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News Round-Up

PCB LEVELS IN THE BAY EXCEED THE EPA STANDARD according to results from a new $1 million-a-year regional monitoring program measuring various pollutants at 16 sites around the Bay. EPA's standard is 70 parts per quadrillion (ppq); Bay levels ranged from 369 to 1,300 ppq. The S.F. Regional Board is now undertaking tests on PCB build up in fish. (510)286-0702

A TWO-CENTURY-LONG DROUGHT occurred before the year 1112 according to research examining drowned tree stumps by Cal State Hayward geographer Scott Stine. Stine also turned up evidence of a more than 140-year drought before the year 1350. Another study, this one measuring historic Bay salinity levels via long-buried mussel shells, showed droughts lasting 80 years or more. Researcher Lynn Ingram of U.C. Berkeley says Bay salinity is at its highest level in 2,400 years. Stine (510)881-3159; Ingram (510)642-2575

A TRUCE IN THE STATE/FED WATER WARS was signed this August, when the last of 12 agencies put its John Hancock on a 13-point promise to cooperate on the technical and procedural aspects of setting water quality standards, the process of improving water operations coordination to meet endangered species needs, and the development of long-term solutions to Bay-Delta water conflicts. Copies of the final agreement will be mailed to diverse interests soon. (415)744-1993

TREE ROOTS CAN BE REMOVED FROM SEWER PIPES without using crystal-form, water-soluble, copper-based root killers - killers that contain too much copper for local sewage treatment systems to entirely remove. Copper can be toxic to aquatic life. For less hazardous alternatives, consult a new S.F. Regional Board how-to brochure and white paper produced in cooperation with local POTWs. (510)286-4239

COURTS UPHELD BCDC'S LIVEABOARD BOAT POLICY in two decisions handed down this June. Both decisions, one involving the San Mateo County Harbor District and the other the Mariners of Richardson Bay, conclude that the mooring of a houseboat or liveaboard within the Bay Commission's jurisdiction constitutes a substantial change of use of the land, water or structures under this jurisdiction, and thus requires a Commission permit. One decision also concluded that the long-term mooring of a liveaboard boat constitutes the placement of fill. (415)557-3686

CORTESE'S WATER SUPPLY BILL PASSED THE STATE ASSEMBLY in early July. AB2673, scheduled for Senate committee review this August, would make water supply a more important factor in land use planning and would require cities and counties to identify a water source before approving development. (916)445-8243

EPA'S BIANNUAL NATIONAL WATER QUALITY INVENTORY says one third of all waters assessed have water quality problems. Though the inventory covered 74% of the nation's 37,000 estuary square miles, it only collected data on 18% of the nation's 3.5 million river miles - a data shortfall that turns up clearly in the Bay-Delta section of the state water quality assessment used to inform the federal inventory. Environmental activist Trish Mulvey suggests these glaring data blanks on local creek and river pollution could be filled by volunteer citizen monitors. (916)657-0642

ONE ESTUARY GOBY IS REALLY TWO according to a recent re-examination of the introduced chameleon goby by U.C. Davis' Scott Matern. Matern identified the two separate species as the salt-to-brackish water Tridentiger trigonocephalus and fresh-to-brackish water Tridentiger bifasciatus - a species distinction first described in a 1989 Japanese journal by that nation's very own emperor - himself an accomplished ichthyologist. Matern asks researchers with Bay-Delta specimens of the fresh water goby to contact him at U.C. Davis.

A STATE REVIEW OF NONPOINT OPTIONS has experts and stakeholders on nine new technical advisory committees evaluating existing and potential measures to reduce runoff from diverse land uses so they can provide recommendations to the State Water Resources Control Board by October 3. After board and public review, committee recommendations will be folded into a revised state plan for nonpoint pollution control required under 1990 amendments to the Coastal Zone Management Act. (916)657-0432

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