Save Palo Alto's Groundwater!

Castilleja’s expansion project, which comes before City Council on Monday, May 23^rd, 2022, 5:30 PM for final deliberations, poses a significant threat to Palo Alto’s groundwater and construction will result in the release of as much CO₂ as is emitted by driving a Prius over 4 million miles!  This project contradicts Palo Alto’s goals of sustainability and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD

Step 1: Write to the City Council ASAP and ask that the pool be built at ground level and relocated to where the environment will not be harmed, and neighborhood noise levels will remain within City codes:

City.Council@cityofpaloalto.org

Step 2: Make a public statement at: May 23^rd City Council meeting in person or via zoom

https://www.cityofpaloalto.org/files/assets/public/agendas-minutes-reports/agendas-minutes/city-council-agendas-minutes/2022/20220523/20220523pccsm.pdf  Meeting begins at 5:30.

Visit Preserve Neighborhood Quality of Life’s informative website.

Continue reading →

Let’s join UN Water in recognizing groundwater’s importance and keep working to protect and wisely manage this precious resource!

At 10 AM, February 12, 2022, Felicia Marcus, J.D. brings the latest information to help answer our questions about California’s water challenges, availability, equity and solutions.

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Sponsored by the Santa Clara Valley Chapter of the League of Women Voters.

At 10 AM, February 12, 2022, Felicia Marcus, J.D. brings the latest information to help answer our questions about California’s water challenges, availability, equity and solutions. Ms. Marcus is currently the Landreth Visiting Fellow at Stanford University’s Water in the West Program, former chair of the California Water Board, former Regional Administrator of the U.S. EPA Region IX, and previous chair of the Los Angeles Department of Public Works (where she managed wastewater, water and solid waste recycling, stormwater management).  Felicia Marcus participated in and spoken at recent conferences like the United Nations Glasgow Climate Change Conference (COP26) and UNESCO Megacities Conference in Paris (she will also address the upcoming American Association for the Advancement of Science annual meeting).

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 →