September 12, 2008

Welcome to Weekly Update, a publication of Western United Environmental Services (WUES). Our goal is to provide you with the latest information about the WDR’s from the Water Board and show how our organization can help you with your environmental challenges. All previous publications of the Weekly Update can be found in the News section on our website at www.wuenvironmental.com.

Visual Inspections

Michelle Nelson Fall is just upon us and the harvest season has begun. Now is an extremely busy time for everyone but we still must keep focused on meeting the General Order requirements.

One important factor we must continue to remember is to take your monthly lagoon photos on the first of each month. Photograph each pond showing the current free-board.

Also, since we will be entering the wet season starting October 1st –May 31st you will need to resume inspecting and documenting your waste storage area and dairy production area on a weekly basis (inspections are documented monthly during June 1st-September 30th). Document this information on the Dairy Production Area Visual Inspection Form located in Tab 6 in your CDQAP binder. You will need to record the date inspected, if a photo was taken, current free-board, and any additional notes as needed.

In addition, during a significant storm event be sure to document the date of the storm, pond ID, any discharge, current free-board, and berm integrity for each Pond. Document this information on the Production Area Significant Storm Event Inspection Form located in Tab 6 in your CDQAP binder. A significant storm is defined as a storm event that results in continuous runoff of storm water for a minimum of one hour or intermittent runoff for a minimum of three hours in a 12-hour period.

Feel free to contact your Environmental Technician with any questions!!

Dairy energy management workshop in Tulare Sept. 17 - PG&E and SCE will host a Dairy Energy Management workshop on Sept. 17 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Edison Ag TAC, 4175 S. Laspina St. Tulare. The workshop will provide an overview of dairy energy management options, including energy efficiency technologies and incentives, emerging technologies, demand response opportunities, water and air-quality and self generation, including various dairy biogas options for the dairy farmer. This workshop is designed for dairy owners and operators and dairy designers and vendors, who are interested in developing and promoting integrated energy management strategies for dairies. To RSVP, please register at http://www.sce/agtac or www.pge.com/energyclasses or by calling 800-772-4822 or 559-263-5575. Sept. 4, 2008 PG&E Notice

Oct. 2 wine and cheese tasting benefits CSU ag program - An Oct. 2 wine and cheese tasting will benefit the CSU Stanislaus Agricultural Studies program. “Tastes of the Valley” will be held Thursday, Oct. 2, at the Assyrian American Civic Club in Turlock from 6 to 9 p.m. Tickets are $35. Silent auction items are also being sought. Additional information is available from Mark Bender or Wendy Olmstead at (209) 664-6648. Sept, 5, 2008 CSU Notice

Dan Walters: Study says conservation can replace reservoirs - - Oakland-based Pacific Institute has weighed into California's perennial water debate with a new study contending that diversions from the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta could be reduced by as much as 3.4 million acre-feet of water per year in farmers adopted more aggressive conservation techniques. The study report is being issued as Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, legislators and myriad water stakeholders debate whether to build new storage reservoirs and/or a "peripheral canal" to carry Sacramento River water around the Delta, the state's chief source of agricultural and municipal water supplies. And it counteracts, at least conceptually, a recent pro-peripheral canal report issued by the Public Policy Institute of California. The PPIC report pleased pro-water development factions while the Pacific Institute study bolsters environmentalists' contentions that California can resolve its water problems without major new storage and conveyance facilities. <more> Sept. 8, 2008 Sacramento Bee

CALENDAR OF MONTHLY MONITORING ACTIVITIES

SEPTEMBER

To receive more information on WUES, please contact your WUES Environmental Technician or WUES Office:

• Phone (209) 238-3818
• Fax (209) 238-3808
• Email: info@wuenvironmental.com
• www.wuenvironmental.com