Save Palo Alto's Groundwater!

From our friends at the National Groundwater Association (NGWA):

“This year, we are speaking up for groundwater. Our most valuable and precious resource needs advocates who understand the importance groundwater plays in our lives and community. Any resource taken for granted is a resource at risk of being lost, which is why we are dedicating National Groundwater Awareness Week 2021 to the advocacy of groundwater safety and protection and increasing its access across the country.

The first step in advocacy is almost always education. How do we educate our friends, families, and leaders about the role of groundwater? How do we teach our neighbors about the importance of proper groundwater management, remediation, and increase awareness of water testing in private water systems? How do we ensure our voice is heard? It all starts with us  because if we don’t speak up for groundwater, who will?”

The NGWA has groundwater information for all the states.  Check out these great resources for California including a groundwater map,  groundwater use in California, and groundwater quality profile.  And share this information with everyone!

We did it!  Thank you to all of you who wrote letters, buttonholed Council members (virtually!) and commented at the City Council meeting last evening.   Thank you also to the owner and her team, City staff members and most importantly to the Council members for addressing the fate and importance of the magnificent oak tree at 2353 Webster.

After more than four hours of deliberations, the Palo Alto City Council formally decided on the appeal of the Individual Review for the 2-story house with a basement at 2353 Webster.  See our earlier blog  for details on the issue.  Continue reading →

RE-SCHEDULED due to STRONG PUBLIC INTEREST  to 7:50 PM Monday, August 17, 2020, but may be a bit earlier or later depending on Council deliberations on earlier items.  This is expected to be the first item on the Action Item Agenda and we expect it will be heard near the planned time.

Please Comment either by joining the meeting remotely (phone 1(669)900-6833 / Zoom meeting ID 362 027 238  ) or by sending e-mail to city.council@cityofpaloalto.org.

The Palo Alto City Council will decide on Aug. 17th on the neighbors’ appeal of the Development Department’s approval of a two story house with a large, deep basement at 2353 Webster.  Construction of this basement, as proposed, risks damage and possibly death from dewatering and root damage to the 300+ year old legally protected Continue reading →

RE-SCHEDULED due to STRONG PUBLIC INTEREST  to 7:50 PM (new time) Monday, August 17, 2020, but may be a bit earlier or later depending on Council deliberations on earlier items.  This is expected to be the first item on the Public Agenda and we expect it will be heard near the planned time.

Please Comment either by joining the meeting remotely (phone 1(669)900-6833 / Zoom meeting ID 362 027 238  ) or by sending e-mail to city.council@cityofpaloalto.org.

The Palo Alto City Council will decide on Aug. 17th on the neighbors’ appeal of the Development Department’s approval of a two story house with a large, deep basement at 2353 Webster.  Construction of this basement, as proposed, risks damage and possibly death to the 300+ year old legally protected oak tree at the back of the property.

See the original blog entry.
Please comment!

300+ year old heritage oak, 2353 Webster, Palo Alto threatened by construction dewatering

We need your help immediately!  On Monday, August 17, 7:30 PM (but may be earlier or later), Palo Alto City Council (rescheduled from this week) will decide on the neighbors’ appeal of the Development Department’s approval of a two story house with a large, deep basement at 2353 Webster.  Construction of this basement, as proposed, risks damage and possibly death to the 300+ year old legally protected oak tree at the back of the property.

Comment either by joining the meeting remotely (phone 1(669)900-6833 / Zoom meeting ID 362 027 238  ) or by sending e-mail to city.council@cityofpaloalto.org.

The construction of the proposed 10-foot deep basement at this location, where the groundwater level is high, would necessitate dewatering, the pumping out of groundwater Continue reading →