links to more information are below.

More Information:

• MPWMD Website
• MPWMD Agenda
• MPWMD Mission Statement
• MPWMD Strategic Plan
• Staff Report On Proposed MOU
• Text of Proposed MOU

Both the Santa Cruz City Council and the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors are developing approaches to the world’s climate crisis. The City’s draft document is called a “Climate Action Plan.” The County’s draft document is called a “Climate Action Strategy.” Links to both documents are found at kusp.org/landuse. Today, the County Board of Supervisors will be discussing the current draft of its Climate Action Strategy. Development of the Climate Action Strategy has been overseen by the County Planning Department, with assistance from the County’s Environmental Health Department and the Commission on the Environment.

Dan Haifley, Chairperson of the Commission, has written a letter to the Board, stating that the current draft is “an excellent foundation from which to begin a robust public review process.” In addition, Haifley urges the Board, on behalf of the Commission, “vigorously [to] pursue grant funding to create a cross-departmental position of Sustainability Manager, to oversee implementation of the recommendations contained in the Climate Action Strategy.

Some listeners are probably more concerned about climate issues than others. I count myself among those very concerned, and I am happy our local governments are trying to do something about climate change. As Mr. Haifley says, though, effective action will require “robust” public involvement. I urge your involvement. You could start today.

More Information:

• April 17, 2012 Agenda, Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors
• Agenda Item #45 – Preliminary Draft County Climate Action Strategy
• City of Santa Cruz Final Draft Climate Action Plan

I have been asked to fill in during a temporary vacancy in the roster of the faculty of the University of California at Santa Cruz. Specifically, I am now teaching a course called “Environmental Law and Policy,” which is aimed at both Environmental Studies and Legal Studies students. My initial impression is that the students taking this class really do see environmental policy as a major concern for all of us. They are anxious to develop an ability to do something about the multiple environmental challenges we face, both individually and collectively.

Last week, as the course began to get into substantive matters, the assigned reading outlined a number of “cross-cutting themes.” Number one on the list of these “cross cutting themes” was the “Polluter Pays Principle.” Number two on the list was a discussion of the “Precautionary Principle.”

I hope most listeners are aware of the “Precautionary Principle,” which says that if we’re not sure about the environmental impacts of our actions we ought to refrain from acting until we have the facts, and know we’re not making a mistake. You don’t have to enroll at UCSC to find out more. On Friday, April 20th, from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m., at the Cabrillo College Forum, Cabrillo Earth Week and the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom are sponsoring a free forum on this important topic. There is more information at kusp.org/landuse.

More Information:

• What is the “Precautionary Principle?”
• Cabrillo College Earth Week
• Women’s International League For Peace and Freedom, Santa Cruz Branch
• For more information about the event contact:
  • Randa Solick for WILPF rsolick@gmail.com
  • Michelle Merrill for Cabrillo College Earth Week michelle.merrill@cabrillo.edu

This morning, at 9:00 o’clock, the Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission will be meeting in what they call a “Transportation Policy Workshop.” The meeting will be held in the Commission’s offices, which are located upstairs at 1523 Pacific Avenue, in Downtown Santa Cruz. You are, of course, very much welcome to attend. On the agenda this morning is a discussion of “funding strategies,” which probably means more discussion of new taxes. In addition, the Commission is going to turn its attention to the goals, targets, and policies set out in the current draft of the Regional Transportation Plan, usually called “the RTP.”

You can get involved in the RTP planning process without having to rush out immediately to a meeting this morning. I hope you’ll be pleased to learn that the Commission is holding a workshop session this evening, to discuss sustainable transportation strategies in general, and specifically to discuss the “goals, targets, and policies of the Regional Transportation Plan.” This evening’s public workshop is being held at the Live Oak Senior Center, 1777 Capitola Road in Live Oak. The workshop will run from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m., and I encourage your attendance.

You can get to the Live Oak Senior Center by public transit. The Senior Center is served by Santa Cruz Metro buses, on Route #69.

More Information:

• Transportation Commission Website
• Workshop Information
• Workshop Flyer
• Commission Meeting Agenda
• Website Link To Information on the RTP Process

I am a former environmental lobbyist, and still keep track of important environmental legislation. Recently, I got a bulletin from “Green California,” a consortium of the major environmental groups that lobby in the State Legislature. The Green California bulletin identified Assembly Bill 2595 as a high priority item, and since the bill addresses a subject of interest to the Monterey Bay Region, I thought I’d let KUSP listeners know about it.

Incidentally, it is extremely easy for ordinary folks to find out about pending state legislation. If you have any interest in becoming better informed about state legislation, on any topic, I recommend the “LegInfo” website. There is a link in today’s transcript.

AB 2595 proposes to “streamline” the permitting process for desalination facilities. Environmental groups, and also the Coastal Commission, apparently, don’t think that’s a good idea. Such groups, of course, fully embrace the “precautionary principle,” and think that shortcutting reviews for proposals that could have dramatically negative environmental impacts doesn’t make much sense.

Remember, there is a free workshop on the “precautionary principle” tonight at Cabrillo College. And check out today’s blog to read the Committee analysis (both pro and con) on AB 2595.

More Information:

• Get Information on AB 2595 at the LegInfo Website
• Current Version of AB 2595
• Assembly Committee Analysis
• Assembly Member Hall’s Website