On The Web: Wastewater - Clean Water Act

Of 40 wastewater plants that discharge treated sewage into the ocean off the California coast, only four still do not meet standards required in 1977 under the federal Clean Water Act. The four are Morro Bay, San Diego, Orange County and Goleta, a town of 55,000 south of Santa Barbara. Two of those, Orange County and Goleta, already have approved upgrades.

Treating sewage more thoroughly before it is released into the ocean reduces the risk of parasites, viruses, bacteria, heavy metals and other pollutants getting into the ocean.

District To Study Dropping Ellwood Sewer Line

In response to a letter from Gaviota Coast Conservancy president Mike Lunsford, the Goleta Sanitary District discussed at its regular meeting Tuesday the idea of decommissioning a portion of its Devereux Creek Trunkline. The segment of the sewage pipe in question is a 1,600-foot section runs beneath the environmentally sensitive monarch butterfly habitat at Ellwood Mesa.

The district’s current plans for that portion of pipe are to eventually put it into use to serve upcoming residential developments, such as the Comstock Homes project in the Ellwood area, but the developer has already planned for a lift station that could take the sewage away from the Devereux Creek Trunkline and pump it into the Hollister Avenue Interceptor Line. Currently that section of the Devereux pipe serves only the Sandpiper Golf Course maintenance shed.

Ultimately, the Board of the Sanitary District directed staff to conduct a feasibility study on the possibility of rerouting sewage to the Hollister line via lift station, which would allow for the possible abandonment of the western segment of the Devereux Creek Trunkline. The GWSD is anticipated to revisit the matter at their March 20 meeting.

Source: Goleta Valley Voice (Click for article.)

Appeal Over Ellwood Sewer Line Dumped

The Goleta Valley Voice has a story on the appeal brought by Santa Barbara Shores resident Cynthia Brock and Ellwood environmentalist Chris Lange to the Goleta City Council on Monday, February 20, to deny Goleta West Sanitary District's permit application to construct a pipeline that would serve the nearby Comstock Homes development.

Click here for the complete story by Sonia Fernandez.

The fight isn’t over yet for the appellants: the segment of pipeline in question falls within the Coastal Zone, under the jurisdiction of the California Coastal Commission. Brock and Lange anticipate a hearing by the CCC on the matter, and are considering talks with GWSD.
-Goleta Valley Voice

Feb 20 Council Meeting... Interesting Undertones

While the evening council meeting appeared relatively uneventful, one couldn't help to notice the paper monarchs pinned to the shirts of those making public comment on the Brock/Lange Appeal of the Zoning Administrator Approval of Goleta West Sanitary District Hollister Avenue Interceptor Replacement Project. One can only draw a conclusion that 'Cynthia's butterfly' is alive and well and was fluttering about the evening council meeting, making sure that Councilmember Bennett saw that indeed, monarchs can still be found in Goleta. (The council unanimously voted to deny the appeal, for those who are interested.)

After the public hearing and council debate, most of the public, if not all in attendance, left the council meeting. During council comment, Councilmember Bennett brought up a point about fees charged to parties filing appeals, and asked that staff returned with information regarding fees when filing appeals. City Manager Singer asked that his request be rolled into the fee updates that would be coming before the council no later than June, but probably in May.

Was it just me, or could one draw a conclusion that the Brock-Bennett rift is still alive and well?