WATER AGENCY'S TRIP QUESTIONED : TOUR IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA COST OVER $9,000 FOR CASTAIC LAKE GROUP.Byline: Sherry Joe Crosby Daily News Staff Writer The Castaic Lake Castaic Lake is a lake on Castaic Creek formed by Castaic Dam, in northwestern Los Angeles County, California, near the town of Castaic. The 323,700 acre foot lake (399,000,000 m³) is the terminus of the West Branch of the California Aqueduct, though some comes from the 154 mi² Water Agency spent nearly $10,000 on a junket to Northern California Northern California, sometimes referred to as NorCal, is the northern portion of the U.S. state of California. The region contains the San Francisco Bay Area, the state capital, Sacramento; as well as the substantial natural beauty of the redwood forests, the northern for 35 community leaders which included an overnight stay at the Sacramento Hilton Inn and a salmon filet dinner. The three-day trip, which included tours of the Delta and water treatment facilities from Sacramento to Bakersfield, cost the agency about $9,450. Tour participants included Assembly candidate George Runner George C. Runner, Jr. (born March 25 1952 in Scotia, New York) is a Republican California State Senator, who represents the 17th Senate District, which includes portions of Los Angeles County, San Bernardino County and Ventura County. of Lancaster and his wife, Sharon, as well as water board members, environmentalists and representatives of local homeowners groups. Robert Sagehorn, Castaic Lake general manager, said the trip, which took place Oct. 4-6, was designed to educate participants about the State Water Project and its importance to the Santa Clarita Valley The Santa Clarita Valley is the valley of the Santa Clara River in Southern California. It stretches through Los Angeles County and Ventura County. Its main population center is the city of Santa Clarita. The valley was part of the 48,612-acre (19,672. . ``The State Water Project is large and to fully understand what it does really takes someone to see it in full reality,'' he said. Critics of the water agency complained that the trip is an abuse of taxpayers' money. ``They spend money frivolously and who's going to end up paying for it in the end? The taxpayers,'' said Merry Farmer, who's running for a seat on the Castaic Lake board of directors. The 11-member Castaic Lake board of directors approved the trip, budgeting $270 a person. So far, the agency has accounted for $4,415 in lodging, meals and transportation. The cost still must be determined of two shuttle buses, a breakfast buffet at the Red Lion Red Lion may refer to:
Spouses were invited, making the trip more appealing, said Barbara Dore, president of the Valencia Industrial Association. A general manager of a Valencia auto dealership brought his son; a high school teacher brought the student body president. ``I think because it was a weekend they figured they would get better participation by inviting husbands and wives,'' Dore said. ``When they invited me and said he could go, I said, `Oh, great!' '' Runner said he would reimburse the agency for his wife's expenses. The trip began at Burbank-Glendale-Pasadena Airport and ended with a private bus tour through the San Joaquin Valley Noun 1. San Joaquin Valley - a vast valley in central California known for its rich farmland Calif., California, Golden State, CA - a state in the western United States on the Pacific; the 3rd largest state; known for earthquakes , with stops at the Harvey O. Banks Pumping Plant The Harvey O. Banks Pumping Plant is located 2.5 miles (4 km) southwest of the Clifton Court Forebay and 11.5 miles (19 km) northeast of Livermore, CA. in Tracy, about an hour east of the San Francisco Bay Area “Bay Area” redirects here. For other uses, see Bay Area (disambiguation). The San Francisco Bay Area, colloquially known as the Bay Area or The Bay , the A.D. Edmonston Pumping Plant Edmonston Pumping Plant is a pumping station near the south end of the California Aqueduct. It raises the water 1,926 feet (600 m) to cross the Tehachapi Mountains. near Bakersfield and the Rio Vista Rio Vista may refer to:
Guests boarded Southwest Airlines This article is about the American airline. For the former Japanese airline, see Japan Transocean Air. For the British airline, see Air Southwest. Southwest Airlines Co. for a one-way flight to Sacramento where they toured the Oroville Dam Oroville Dam, 770 ft (235 m) high and 7,600 ft (2,317 m) long, on the Feather River, N Calif., near the city of Oroville. The largest unit of the Feather River project, the dam was built (1957–68) to provide electric power, drinking water, and irrigation for on the Feather River
The Feather River is a principal tributary of the Sacramento River, 170 miles in length, in Northern California in the United States. , about 60 miles east of the state Capitol. They stayed at the Sacramento Hilton Inn where they dined on chicken and salmon filet. They also stayed at the Red Lion Hotel in Bakersfield where they enjoyed an English-cut prime rib dinner and breakfast buffet. The trip, the first to Northern California, is one of several the agency has financed during the past three years to the A.D. Edmonston Water Pumping Plant. Those trips were less expensive and lasted one day, water agency officials said. The agency decided to visit Northern California because some board directors had never seen the State Water Project in its entirety. ``We never organized one to Northern California to view the entire state water system,'' Castaic Lake board President Bill Cooper said. ``We thought it was time to organize one that was a little larger. We took in the whole State Water Project as an educational process.'' Participants of the latest tour said they decided to go because they wanted to learn more about water issues and share their experiences with their neighbors and friends. ``Water is a tremendous issue in the state of California,'' said Runner, a 36th District Assembly candidate running against Democratic opponent Dave Cochran. ``Knowing and understanding water and how it affects local water districts and our citizens is essential.'' As former mayor of Lancaster, Runner said he has dealt with water issues and would continue to do so as a state legislator. Frank Ferry, a Valencia High School Valencia High School may refer to:
``It's the best way to learn about water,'' said Ferry, who took with him student body President Eddie Hyatt. ``I came out with a tremendous education about the whole process of getting water here.'' Ferry said Hyatt has described his experiences to fellow students and plans to soon lecture elementary and junior high students. Some critics questioned the choice of the tour participants. ``I don't think taxpayers should pick this up,'' said Joan Dunn, another candidate for the Castaic Lake board of directors. ``Not many of (the tour participants) are really interested in water. The ones who are interested in water weren't invited.'' Agency officials said they chose community leaders who represented a diversity of interests in Santa Clarita Valley. ``We wanted a great deal of the cross section from the valley,'' Cooper said. ``We weren't looking specifically for chamber (of commerce) people or people who were pro-Castaic Lake Water Agency.'' But no invitations were extended to the political opponents of Runner nor the three water board directors running for re-election. ``I don't think we'd like two opposing candidates,'' Cooper said, referring to Runner and opponent Cochran. ``It wasn't a political trip, it was an informational trip.'' The following is a list of the Castaic Lake Water Agency's guests on a $9,500 junket to Sacramento and Bakersfield: Hunt Braly and his wife, Pamela lobbyist for the water agency Pat Chandler public affairs representative for the MWD MWD Metropolitan Water District of Southern California MWD Measurement While Drilling (oil drilling) MWD Morgan Stanley Dean Witter (stock symbol) MWD Molecular Weight Distribution MWD Military Working Dog Bill Cooper president of the Castaic agency board Rose and Dennis Coyle Vasquez Canyon property owners Barbara Dore, and her husband, Eric Carlson president of the Valencia Industrial Association Peggy Freeman former clinic director Linda Lemons Castaic community leader Maria Fulkerson and her husband, Don city parks commissioner Frank Ferry Valencia High School teacher Eddie Hyatt Valencia High student Richard Green water board member Paul and Elfreda Higgins community volunteers Carl Kanowsky attorney Mike Kotch water board member Greg Lawler and his son, Brandon general manager, Magic Lincoln Mercury Jim and Susan Lentini Lentini Insurance Agency owners Marsha McLean and her husband, Dale president of the Canyons Preservation Committee Steve McLean water agency operations engineer Dennis Ostrom and his wife, Susan president, Sand Canyon Homeowners Association Randy Pfiester water board member George Runner, and his wife, Sharon 36th Assembly District candidate Bob Sagehorn water agency general manager Kiza Stratton water agency public relations public relations, activities and policies used to create public interest in a person, idea, product, institution, or business establishment. By its nature, public relations is devoted to serving particular interests by presenting them to the public in the most consultant Tim Wheeler water agency supervisor |
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