June 2011: Good news for the endangered Santa Ana Sucker! A U.S. District Court judge ordered the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the National Marine Fisheries Service and the U.S. Forest Service to enhance protections in four Southern California national forests for 40 endangered species, including the Santa Ana Sucker. Patel gave the federal agencies six months to develop and implement long-term safeguards for the species.Click here to read more. Los Angeles Times, 6/29/11.

March 2011: The Environmental Protection Agency plans to require water utilities to test drinking water for 28 unregulated contaminants in hopes to understand and control pollution from perfluorochemicals (PFCs). PFCs are used in a variety of industrial products and pose as a potentially serious health threat since they do not break down in the environment. Testing is expected to start in 2013. Environmental Working Group, EPA to require tap water tests for unregulated contaminants

Jan. 2011: Nitrogen and phosphorus (nutrient) pollution is one of the top causes of impairment of our nation's waters. The EPA is tightening the regulations over nutrient criteria to improve water quality and nutrient management practices. Water managers are concerned these changes will hurt the economy and are not scientifically sound, but some argue this cleanup plan is a noble cause. Brown and Caldwell, Nutrients take center stage

Jan. 2011: The EPA has proposed a revision to California's current drinking water standards for chromium-6. Two of the five cities with the highest levels of this contaminant tested throughout the US are in California - Riverside and San Jose. Hinkley, Ca, made famous by the movie Erin Brockovich, also has reported toxic levels of this pollutant. The new limit is aimed to be set at 0.02 parts per billion (ppb), much stricter compared to the current 0.06 ppb. USA Today, California seeks to slash chromium-6 in tap water

Dec. 2010: The San Bernardino Valley Audubon Society and approximately 22 volunteers met between December 15th and January 5th to experience the pursuit of birding. The counters tallied the species identified through sight or sound for the San Jacinto Lake count area. This year, 154 species were identified which is the highest its been in over eight years. At its peak, the Salton Sea tallied just over 150 species, but usually sits between 135 to 145 species. Press Enterprise, "Species Diversity High in Annual Count"

Dec. 2010: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service designated 9,331 acres in San Bernardino, Riverside, and Los Angeles counties as critical habitat to protect and recover the threatened Santa Ana Sucker. Click here to read more about the fight to save the Santa Ana Sucker. Press Enterprise, 12/05/2010.

ARCHIVED NEWS ITEMS:

• Federal wildlife officials determining critical habitat for the threatened Santa Ana Sucker fish. Santa Ana Press Enterprise article, 12/8/09.
  Click here for map of proposed critical habitat (source: Santa Ana Watershed Project Authority)
  
• The B.F. Goodrich site in Rialto is designated a "Superfund" site under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA). EPA Press Release Sept. 2009.
  The Press Enterprise article "EPA proposes placing Rialto site on Superfund list"
  
• EPA releases its list of priotiry drinking water contaminants for regulatory consideration. Stormwater Magazine article Sept. 2009
  Contaminant Candidate List 3 (CCL3) .
  Drinking water contaminants - America's Children and the Environment: A first view of available measures
  
• Sept. 2009: The Press Enterprise article, "Vail Lake still free of mussel infestation"
  
• EMWD to launch and enforce "Stop Runoff" program! Water efficient landscapes required in new developments and assessing penalties for water waste (Press Release, 05-16-08)
  
• Santa Ana River Trail: Hole Lake segment west of Van Buren completed and Hidden Valley Wildlife Area segment completed! (San Bernardino Sun, 05-19-2008)
  
• Predictions for Mystic Lake in summer, 2008 - will it dry up? February, 2008 Press Enterprise article HERE.
  
• Rancho California Water District introduces third tier to water rates for residential properties who choose to overwater their landscaping. December, 2007 Californian article HERE.
  
• Santa Ana River Trail One Step Closer to Completion! Read December, 2007 Press Enterprise article HERE.

On May 20, 2006, volunteers of Inland Empire Waterkeeper and the Riverside/Corona Resource Conservation District participated in California’s fourth coast wide water quality monitoring event this year. Fourteen Inland Empire sites were tested, creating a “snapshot” of water quality in our area. The volunteers included non-profit environmental groups, as well as interested citizens. The samplers were trained in collecting samples and used analytical methods approved by the state to assure data accuracy.

As expected, the results of the water quality tests came back poor. All streams suffer from excess nutrients, and many from high bacteria counts as well. Although poor results were expected, poor water quality is a concern for all inland residents.

The data gathered during this monitoring event will be used to increase public awareness of the water quality issues affecting our watersheds and the ocean, to emphasize the importance of water quality monitoring, and to demonstrate the key role volunteer monitors play. This test demonstrates that, overall, Inland Empire water quality is poor and is in continuing need of improvement.

If you are interested in obtaining the test results from Snapshot Day 2006, or participating in future water quality events, please contact IEWK.

On October 28, 2006 a crew of 80 community volunteers cleaned up 34 TONS of garbage from an open space around Mill Creek near Prado Wetlands in Chino Saturday, October 28th. Volunteers, with the assistance of 3 tractors, removed 34 tons of garbage and 600 lbs of recycling, including a treadmill, furniture, construction materials, a bathtub, and a recreational boat. The site, used as an illegal dumping ground, drains rainwater from the area into Mill Creek, which flows into the Santa Ana River, providing drinking water for Orange County residents and habitat for native wildlife.  The Mill Creek area has long been used as a dumpsite by trespassers. Previous attempts to thwart dumping have included installing a chain link fence, but trespassers have knocked down the fences and the dumping continues. Much of the problem at this site is due to illegal dumping. This service project is designed to promote citizen involvement in protecting local water supplies and provide information about alternatives to dumping. Litter on the ground is not only an eyesore, but it also invites people to add more.

Inland Empire Waterkeeper promoted Proposition 84 for Clean Water, Parks, and Coastal Protection at the event. In addition to the Inland Empire Resource Conservation District, the cleanup was assisted and co-sponsored by the following organizations: REI, California Coastal Commission, Viramontes Express Inland Empire Waterkeeper, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, Orange County Water District, San Bernardino County Regional Parks, Starbucks, BJ’s Restaurant and Brewery, the City of Chino, San Bernardino County, US Army Corps of Engineers, Waste Management of the Inland Empire, Inland Valley Humane Society, Henry’s Farmers Market of Chino Hills, the Regional Water Board, Santa Ana Watershed Association, Hands On Inland Empire the Chino High School Key Club, Chino High School Interact Club, and Rancho Cucamonga High School Key Club. Plans are underway to install gates and create boulder and earthen berms to discourage future dumping at Mill Creek.