California Drought

[lilranch2001]

Back when I submitted the somewhat snarky comment that us mideesterners would wave bye bye, I was partially alluding or trying to the upcoming costs of maintaining cali along with so many other negative aspects of that state.
Yes, the state is a beautiful state
Yes it has huge economy
But......
It also has so many huge negatives
Sometimes some of the liberals out there do not see or understand that when that government collapses how big of a thud that there will be!

I don't think many of us conservatives want to be in the way of that shock wave!!

 

[California]

Here's someone who has posted a sequence of short flyovers showing the day to day events at the Oroville Dam spillway.

oroville dam spillway - Album on Imgur

And his March 1 update. These are the best pictures I've seen to date of equipment working on the channel cleanout.

oroville dam spillway (mar 1 update) - Album on Imgur


Here's the longer DWR flyover that some of the clips above were excerpts from.

Lake Oroville Spillway March 1, 217 - YouTube


And DWR's Recent News index with links to their incident report and current videos. This is the real information, while the scare youtube vids aren't worth watching.

California Department of Water Resources

 

[ForestGrump]

Yes... the chickens are coming home to roost and government pensions are the elephant in the room...

My friend was the city manager of your childhood city and the biggest concern was promised pensions... I saw the graphs and pensions would consume the entire budget if nothing changed.

I only expect it to get worse as time goes on and can only become an ecomomic incentive for those with options to look elsewhere...

Mom's property tax increased 33% this year... even with Prop 13 which hold increases to 2%... but does not apply to voter approved ballot measures... anyone that owns property is a target...

There is all kinds or pressure to increase water/sewer rates and electric and gas are/have had large increases...

I have managed rentals for years... my city has now imposed a requirement that the Rent Board must approve improvements and owners cannot over improve... yes... it says this!

I'm going to call you on the property tax comment. Please detail how her tax bill, mailed by the county tax accessor increased 33%. Mine hasn't.

 

[houstonscott]

The State of California is required to deposit their part of State employees retirement money into the employees retirement account. The so called matching dollars. The State has not done this now for decades. Now the State is behind by such a large amount means future retirees will not be payed. State retirees are beginning to find out that their retirements are not worth half of what they think they are going to receive. NY and many large municipalities are in similar situations. Those left in the work place are going to get taxed to try to quell and put off the coming realization of what's to come and how the small guy (teacher, cops, State employees) are going to react when they find out their retirement payments maybe pennies on the dollar unless the Feds bale them out. It's coming, get ready, no way to fix it.

 

[ultrarunner]

When are you going to throw in the towel and move out of that state? Haven't you had enough?

I figure it's a small sacrifice to help Mom...

Thought she might agree to Washington State and she really does like spending time there but home is home...

Plenty of filling stations around here around the $3 per gallon mark... some higher and some lower.

There is a new fee going on vehicle registration to fund Highway Patrol retirements....

 

[ultrarunner]

I'm going to call you on the property tax comment. Please detail how her tax bill, mailed by the county tax accessor increased 33%. Mine hasn't.

Easy... comparing last year's tax bill to this year's property tax bill for the vacant lot that is Mom's backyard... the tax bill was 3k and this year it is 4k.

It's ironic in that the Property tax portion is only a few hundred dollars... the parcel taxes which I think there are more than 25 are the rest.

The voters in my city/county passed huge parcel taxes for several things... one is for BART that is already being called a fraud because it was sold to maintain the system and now a 1/3 may go for BART pensions.

BART Measure RR tax could be four times original claim

and here is how some of BART's taxpayer money is spent...

Cameras catch BART janitor who made $27, in a year spending hours in Powell St. closet - SFGate

The California Drought often refers to a Lack of Funds or Funding Drought... I have heard this at city council meetings.

 

[hawkeye08]

They (city, county, state, federal) are constantly adding fees and taxes.

 

[ForestGrump]

Easy... comparing last year's tax bill to this year's property tax bill for the vacant lot that is Mom's backyard... the tax bill was 3k and this year it is 4k.

It's ironic in that the Property tax portion is only a few hundred dollars... the parcel taxes which I think there are more than 25 are the rest.

The voters in my city/county passed huge parcel taxes for several things... one is for BART that is already being called a fraud because it was sold to maintain the system and now a 1/3 may go for BART pensions.

BART Measure RR tax could be four times original claim

and here is how some of BART's taxpayer money is spent...

Cameras catch BART janitor who made $27�,��� in a year spending hours in Powell St. closet - SFGate

The California Drought often refers to a Lack of Funds or Funding Drought... I have heard this at city council meetings.

So the property tax is within 2% but she had the opportunity through voting to add specific bonds, measures and fees to be collected and paid along with her property tax bill. Is that correct? She evidently owns two parcels, a parcel being box 1 of the property tax bill and identified by a parcel #. Her property taxes did not increase by more than 2% but items she and her neighbors voted for and were passed are now collected by the accessor and added to the property tax bill, is that not right?

If so, quit bashing California, get real and I suggest a move to Wisconsin where I know a certain real property tax was in '93 about $2500 and now is greater than $25,000 and they didn't get to vote on nothing.

On important thing we voted on up here was the Hospital Improvement Debt. We are only 5-10 minutes to Loma Linda by air ambulance and our hospital is very small but very important. For years the people have voted against it but this past year it passed. Choppers can't always fly, downhill road trip is one to 3 hours depending upon conditions if the road is open. Now our hospital was granted special rural status and is aligning with Loma Linda. Am I happy to pay the extra $146, you bet.

BTW Parcel=Property! Check her/your tax bill again as far as the property tax portion being a few hundred, if so she bought it many moons ago, be happy.

As far as BART that's their problem! If you/she don't like how these fees, debts and bonds are spent then vote and be proactive but blaming on property taxes in really a big stretch.

I haven't heard the California drought refer to anything...

Come on get fair, get accurate...

 

[TemporaryKubotaOwnerMark]

A better analogy is, If your downspout leaks, the roof isn't broken.

Hmmm. No. I get the idea, but the way it's worded isn't valid. A leaking downspout does not mean the roof is okay.

If your downspout leaks, it has nothing to do with the roof, either way. Your roof could be in terrible shape or brand new. A downspout problem is a downspout problem, not a roof problem.

A spillway problem is a spillway problem, not a dam problem.

Which, of course, is your point, but the way you said it just doesn't work.

 

[TomSeller]

States cities and counties ought to do what Trump did and put a halt to new hires. The more they hire, the more pensions will need to be paid. Crazy when the largest employer in many areas is some form of the government. Everything is upside down.

Too bad CA won't put those deadbeat homeless men they are providing housing for to work fixing that spillway. That'd be the best thing for them.

I understand there are homeless in need but I bet 70% of them are just bums.

 

[ForestGrump]

Hmmm. No. I get the idea, but the way it's worded isn't valid. A leaking downspout does not mean the roof is okay.

If your downspout leaks, it has nothing to do with the roof, either way. Your roof could be in terrible shape or brand new. A downspout problem is a downspout problem, not a roof problem.

A spillway problem is a spillway problem, not a dam problem.

Which, of course, is your point, but the way you said it just doesn't work.

Actually you are wrong. The Oroville dam is a complex project composed of the main dam, the spillway and the emergency spillway with a power plant and its own spillways. In most dam complexes the spillways are physically part of the main dam structure. For Oroville the spillways are built to one side of the main dam structure. The main dam structure did not fail, yet, but the main spillway and the emergency spillway and the power plant all failed. Three out of four wrong is not a passing grade. The Oroville dam failed and can not be operated anywhere near capacity or as designed till it has been repaired and retrofitted.

The Oroville dams major components have failed and the main dam structure can not function.

 

[ForestGrump]

States cities and counties ought to do what Trump did and put a halt to new hires. The more they hire, the more pensions will need to be paid. Crazy when the largest employer in many areas is some form of the government. Everything is upside down.

Too bad CA won't put those deadbeat homeless men they are providing housing for to work fixing that spillway. That'd be the best thing for them.

I understand there are homeless in need but I bet 70% of them are just bums.

My my are we bigoted. Hiring people is good, pensions are good. Not being hired or not having a job sucks. Many of your so called homeless people have severe mental issues and drug problem but yet they are human beings. Very difficult issues, very complex.

 

[ultrarunner]

So the property tax is within 2% but she had the opportunity through voting to add specific bonds, measures and fees to be collected and paid along with her property tax bill. Is that correct? She evidently owns two parcels, a parcel being box 1 of the property tax bill and identified by a parcel #. Her property taxes did not increase by more than 2% but items she and her neighbors voted for and were passed are now collected by the accessor and added to the property tax bill, is that not right?

If so, quit bashing California, get real and I suggest a move to Wisconsin where I know a certain real property tax was in '93 about $2500 and now is greater than $25,000 and they didn't get to vote on nothing.

On important thing we voted on up here was the Hospital Improvement Debt. We are only 5-10 minutes to Loma Linda by air ambulance and our hospital is very small but very important. For years the people have voted against it but this past year it passed. Choppers can't always fly, downhill road trip is one to 3 hours depending upon conditions if the road is open. Now our hospital was granted special rural status and is aligning with Loma Linda. Am I happy to pay the extra $146, you bet.

BTW Parcel=Property! Check her/your tax bill again as far as the property tax portion being a few hundred, if so she bought it many moons ago, be happy.

As far as BART that's their problem! If you/she don't like how these fees, debts and bonds are spent then vote and be proactive but blaming on property taxes in really a big stretch.

I haven't heard the California drought refer to anything...

Come on get fair, get accurate...

Simply a reply to a question posed... a property tax statement must be paid in full... no option to pick and choose.

I'm very proactive... speak at council meetings, write letters, call on elected officials.

The fact is the Alameda Country Secured Property Tax Statement continues to add Fixes Charges and/or Special Assessments.

For example... a narrow strip of land that is 5' wide by 150' with a County Assessed Value of $1,171... the Property Tax Statement for 2016-2017 is $731.60... the tax collected is more than 62% of assessed value.

It was not always this way... by the way the Flood Assessment is a modest $8

The Tax-Rate Breakdown is $15.80 + $715.80 = $731.60 Tax Statement

Just how much is a 750 square feet strip of land worth... the county says $1,171.

So much for California being a Low Property Tax State.

 

[ForestGrump]

Simply a reply to a question posed... a property tax statement must be paid in full... no option to pick and choose.

I'm very proactive... speak at council meetings, write letters, call on elected officials.

The fact is the Alameda Country Secured Property Tax Statement continues to add Fixes Charges and/or Special Assessments.

For example... a narrow strip of land that is 5' wide by 150' with a County Assessed Value of $1,171... the Property Tax Statement for 2016-2017 is $731.60... the tax collected is more than 62% of assessed value.

It was not always this way... by the way the Flood Assessment is a modest $8

The Tax-Rate Breakdown is $15.80 + $715.80 = $731.60 Tax Statement

Just how much is a 750 square feet strip of land worth... the county says $1,171.

So much for California being a Low Property Tax State.

I don't think anyone has claimed we are a low property tax state or a low tax star period we are not but in general we like it and what I has to offer. Ask to have it reassessed.

 

[ultrarunner]

Reassessment if granted would only impact the $15.80 amount of the $731.60 charge.

Even if the parcel were assessed a 0.00 the bill would still be $731.60.

 

[TomSeller]

My my are we bigoted. Hiring people is good, pensions are good. Not being hired or not having a job sucks. Many of your so called homeless people have severe mental issues and drug problem but yet they are human beings. Very difficult issues, very complex.

I hear people all the time say that the homeless have mental issues and they can't help themselves. If that is the case then why are men 85% of the homeless?

I acknowledge that some do have real issues but the percentage of men to women would be much more equal. Many are just bums.

 

[MossRoad]

I hear people all the time say that the homeless have mental issues and they can't help themselves. If that is the case then why are men 85% of the homeless?

I acknowledge that some do have real issues but the percentage of men to women would be much more equal. Many are just bums.

Females made up 39.7% of the homeless population in 2015...

Source...
https://www.hudexchange.info/resources/documents/2015-AHAR-Part-1.pdf

 

[NoTrespassing]

Not pointing fingers at any one individual but it amazes me how far off topic things can stray. How's the weather in California these days? Here's the report;

United States Drought Monitor > Home

Two or more inches of precipitation fell across parts of the northern California coast, the Sierra Nevada, and San Diego County regions, while less than an inch was recorded in other areas. The typical interior rainshadow areas had less than half an inch of precipitation. Drought improvement occurred in three regions.

The D0-L in the San Joaquin Valley was removed due to improving hydrological (aquifer) conditions. There are two types of aquifers: confined and unconfined. Unconfined aquifers are characterized by a geology where water can seep into the aquifer from the ground surface directly above. Confined aquifers have a geology in which an impermeable layer of dirt or rock exists above the aquifer which prevents water from seeping into it from the ground surface directly above. Confined aquifers are recharged by water seeping into them from farther away where the impermeable layer doesn't exist. Most of the USGS well groundwater stations in the San Joaquin Valley were showing significant recharge occurring, while those that were still quite low were probably confined aquifers which may take months or years to recharge.

D1 was pulled back along the Coastal Range to Santa Barbara County. The lake levels of the reservoirs in Santa Barbara and Ventura Counties continued to rise but, since the rains let up, they were not rising as quickly. Lake Cachuma’s reservoir was at 87,466 acre-feet on February 26, which equates to 45.2% of capacity versus 42.4% a week ago; Lake Casitas was at 43% compared to last week’s 42.3%; and Lake Piru was at 33.7% versus last week’s 31.7%. D2 was kept in place in this region to reflect the continued low, but recovering, reservoirs. However, the recent rains have not improved the situation on the offshore islands. With below-normal precipitation this week and continued groundwater shortages, D2 was added to Catalina Island.

Rain during the last day of this USDM week gave southern California and southwest Arizona a good soaking, with rainfall amounts 0.5-2.0 inches over parts of Arizona and over 5 inches over parts of San Diego County in California. In the mountains of San Diego County, Palomar Observatory reported 9.04 inches of precipitation. D0-D1 was pulled back one category in San Bernadino, Riverside, and San Diego counties, and the adjacent D2 was trimmed a bit. The rain should result in rapid responses in local reservoirs. The San Diego River reached 14.2 feet, which is the third highest stage ever and slightly higher than December 2010 and 1980.

 

[turnkey4099]

Actually you are wrong. The Oroville dam is a complex project composed of the main dam, the spillway and the emergency spillway with a power plant and its own spillways. In most dam complexes the spillways are physically part of the main dam structure. For Oroville the spillways are built to one side of the main dam structure. The main dam structure did not fail, yet, but the main spillway and the emergency spillway and the power plant all failed. Three out of four wrong is not a passing grade. The Oroville dam failed and can not be operated anywhere near capacity or as designed till it has been repaired and retrofitted.

The Oroville dams major components have failed and the main dam structure can not function.

Point out the power plant failure. Blockage of the discharge area say nothing about the condition of the power plant. Yes, it cannot currently be used but there is nothing wrong with it.

 

[turnkey4099]

Point out the power plant failure. Blockage of the discharge area say nothing about the condition of the power plant. Yes, it cannot currently be used but there is nothing wrong with it.

As for tthe spillways, the erosion had already stopped by the time they lowered the dam pool I appears that there was no erosion of the bedrock unlying the spillways. What washed was overburden.