San Vicente Dam Raise Complete

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

San Vicente Dam Raise Complete CONTRACTOR NEWS & VIEWS San Vicente Dam Raise Complete JULY 2014 CONTENTS SAN VICENTE dam eature F 6 RAISE COMplETE In This Issue “Topping Out” <<for SDUSD’S César E. Chávez Campus CONSTRUCTION EXPO<< 2014 Page Page 11 20 Also Inside 12Page P.S. It’s the law. Avoid Solar Assault......................14 AVOIDING THE BATTlE OF lITIGATION Are you a good decision maker?....16 America, One Nation A Contractor News, Inc Publication Publisher: Sandra C. Caples Under God Tel: (760) 466-7790• 9921 Carmel Mountain Road #231 •San Diego, CA 92129• [email protected] Contractor News and Views is published monthly. The opinions and assertions contained herein are those of the authors. Reproduction, either whole or in part, is not permitted without the express consent of the publisher. Copyright 2014 by Contractor News and Views. All rights reserved. Mike Caples : Editor Jenny Caples : Graphic Design Advertising rates are available upon request. Call Mike at (760) 466-7790. Contractor News and Views is not responsible for content in ads submitted by advertisers. TBA Want to see photos from an event? This magazine was produced by: CNV has a new photo Website! Need Sales??? CALL CNV FOR AdveRTISING OPPORTUNITIES IN SAN DIEgo’S LEADING www.contractornews.photoshelter.com CONSTRUCTION MAGAZINES! Free downloads until 8/31/14 Tel: (760) 466-7790 Just enter password: 2014 www.contractor-news.com 760.466.7790 JULY 2014 CONTRACTOR NEWS 5 HISTORIC SAN VICENTE DAM RAISE PROJECT COMPLETED The largest water storage project in San Diego County history is complete, providing the region with a critical hedge against future water shortages. The San Vicente Dam Raise project adds 152,000 acre-feet of water storage capacity to the reservoir, enough to serve more than 300,000 homes for a year. Filling the reservoir will take two to five years, depending on water supply and demand conditions statewide. The newly added storage volume is greater than any reservoir in the county. The San Vicente Dam Raise project is the largest piece and final major element of the Water Authori- ty’s $1.5 billion Emergency Storage project, a system of reservoirs, interconnected pipelines, and pumping stations designed to ensure a six-month supply of wa- ter for the San Diego region in case imported water deliveries are interrupted – for instance, by an earth- quake. About one-third of the reservoir’s new capaci- ty – 52,000 acre-feet – is for emergency use. The proj- ect also provides 100,000 acre-feet of “carryover” storage that is designed to be filled during wet years and tapped in dry years. The dam raise project cost $416 million. Related projects that include a surge tank, a pump station and 11 miles of large-diameter underground pipeline brought the overall cost to $838 million. Approximately 200 state and local water leaders, elected officials, civic and business leaders, and community stakeholders attended a dam raise dedi- cation celebration at the project site on Wednesday. “This vital enhancement to the region’s water stor- age system will protect our economy and quality of life during future droughts and water supply emergen- cies,” said Thomas V. Wornham, Chair of the Water Authority’s Board of Directors. “It proves once again that our region’s water agencies, civic leaders and ratepayers are committed to doing what it takes to maintain a reliable supply of water, not only for today but for generations to come.” San Vicente Continues on Page 8 Article courtesy of San Diego County Water Authority 6 CONTRACTOR NEWS HISTORIC SAN VICENTE DAM RAISE PROJECT COMPLETED Largest water storage increase in county history adds 152,000 acre-feet of capacity CONTRACTOR NEWS 7 Originally constructed in 1943 at a height of 220 Ft, the new raise added 117 ft in height. 600,000 CuYds of Roller-compacted Concrete San Vicente Continued from Page 6 and CEO Jerry Sanders praised the Water Authority’s ef- San Vicente Dam has been owned and operated by the forts to diversify its water supplies so that the region is city of San Diego since it was built in 1943 to hold 90,000 no longer dependent on a single supplier for almost all of acre-feet of water for city customers. Capacity in the en- its water. “This has been a top public policy priority at the larged reservoir is shared by the city (90,000 acre-feet) Chamber for years,” Sanders said. “By combining a diver- and the Water Authority (152,000 acre-feet). The Water sified set of water supply sources with greatly enhanced Authority and the city will share the cost of operating the storage capacity, we are developing a more robust safety expanded reservoir. net for San Diego County.” “This project improves water security for everyone living “A reliable water supply is critical for economic growth in the San Diego region as well as thousands of businesses and maintaining a competitive business climate,” said that depend on a reliable water source to thrive,” said San Mark Cafferty, president and CEO of the San Diego Re- Diego Mayor Kevin l. Faulconer. “I’m proud the city helped gional Economic Development Corp. “The raised dam will make this happen with our great partners at the San Diego enhance San Diego County’s position as a prime spot for County Water Authority. This project provides a template starting or growing a company because it provides greater for how we can complete bold and visionary projects by assurance that we can weather future droughts and emer- working together.” gencies.” John laird, secretary of the California Natural Resourc- Construction started in 2000 on the comprehensive set es Agency, also attended Wednesday’s ceremony. “Ongo- of water storage and delivery enhancements that are part ing statewide drought conditions highlight the need for of the Water Authority’s Emergency Storage project. The forward-thinking projects like the San Vicente Dam Raise,” project included building Olivenhain Dam in North County laird said. “The Water Authority should be congratulated along with a pipeline connecting Olivenhain Reservoir for starting this project well before the current drought to the Water Authority’s Second Aqueduct, an 11-mile hit, and all Californians should see this as an example of pipeline connecting San Vicente Reservoir to the Water what’s possible with good planning and strong financial Authority’s Second Aqueduct, and pumping facilities at commitment to water supply reliability.” lake Hodges and San Vicente Reservoir. The expanded San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce president pipeline system allows for regional distribution of water Total project cost was $416 Million The raising added an emergency storage increase of 52,000 acre-ft and 100,000 acre-ft of dry year storage 8 CONTRACTOR NEWS JULY 2014 [email protected] during emergencies. ing the two sections of concrete to function as one unit. Expanding San Vicente Reservoir started as a part of the Almost all of the concrete was produced on site with mate- Emergency Storage project. After Water Authority studies rial mined from the hillsides near the old marina, avoiding showed the need for more carryover storage in the region, 100,000 delivery truck trips through the local community. the dam raise was “super-sized” to also include dry-year The Water Authority also conducted a comprehen- storage in the reservoir. sive environmental mitigation program for the project. “By combining two projects into one, we were able to The program met all wildlife agency permit requirements make a huge addition to our water reserves more quickly and created, enhanced, restored or preserved more than and continue our legacy of optimizing our assets for region- 670 acres of sensitive upland and wetland habitats from al benefit,” said Maureen Stapleton, general manager of Oceanside to Imperial Beach. In many locations, the mit- the Water Authority. “Super-sizing the dam raise proved to igation program resulted in multiple public benefits, such be the best way to realize the water supply benefits the re- as watershed protection and preserving existing trail sys- gion needed at the best value for ratepayers.” tems. preparatory work on the foundation for the enlarged Now that work is finished on the dam, remaining con- San Vicente Dam began in June 2009, and construction struction projects in the area include the completion of concluded in June 2014. The dam now stands 337 feet tall, a new, improved marina that will feature twice as many an increase of 117 feet. It was the tallest dam raise in the boat launch lanes, a longer boat ramp and more parking nation and the tallest in the world using a construction spaces. In addition, a new pipeline will be built for the city technique called roller-compacted concrete. Roller-com- of San Diego to replace a section that will be under water pacted concrete is just as strong as conventional concrete when the expanded reservoir is full. The ancillary projects but takes less time and water. It is placed in layers, one are expected to be completed in 2015. on top of the other, in a process that resembles road con- The city of San Diego plans to reopen the reservoir to struction. the public as soon as the water level reaches the new boat Concrete for the San Vicente project was custom-de- ramp, which will depend on the availability of imported wa- signed to match the strength of the original dam, allow- ter and local rainfall along with local water demand. Gary Hawthorne Jose Alvarez (760) 644-6493 (760) 644-6625 Se habla Español 156 W. Mission Ave. - Escondido, CA 92025 2009 CAT 740 Stk#2295, 75% Rubr, [email protected] 2007 CAT 740 Stk# 2296, 40 Ton, S/N: B1P04681, 7348 Hrs, 40 Ton, S/N: B1P02275, 6833 Hrs, 6WD, A/C, 6WD, A/C, Tailgate, Bd Htr..$235,000 WWW.TOOlSHEDRENTAlS.COM Bd Htr, 75% Rubber .............$205,000 2004 DEERE 710G STK# 2269, 4WD, 2007 DEERE 410G Stk# 2312, 4687 2007 DEERE 310SJ Stk# 1908, 2658 2004 CAT 420D Stk# 1751, S/N: 2713 HRS, Aux.
Recommended publications
  • Water Supply Assessment and Verification Report
    Water Supply Assessment and Verification Report Newland Sierra Specific Plan December 2015 (Revised - July 2016) Prepared for Vallecitos Water District This page is intentionally left blank. Water Supply Assessment and Verification Report Newland Sierra Specific Plan Contents 1 Purpose ............................................................................................................................................... 1 2 Findings ............................................................................................................................................... 3 3 Project Description .............................................................................................................................. 5 4 Vallecitos Water District .................................................................................................................... 11 5 Historical and Projected Water Demands ......................................................................................... 13 5.1 Demand Management ............................................................................................................. 14 5.1.1 BMP Categories ......................................................................................................... 14 5.1.2 Senate Bill X 7-7 ......................................................................................................... 16 6 Existing and Projected Supplies .......................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • San Vicente Dam San Diego, California
    CASE STUDY Sika at Work Content contributed by the San Diego County Water Authority (www.sdcwa.org), the City of San Diego (www.sandiego.gov) and Petr Masek Photography (www.masekphoto.com). Sika… One Name. One Source. Worldwide. San Vicente Dam San Diego, California ISO 9001 Certificate # FM 69711 RC 14001 Certificate # RC 510999 Sika Corporation Sika Canada Inc. Sika Mexicana S.A. de C.V. 201 Polito Avenue 601 Delmar Avenue Carretera Libre Celaya Km. 8.5 Lyndhurst NJ 07071 Pointe Claire QC H9R 4A9 Fracc. Industrial Balvanera Tel: 800 933 7452 Tel: 514 697 2610 Corregidora Queretaro C.P. 76920 Fax: 800 294 6408 Fax: 514 694 2792 Tel: 52 442 2385800 www.sikausa.com www.sika.ca Fax: 52 442 2250537 San Vicente Dam • Construction Period: 2009 – 2014 Raising the Dam Layers of roller-compacted concrete 24 inches thick completely cover the down- stream side, producing a stairstepped surface. The new concrete is nearly equal in • Owner: City of San Diego San Vicente Dam, which is owned and operated by the city of volume to the original dam. • Engineer: Parsons Engineering San Diego, currently stands at 220 feet. The Water Authority will raise the dam an additional 117 feet – the tallest dam raise Additional phases of the project include a new marina, a replacement pipeline, and • Contractor: Shimmick Construction & in the United States and the tallest of its type in the world. The restoration of project construction areas. They will begin, one at a time, after the Obayashi Constructors JV raised dam will store an additional 152,000 acre-feet of water, dam raise is complete.
    [Show full text]
  • Description of Source Water System
    CHAPTER 2 DESCRIPTION OF THE SOURCE WATER SYSTEM 2.0 Description of the Source Water System During the last 100 years, the CSD’s water system has evolved into a very complex system. It is now estimated to serve a population of 1.4 million people spread out over 370 square miles (Table 2.1). The CSD treats imported raw water and local runoff water at three City WTPs which have a combined capacity of 378 MGD. The CSD treats water by conventional technologies using coagulation, flocculation, sedimentation, filtration and disinfection. Recently, all CSD water treatment plants have been modified to provide for the addition of fluoride to the potable water supply. To ensure safe and palatable water quality, the CSD collects water samples at its reservoirs, WTPs, and throughout the treated water storage and distribution system. The CSD’s use of local and imported water to meet water demand is affected by availability, cost, and water resource management policies. Imported water availability decreases the need to carry over local water for dry years in City reservoirs. CSD policy is to use local water first to reduce imported water purchases; this policy runs the risk of increased dependence on imported water during local droughts. Table 2.1 - City of San Diego General Statistics Population (2010) 1,301,621 Population (Estimated 2014) 1,381,069 Population percent change 6.1 Land Area Square Miles 370 Population Density per Square Mile 3733 Water Distribution Area Square Miles 403 Number of Service Connections (2015) 279,102 2.1 Water Sources (Figure 2.1) Most of California's water development has been dictated by the multi-year wet/dry weather cycles.
    [Show full text]
  • (877) 426-2010 Getting Ready for Construction on San Vicente Dam
    Emergency Storage Project San Diego County Water Authority Emergency Storage Project Spring 2009 Edition Hodges Construction Pipe Installation Progresses Time to Conserve Equipment Testing for Reaches Key Milestone for San Vicente Pipeline Water is Now Pumping Facilities Starts Soon Page 2 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 The Emergency Storage Project is a system of reservoirs, interconnected Getting Ready for Construction on San Vicente Dam Raise pipelines, and pumping Good news for San Diego County: construction starts soon stations designed to on the San Vicente Dam Raise, the last major component make water available of the Emergency Storage Project. The San Diego County to the San Diego region Water Authority will select a contractor for the first phase of in the event of an construction on the dam raise this spring, and construction is interruption in imported expected to begin before summer. water deliveries. The San Vicente Dam Raise project will increase the height of the existing dam by 117 feet. This will more than double the The Emergency Storage reservoir’s water storage capacity. By raising the dam, the Project is part of the Water Authority will be able to store an additional 152,000 San Diego County Water acre-feet of water for two purposes: for use in emergencies Authority’s Capital if the San Diego region’s imported water supply is cut off, Improvement Program to and for storage of surplus water during wet seasons for use enhance and increase during dry seasons. the operational This first construction phase will prepare the dam for the dam- flexibility of its water raising concrete work during the next phase.
    [Show full text]
  • CAL FIRE Border Impact Statistics
    BORDER AGENCY FIRE COUNCIL The Harris Fire Year End Report 2007 1 2 What is BAFC? – The concerned citizens of the United States and Mexico formed the Border Agency Fire Council. It is a consortium of government and private entities, emergency responders, environmental specialists, law enforcement, fire protection, and elected officials. It began under emergency conditions and has proven to be an extremely successful collaboration. People are alive today because of BAFC. Threatened habitat is protected and even improved because of this program. An unprecedented bi-national mutual assistance agreement is in place and working because of this program. The members of BAFC have worked without judgment or malice toward their fellow human being. From the beginning, their motivation has been primarily to save lives and protect the sensitive habitat of the border area. Thirty-four organizations make up BAFC; a list of members is at the end of this report. The members meet quarterly during the winter and every six to eight weeks during fire season. They meet at the San Diego headquarters of the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) in El Cajon, California. Through collaborative effort, they have altered the environment to allow better access into the wildland for emergency responders, while respecting the natural values of the area. They have enhanced communication among emergency responders on both sides of the U.S. - Mexico border. They have reached out to people in both countries with safety messages in Spanish and English. This report provides a brief description of the many projects the Council and agencies have accomplished this year and ongoing projects started in other years yet still active today.
    [Show full text]
  • Local Rainfall and Reservoirs
    Local Rainfall and Reservoirs San Diego County Reservoirs ORANGE COUNTY RIVERSIDE COUNTY RED MOUNTAIN SAN DIEGO COUNTY RESERVOIR Fallbrook 76 DIVERSIFICATION MORRO HILL RESERVOIR Local Storage: LAKE HENSHAW Enhancing Water 15 TURNER LAKE A Vital Water Supply Reliability Vista Resource Oceanside 78 DIXON LAKE MAERKLE RESERVOIR LAKE WOHLFORD San Marcos SUTHERLAND Carlsbad San Diego Escondido RESERVOIR County’s semiarid OLIVENHAIN RESERVOIR climate means that SAN DIEGUITO Encinitas RESERVOIR 5 truly wet years are LAKE HODGES LAKE RAMONA few and far between, Solana Beach LAKE POWAY CUYAMACA and dry years are very 15 RESERVOIR Del Mar 56 Poway SAN VICENTE RESERVOIR common. Since 1976, the EL CAPITAN MIRAMAR RESERVOIR amount of local surface RESERVOIR 805 Santee water used to help meet La Jolla 52 LAKE JENNINGS annual demand has been as 67 high as 140,300 acre-feet LAKE MURRAY El Cajon 163 LOVELAND 8 RESERVOIR and as low as 4,071 acre- La Mesa feet. Consequently, runoff from 5 San Diego 94 SWEETWATER RESERVOIR BARRETT LAKE Lemon local rainwater that flows into Coronado Grove reservoirs – commonly National City MORENA 54 RESERVOIR called surface water – Chula Vista AF = acre-foot LOWER OTAY RESERVOIR represents a vital One acre-foot is but small portion of 905 approximately San Diego County’s Maerkle, Red Mountain and Morro Hill store 325,900 gallons, MEXICO treated water and do not capture local runoff. enough to supply water supply needs. 2.5 single-family Over the past 10 years, an Enhancing Water Storage households of four average of about 7 percent of the Today, the Water Authority and its mem- for a year.
    [Show full text]
  • County of San Diego Guidelines for Determining
    COUNTY OF SAN DIEGO GUIDELINES FOR DETERMINING SIGNIFICANCE EMERGENCY RESPONSE PLANS LAND USE AND ENVIRONMENT GROUP Department of Planning and Land Use Department of Public Works July 30, 2007 APPROVAL I hereby certify that these Guidelines for Determining Significance for Emergency Response Plans are a part of the County of San Diego, Land Use and Environment Group’s Guidelines for Determining Significance and were considered by the Director of Planning and Land Use, in coordination with the Director of Public Works on the 30th day of July, 2007. I hereby certify that these Guidelines for Determining Significance for Emergency Response Plans are a part of the County of San Diego, Land Use and Environment Group’s Guidelines for Determining Significance and have hereby been approved by the Deputy Chief Administrative Officer (DCAO) of the Land Use and Environment Group on the 30th day of July, 2007. The Director of Planning and Land Use is authorized to approve revisions to these Guidelines for Determining Significance for Emergency Response Plans, except any revisions to Chapter 4.0 must be approved by the DCAO. Approved, July 30, 2007 EXPLANATION These Guidelines for Determining Significance for Emergency Response Plans and information presented herein shall be used by County staff for the review of discretionary projects and environmental documents pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). These Guidelines present a range of quantitative, qualitative, and performance levels for particular environmental effects. Normally
    [Show full text]
  • San Vicente Dam Raise
    San Vicente Dam Raise Investing in Water Reliability Raising the height of San Vicente Dam was one of the last major components of the San Diego County Water Authority’s $1.5 billion Emergency & Carryover Storage Project, helping ensure that water is available to the San Diego region even if access to imported Improving water supplies is interrupted. INFRASTRUCTURE The Water Authority raised San Vicente Dam 117 feet to store additional water for regional use during times of water scarcity. It is the tallest The completed San Vicente Dam Raise was stained to Emergency & Carryover Storage Project dam raise in the blend in with the landscape. The San Vicente Dam Raise is part of the Emergency United States and & Carryover Storage Project, a system of reservoirs, the tallest dam San Vicente Dam interconnected pipelines and pumping stations designed raise of its type San Vicente Dam has been owned and to make water available to the San Diego region if in the world. The operated by the City of San Diego since its imported water deliveries are interrupted. reservoir expan- construction in 1943. At the dam’s original sion added more height of 220 feet, the reservoir could store than 157,000 90,000 acre-feet of water for city customers. acre-feet of The City of San Diego retains ownership and water, more than use of its original storage capacity, while the doubling its ca- Water Authority manages the new storage pacity. The dam capacity for use by the region. The two agen- raise created cies share the cost of operating and maintain- the greatest ing the expanded dam and reservoir.
    [Show full text]
  • 21St Century Dam Design — Advances and Adaptations
    United States Society on Dams 21st Century Dam Design — Advances and Adaptations 31st Annual USSD Conference San Diego, California, April 11-15, 2011 CONTENTS Plenary Session Managing Multiple Priorities: Raising a Dam, Operating a Reservoir, and Coordinating a System of Projects ............................1 Kelly Rodgers and Gerald E. Reed III, San Diego County Water Authority; Rosalva Morales and Yana Balotsky, City of San Diego; Thomas O. Keller, GEI Consultants, Inc.; and Kevin N. Davis, Black & Veatch Corporation Partnering with Project Stakeholders at the San Vicente Dam Raise...........3 Thomas C. Haid, Parsons/Black & Veatch JV; Gerald E. Reed III, Vic Bianes and Kelly Rodgers, San Diego County Water Authority; and William A. Corn, Shimmick Construction Company Managing Unexpected Endangered Species Issues on Bid-Ready Projects........5 Anita M. Hayworth, Dudek; Mary Putnam, San Diego County Water Authority; and Douglas Gettinger, Jeffrey D. Priest and Paul M. Lemons, Dudek Planning and Cost Reduction Considerations for RCC Dam Construction........7 Adam Zagorski, Shimmick/Obayashi JV; and Mike Pauletto, M. Pauletto and Associates Ten Years After the World Commission on Dams Report: Where Are We?........9 Manoshree Sundaram, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Australian Risk Approach for Assessment of Dams ...................11 M. Barker, GHD The Relative Health of the Dams and Reservoirs Market ................13 Del A. Shannon, ASI Constructors, Inc. Design of the Dams of the Panama Canal Expansion ..................15 Lelio Mejia, John Roadifer and Mike Forrest, URS Corporation; and Antonio Abrego and Maximiliano De Puy, Autoridad del Canal de Panama Concrete Dams: Advances in Analysis Myponga Dam Stability Evaluation: Modeling Stress Relaxation for Arch Dams Using Linear Finite Element Analysis ..........................17 Scott L.
    [Show full text]
  • San Vicente Dam Raise Briefing Summary
    EMERGENCY STORAGE PROJECT San Vicente Dam Raise Briefing Summary DATE: May 14, 2008 TIME: 7 p.m. ORGANIZATION: Lakeside Design Review Board MEETING LOCATION: Lakeside Community Center PRESENTERS: Kelly Rodgers, SDCWA STAFF RESOURCES: Jessica Berlin, Katz & Associates Kelly Rodgers, project manager for the San Vicente Dam Raise project, introduced herself and said that Jeff Shoaf, the former project manager, has moved into a more senior role at the Water Authority. Kelly has been working on the San Vicente Dam Raise project for about a year. Kelly gave a brief project overview, but said that she would be giving the full project overview at the Lakeside Planning Group meeting on Wednesday, May 21. She said the Carryover Storage Project EIR was certified last month, so the dam will be raised the full 117 feet, to store an additional 152,000 acre-feet of water in San Vicente Reservoir. The city of San Diego began lowering the reservoir’s water level in April, in preparation for the beginning of dam raise construction. It is lowering at about 1.5 feet per week and it should be below the boat launch ramp (and closed to recreation) in August or September for six to nine years. Kelly said that the Water Authority is looking at ways to open the reservoir to recreation sooner. She said that the project team is about halfway through the design of the project, and the first construction package is scheduled to begin in early 2009. She also announced that the last tour of the project site before construction begins is scheduled for Saturday, June 28 (from 9 a.m.
    [Show full text]
  • “The Flood of 1927”
    “The Flood of 1927” A “big rain is coming,” predicted Henry Cooper, Escondido’s celebrated, amateur weather prognosticator. The “Escondido Weather Prophet,” as he was known,” spoke in early February 1927, predicting a major storm for later in the month. “We shall have copious rains all along the coast,” Cooper declared, “with assured runoff from a heavy mantle of snow in the mountains.” “Copious” indeed, were the rains that swept into the county beginning on Thursday, February 10. Two storms would last for seven days bringing the heaviest rainfall San Diego had seen since the famous “Rainmaker Flood” of January 1916. Dams would fill and overflow, Mission Valley would turn into a broad lake, and roads and bridges would disappear, isolating San Diego from the rest of world. Mission Valley, February 1927. San Diego Public Library The first storm drenched the county for three days, dropping nearly an inch of rain in the city of San Diego and bringing heavy snow to the mountains. Cooper’s prophecy seemed on the mark. A bigger storm arrived on Sunday, pushed by southeasterly winds reported at 28 miles per hour. Light rain fell along the coast but there were heavy downpours in the mountains. Lake Cuyamaca led the county with 7.5 inches of rain. By Monday, precipitation records were falling everywhere. In downtown San Diego, people were stunned by intense cloudbursts. At mid-day .80 of inch fell in forty-five minutes. One five- minute downpour measured .25 of an inch. Streets and buildings quickly flooded. Unused to driving in rainy streets, San Diegans plowed into swamped intersections.
    [Show full text]
  • Western Grebe Aechmophorus Occidentalis in the Middle of The
    Grebes — Family Podicipedidae 103 Western Grebe Aechmophorus occidentalis In the middle of the 20th century, the Western Grebe was just a winter visitor to San Diego County, com- mon on salt water along the coast. It continues as one of the most abundant winter visitors on San Diego Bay and the ocean near shore. Since the 1950s it has taken on an additional role as a locally common breeding species, colonizing an increasing number of lakes and lagoons with fringing marshes. The Western Grebe is an outstanding example of a bird that has taken advantage of the need for San Diego County’s human population to import and manage vast quantities of fresh water. Photo by Anthony Mercieca Breeding distribution: As of 2001, the Western Grebe was up to six nesting sites in San Diego County. At ing a fledgling, 30 July 2001 (P. A. Ginsburg). At Buena O’Neill Lake, Camp Pendleton (E6), the birds were sum- Vista Lagoon (H5/H6) the grebes have nested since at mering by 1997 and first confirmed breeding in 1999. least 1997 (K. Messer), both east and west of Interstate The numbers there are still small, maximum 12, includ- 5. Numbers in spring and summer are sometimes large, 104 Grebes — Family Podicipedidae Nesting: For its nest, the Western Grebe makes a pile of cattail leaves and other aquatic vegetation, normally in the water if not actually floating. Some nests are visible from lakeshores, but most of our confirmations of Western Grebe breeding were of chicks, often riding on their par- ents’ backs. Shortly after hatching, Western Grebe chicks leave the nest and climb onto the adults’ backs.
    [Show full text]