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46-624: The All-American Canal runs parallel to the Mexico–California border for several miles. With over 500 people having drowned in the canal since its completion, it has been called "the Most Dangerous Body of Water in the U.S." The California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment has issued an advisory for any fish caught in the All-American Canal due to elevated levels of mercury, PCBs, and selenium. The All-American Canal

92-701: A 10% pay cut. On May 28, 2009 Governor Schwarzenegger proposed an additional 5% pay cut for all state workers (without an adjustment to the number of days worked), resulting a total pay cut of 15%; this additional cut must be approved by the legislature. Many have questioned the Governor's motivation for cutting OEHHA. Some have proposed this cut was spearheaded by industries who have been in conflict with OEHHA and several industries have been proposed as "suspects." An international petition to save OEHHA, titled "Doctors and Scientists for Environmental Health", has also been circulating and has over 200 signatures from California ,

138-470: A highly educated and trained professional staff of about 120 individuals. The staff include toxicologists , epidemiologists , biostatisticians and physicians ; many have international reputations in their scientific fields. In fiscal year 2007–2008 OEHHA was budgeted for approximately $ 17.5 million or 1/500th of 1% the state General Fund; $ 8 million is from the general fund. Imperial Irrigation District The Imperial Irrigation District ( IID )

184-452: A part of California's Colorado River Water Use Plan, lined 37 kilometers (23 mi) of the canal to prevent seepage. In 2006, a Mexicali business and civic organization and two California environmental non-profits challenged the lining project in US federal court on the basis that it violated the water rights of Mexican water users and violated US environmental statutes due to the seepage's effects on

230-484: A small drop in the western Imperial Valley where it drains into the Westside Main Canal. The main canal is 82 miles (132 km) long, with a total drop of 175 feet (53 m), a width of 150 to 700 feet (46 to 213 m) and a depth of 7 to 50 feet (2.1 to 15.2 m). The canals get smaller as they run west because they carry less water. Eight hydroelectric power plants have been constructed along drops in

276-689: A state-of-the-art energy battery storage unit in El Centro, which would provide backup energy resources but also help the IID grid integrate the many megawatts of solar energy entering the IID grid during the day. Under the nation's largest ag-to-urban water conservation transfer agreement (called the Quantification Settlement Agreement, a series of pacts between California water districts to help California live within its 4.4 million acre-foot entitlement right of Colorado River water), since 2003 water

322-483: A temporary loss of electricity from Arizona to San Diego and into parts of Mexico. All utilities involved in providing energy to the affected areas were investigated by NERC and FERC . While not admitting any wrongdoing, in 2014 IID agreed to a $ 12 million settlement with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, bringing to a close the federal probe into the events surrounding the outage. Most of

368-529: A variety of environmental media. Traditionally OEHHA has focused on four primary areas: In recent years OEHHA has taken on new mandates to address emerging environmental issues of particular concern to the California public: OEHHA has three main divisions: The Scientific Affairs division is composed of four scientific branches that correspond to the scientific duties: State agency users of information on issues of environmental and public health include: OEHHA

414-714: Is a specialized department within the cabinet-level California Environmental Protection Agency ( CalEPA ) with responsibility for evaluating health risks from environmental chemical contaminants. OEHHA is the scientific adviser within CalEPA and provides the health effects assessments that assist regulatory decision makers within CalEPA, the California Department of Public Health , and other agencies and non-governmental organizations (see below). This includes assessing health and environmental risks from: In May 2009, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger proposed to "eliminate and transfer

460-598: Is also a 7.2 MW pumped storage plant at Senator Wash Dam. Water from the Senator Wash Reservoir is released when water needs exceed flows at Parker Dam . Runoff from the farmland irrigated by the All-American Canal make up most of the flows in the Alamo River and New River , both of which drain into the Salton Sea , now providing most of its water. The rest is from smaller rivers and drainage systems. Historically,

506-709: Is an irrigation district that serves the Imperial Valley and a large portion of the Coachella Valley in the Colorado Desert region of Southern California . Established under the State Water Code, the IID supplies roughly 500,000 acres (200,000 ha) of Imperial Valley farmland with raw Colorado River water to support irrigation. IID also supplies electrical energy to the Imperial and Coachella valleys. IID

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552-479: Is essential to prevent undue political influence on the evaluation of health risks. These factors are and should remain explicitly excluded from the assessment of risk. OEHHA plays a critical and unique role that allows for the separation of risk assessment and hazard evaluation from risk management with primary goal of protecting public health and the environment. OEHHA' most recognizable contributions to public and environmental health are: OEHHA's work products cover

598-718: The Quantification Settlement Agreement —a pack of several agreements among California water districts entered into in 2003 to help California live within its entitlement of 4.4 million acre-feet of Colorado River water a year. Water conserved through conservation projects under the QSA is made available for the Southern California Coastal communities (San Diego County Water Authority, Coachella Valley Water District and Metropolitan Water District of Southern California). Prior to 1942, irrigation water delivered to

644-614: The U.S. and over 20 other countries worldwide. On June 2, 2009 articles and editorials/opinions were published in the Los Angeles Times , Sacramento Bee , California Progress Report , SFGate and others that speak to the importance of OEHHA and further explain how cutting OEHHA would not save a significant source of funding. These timely articles coincide with the California Budget Conference Committee hearings, with public testimony, that occurred on

690-526: The "renewable energy capital of the world", IID serves as a catalyst for renewable energy development in the Imperial Valley and is going to great lengths to enhance its energy infrastructure to be able to move renewable energy generated in the Imperial Valley to markets far and wide. The Energy Department has an aggressive transmission expansion plan and, over the next five years, intends to invest $ 1 billion in its energy infrastructure, which includes building

736-454: The All-American Canal since its completion due to deep, cold water, steep sides that make escape difficult, and swift currents that can reach 5.45 mph (8.77 km/h). Many of those killed are undocumented immigrants attempting to cross the canal after passing the U.S.–Mexico border . Deaths peaked at 31 in 1998 after increased border security measures in San Diego forced migrants to cross

782-515: The All-American Canal system. Drops 1 through 5, Pilot Knob , and East Highline are located on the All-American Canal. Two other power plants, Double Weir and Turnip, are located on the Central Main Canal and Westside Main Canal branches, respectively. The power plants are all relatively small and have a combined capacity of 58 MW. Electricity generation is dictated by water delivery needs. There

828-532: The Imperial Valley and Coachella valleys includes the Imperial Valley cities of El Centro , Calexico , Holtville, Brawley and Coachella Valley cities including Mecca, Thermal, La Quinta, Coachella and Indio, Bermuda Dunes, Thousand Palms, Indio Hills and Sky Valley. As the third largest public power utility in California, IID controls more than 1,100 megawatts of power derived from a diverse resource portfolio that includes its own generation, and long- and short-term power purchases. Located in what's been referred to as

874-594: The Imperial Valley was diverted from the Colorado River near Pilot Knob through Mexico to bypass the Imperial sand dunes west of Yuma and into the IID-operated Alamo Canal (also known as the Imperial Canal). Since 1942, water has been diverted at Imperial Dam on the Colorado River through the 82-mile All-American Canal , all of which the IID operates and maintains, although the structures are owned by

920-548: The OEHHA item, but did not say when the committee would revisit the OEHHA budget proposal. On June 15, 2009 the Budget Conference Committee voted 6-4 along party lines to approve funding OEHHA's entire budget with fee- and penalty-based special funds. The conference committee's plan will be considered by the full Assembly and Senate as part of the budget package. The final ruling on OEHHA will not be available until after

966-506: The Salton Sea had been periodically flooded by extreme Colorado River floods and usually dried up before being reflooded. If not for the All-American Canal, the Salton Sea would have likely dried up long ago. The system transports silt, selenium and salts from the Colorado River into the Salton Sea. Because there is no outlet to the ocean, these salts and minerals are concentrated by evaporation. Approximately 68,000 acre-feet (84,000,000 m)

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1012-485: The Senate Environmental Quality Committee (below) to keep OEHHA intact and add risk assessment and hazard evaluation functions from the California Department of Pesticide Regulation and the California Department of Toxic Substances Control . When OEHHA's item came up, Assemblymember Nielsen requested more time to review the proposal. The committee decided to postpone the discussion and action of

1058-579: The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation. Water from Imperial Dam serves the Yuma, Ariz. region as well as the Imperial Valley. The All-American Canal also delivers water from the dam to the Coachella turnout—a section east of Yuma that diverts water to the Coachella Valley Water District. Imperial Dam, located about 20 miles north of Yuma, contains four desilting basins which help remove silt and sediment from

1104-448: The addition of Department Pesticide Regulation 's risk assessment activities, Department of Toxic Substances Control 's hazard evaluation functions, and lead roles in the children's health initiative and the Cal/EPA portion of the biomonitoring program. The main argument against the Governor's proposal is that the science performed in OEHHA should be independent of policy decisions made by

1150-441: The afternoon of June 2, 2009. On June 2, 2009 the Budget Conference Committee convened a hearing for public comment on the Governor's budget proposal. The hearing is archived on video, the testimony on behalf of OEHHA begins at 3:49:11 The supporters of OEHHA proposed and alternative to keep OEHHA intact and save $ 8.3 million, OEHHA's general fund budget. The proposal includes alternative funding sources and also expands OEHHA with

1196-536: The border in other areas. In 2011 the Imperial Irrigation District allocated $ 1.1 million in order to install lines with lifesaving buoys across the canal in 105 locations. Bilingual signs reading "Warning: Dangerous Water" were also installed in 1,414 locations along the canal. California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment The Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment , commonly referred to as OEHHA (pronounced oh-EEE-ha),

1242-586: The budget is passed by the state legislature and signed by the Governor . As of June 25, 2009, it does not appear that the Democratic budget plan will be passed. On June 10, 2009, The Senate Environmental Quality Committee voted to recommend that OEHHA be kept intact and expanded with the addition of California Department Pesticide Regulation 's risk assessment activities, California Department of Toxic Substances Control 's hazard evaluation functions, and lead roles in

1288-607: The canal, but the Imperial Irrigation District operates it. Water for the canal is diverted at the Imperial Diversion Dam . The All-American Canal feeds, from east to west, the Yuma Main Canal, the Coachella Canal , East Highline Canal, Central Main Canal, and the Westside Main Canal. These six main branches of the canal and a network of smaller canals gradually reduce the flow of the All-American Canal until it ends at

1334-463: The children's health initiative and the Cal/EPA portion of the biomonitoring program. The recommendation will be forwarded to the Budget Conference Committee. Public testimony and discussion on behalf of OEHHA continued for over an hour and included 16 people who spoke in favor of keeping OEHHA intact. Two others spoke in opposition to transferring Department Pesticide Regulation 's risk assessment activities to OEHHA, but neither of them commented on

1380-758: The environment and sound science is illustrated by the scientific quality of the risk assessments produced. OEHHA is headquartered in the Cal/EPA building in Sacramento and has an office in the Oakland Elihu Harris State Building. Before the state building was built, the Oakland office used to be located across from the University of California, Berkeley ; OEHHA has maintained academic ties with this institution. OEHHA's scientific responsibilities are fulfilled by

1426-467: The functions" of OEHHA (and other agencies) as part his May Revise for the 2009–2010 budget. Details about the transfer of functions including mandates, funding, staff resources, and new head agency are limited. Elimination of OEHHA will have a very minor impact on the budget problems because of several reasons: (1) OEHHA's budget is very small (1/500th of 1% of the General Fund, or 1/50,000th) compared to

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1472-586: The larger issue of OEHHA's future. The vote was 3-2. Senator Ashburn voted against the expansion recommendation but also said, "The expertise that resides in OEHHA ought not to be dissipated throughout state government as the Governor proposes." Speakers in support of OEHHA included: Speakers against expansion of OEHHA: OEHHA's goals as a governmental agency include: OEHHA assesses the risk of environmental chemicals based on health considerations alone. In contrast, risk managers consider economic and technical feasibility as factors in their decisions. This separation

1518-586: The money IID had been fined ($ 9 million) will be directly invested into the IID electric system to strengthen and enhance its system. The district has committed to a number of physical improvements that will result in a stronger system and, in combination with the Strategic Transmission Expansion Plan, which is under consideration by the California Energy Commission , will provide greater export of renewable energy capability to

1564-488: The nearby Andrade Mesa Wetlands. A rider in the Tax Relief and Health Care Act of 2006 required the completion of the lining project, however, and the lawsuit was rendered moot. The Imperial Irrigation District built a parallel canal along the designated section of the original canal, and the water flow was rerouted into the new lined canal. Construction began in 2007 and was completed in 2009. Over 500 people have drowned in

1610-579: The other boards and departments of Cal/EPA . Further, in the governor's proposal, many of OEHHA's programs would be dropped entirely (e.g. the Public Health Goals for drinking water contaminants). Speakers in support of OEHHA included: On June 11, 2009 the second hearing for the Budget Conference committee was convened. OEHHA's item number was 3980 on the Agenda and included the recommendation from

1656-399: The residents living in the Imperial and Coachella Valleys (as dried shoreline soil and sediments, saturated with agricultural chemicals , will be spread by dust emissions from strong winds), IID has petitioned California State Water Resources Control Board asking that this governing board initiate negotiations between the QSA parties and the state to develop a plan to restore the sea, meeting

1702-490: The risk assessment and scientific arm of Cal/EPA and provides health-protective scientific guidance for Cal/EPA. Additionally, OEHHA is the lead agency for Proposition 65 implementation, a ballot measure approved in 1986, titled The Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986 . The highly experienced team of experts is well respected in the scientific community and has been built up over more than twenty years. The quality and depth of OEHHA's commitment to public health,

1748-505: The river water so it can be delivered by gravity flow. The IID also remotely operates the Brock Reservoir , between El Centro and Yuma, by operating the inlet and outlet gates and regulating the amount of water diverted into the reservoir and returned to the main system. IID's Energy Department provides electric power to more than 145,000 customers in the Imperial Valley and parts of Riverside and San Diego counties. Service to residents of

1794-557: The sea ended on December 31, 2017. The State of California has not lived up to its obligation to develop a restoration plan for the sea. In 2009 under the agreement, IID completed the 23-mile concrete lining project of the All-American Canal to recover about 66,700 acre-feet of water per year for use by the San Diego County Water Authority. Because the declining Salton Sea poses a serious public health crisis to

1840-465: The state deficit; $ 8.3 million of OEHHA's budget is general fund (2) about half of OEHHA's budget is funded by special funds (e.g. Proposition 65, Biomonitoring) (3) state mandates that transfer to other agencies or departments will still require funding. By an executive order from the Governor in February 2009, all state workers are on a two-day-a-month furlough , or two days off without pay, equivalent to

1886-419: The state's obligation. Pacific Institute , an Oakland -based environmental think tank , had issued a report stating that the lack of replenishment water to the sea was leading to a "period of very rapid deterioration." With the increased shrinkage, they predicted that dust storms would increase and a rotten-egg smell could reach to the coastal cities. On Sept. 8, 2011, an estimated 5 million people suffered

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1932-643: Was authorized along with Hoover Dam by the 1928 Boulder Canyon Project Act and built in the 1930s by the United States Bureau of Reclamation and Six Companies, Inc. Its design and construction was supervised by the Bureau's then chief designing engineer, John L. Savage , and was completed in 1942. In 2016, the canal was designated as a National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark by the American Society of Civil Engineers . The Bureau of Reclamation owns

1978-452: Was established in its current form by Governor Pete Wilson on July 17, 1991 with the creation of Cal/EPA. OEHHA originated in the 1950s for air epidemiology in the Department of Public Health and developed over time with increased public awareness of the environment. OEHHA is the smallest of the six boards, departments and offices within Cal/EPA. OEHHA has no regulatory authority but remains

2024-530: Was formed in 1911 under the California Irrigation District Act to acquire the properties of the bankrupt California Development Company and its Mexican subsidiary. The IID was formed as a public agency, acquiring 13 mutual water companies in the valley which had developed and operated water distribution canals. The district is headquartered in Imperial, California . The IID is a key partner in

2070-548: Was lost annually by seepage from the All-American Canal, especially from the point where the canal crosses the great Algodones Dune Field . About 90% of this seepage entered Mexico. At first this seepage caused widespread flooding, but Mexicali Valley residents and businesses built drainage and pumping systems to recover the seepage. Mexicali Valley agriculture became reliant upon this seepage for irrigation. As water use increased in both rural and urban areas, this seepage became an issue of concern. The All-American Canal Lining Project,

2116-534: Was released to the Salton Sea to mitigate negative environmental impacts. The agreement calls for this for the first 15 years of the water transfer. (Water conserved on Imperial Valley farms and in the IID water delivery system is provided to Southern California coastal communities—specifically the San Diego County Water Authority, the Coachella Valley Water District and the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California). This flow of mitigation water to

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