Twenty years ago as Marin's assemblywoman, I enabled through legislation Marin Municipal Water District and all other California water districts the rights and powers to create and distribute recycled water. I believe they now have the ability to do so.
Responsible authorities at that time assured me and other state legislators that recycled water was 99.9 percent potable. Golf courses and other commercial enterprises were to be the initial primary users of such water.
In the past 20 years, our local water district has spent much time and money discussing desalinating water. I do not know if it has begun the infrastructure to distribute recycled water to residential users.
I for one would be thrilled if I could irrigate my garden with recycled water.
I am not afraid to drink it either. I really think it would taste the same as desalinated water or better.
Having lived here during the horrible drought of 1976-77, I do not want to relive all the things we had to do if there were simpler options.
The costs for "purple pipes" to distribute recycled water to residences may not even be as much as creating a desalinization plant.
Vivien Bronshvag, Kentfield
Vegans conserve water
Regarding the IJ's Jan. 26 story, "Drought scares West Marin's 'Cheese Sisters,'" could the IJ please do a story on how cattle ranching ravages our planet and is actually a leading cause of drought instead of the usual portrayal of the rancher as an economic victim we should feel sorry for?
It's shocking all the talk about not flushing toilets and turning the tap off while brushing one's teeth as efforts to save water instead of discussing how more than half of all freshwater used in California goes to raising animals for food.
According to statistics from the Water Footprint Network, a pound of beef requires 1,799 gallons of water to produce while a gallon of milk takes 880 gallons.
In contrast, 132 gallons of water are needed to grow a pound of wheat and 216 gallons to produce a pound of soybeans.
Why aren't our leaders talking about this? Why aren't they calling for a reduction in animal agriculture as a means to save water?
If we really care about conserving water — both for the drought at hand and for other droughts that are sure to follow as planet Earth heats up, we should stop subsidizing and supporting the incredibly destructive and wasteful livestock industry and reward those who grow (and eat) only plants instead.
Kim Flaherty, Mill Valley
Ban new hookups
I read with interest the IJ's Jan. 22 article in which the Marin Municipal Water District is asking its customers for a 25 percent voluntary reduction in face of the severe drought.
Comparisons were also made to the drought that lasted from 1987 until 1992, noting this was the county's third consecutive dry year.
While the majority of Marinites undoubtedly recognize the need for voluntary reductions, shouldn't the MMWD also be taking more proactive measures such as stopping the issuance of new taps until the water supply returns to a more sustainable level?
MMWD need to look no further than down the block at the WinCup development that will be soon be providing an additional minimum of one shower a day at each of the 180 apartment units.
Sizeable projects are planned in Marinwood, Tam Valley, Strawberry and other areas of Marin.
Before approving more projects and hence increased water usage, the elected MMWD board needs assess our current water situation and act proactively.
Conservation by existing MMWD customers is needed but customers also need our elected MMWD board members to take decisive action.
Gary Denison, Mill Valley
Repairing the damage
When the Marin County Bicycle Coalition recently learned about an illegal trail in Tam Valley, we immediately offered to help repair the damage.
This and other illegal trails highlight the damage that can be done both to the environment and to the image of the mountain bike community.
We do not accept or condone illegal trail construction and instead encourage people to work with the coalition to build sustainable trail projects.
As part of protecting our precious ecological resources, we are planning a habitat restoration project in Mill Valley and routinely work with state Parks and Marin County Parks to help maintain trails and remove invasive plants that crowd out native vegetation.
To address trail conflict, the coalition installed 1,000 bells on cyclists' bikes in 2013 and we just purchased another 1,000 bells for 2014. The bike bell provides a friendly greeting to other trail users when approaching from behind.
MCBC is supporting (and acting as fiscal sponsor for) the Stafford Lake Bike Park in Novato. The 17-acre facility will have pump tracks, a dual slalom course, a perimeter trail, and will be constructed in full compliance with environmental regulations.
If successful, another bike park is planned for Ssouthern Marin. Facilities like these will ideally reduce illegally built bike stunts on public lands.
We are engaged in the county Parks Road and Trail Management Plan and revisions announced last week support new opportunities for mountain biking while reducing impacts on the environment.
MCBC is working diligently to improve trail etiquette between users, reduce illegal construction and be ambassadors of land stewardship.
Learn more about MCBC and the Stafford Lake Bike Park at www.marinbike.org.
Tom Boss, off-road and events director, Marin County Bicycle Coaliton, Fairfax
"... and you can't please all of the people all of the time" — so goes the tune.
It was with interest that I read of San Domenico's decision to include male students in the year 2015. As a parent of a daughter who attended the school for 12 years, at which time it was an all-girls school, we know it was the best education available to her, and a nurturing environment.
And now, as then, we trust that the Dominican Sisters and the board of directors have thoroughly researched this new facet of education at the school.
If parents choose to send their children to the school, we know that commitment is a sacrifice for many. Along with that commitment and sacrifice must come the trust in the administration that the choices made for the school are for the best intention of the students, parents and faculty.
Additionally, San Domenico has always welcomed a high percentage of scholarship students to provide the diversity that is an important strength of its mission. This fact further emphasizes its commitment to education, and I believe this still to be true.
At the time our children were young, there was no local school the caliber of San Domenico for our sons. The young men who will attend San Domenico School, grades nine through 12, are indeed lucky for the opportunity.
Jeanne Capurro, San Rafael
Regarding the Marin Board of Supervisors' new standards for public behavior at its meetings, supervisors have taken some considerable heat during "open time for public expression" lately, and in some cases, for good reason.
Tuesday's supervisors' meeting was a new low.
The supervisors have issued what could be construed as a "soft warning" to the public with a new statement on its weekly board agenda regarding how the public needs to behave and they are obviously targeting open time for public expression.
The Marin Board of Supervisors has included a new statement at the top of their weekly agenda, unveiled to the public at the Jan. 28 board meeting.
In essence, they are telling the public how to behave, presumably during open time for public expression. It states: "The Marin County Board of Supervisors encourages a respectful dialogue that supports freedom of speech and values diversity of opinion. The board, staff and the public are expected to be polite and courteous and refrain from questioning the character or motives of others. Please help create an atmosphere of respect by not booing, whistling or clapping; by adhering to speaking time limits, and by silencing your cell phone."
The last two are obvious — adhering to the time limits is sometimes abused by speakers and silencing cell phones doesn't always happen. But to tell the public that we have to refrain from questioning the character and motives of others — presuming they mean of the board — is ridiculous.
Trying to control the content of public expression at open time is not free speech. By the supervsiors' own actions this past year, which included their refusal to listen to the majority of the people who do not want high-density housing mandates, changes in zoning of suburban communities and Priority Development Area designations that will forever change the suburban landscape of our county, they have invited controversy into their chambers. Now, they can't deal with it.
Don't criticize, don't question their motives and above all, no clapping.
Carol Brandt, San Rafael
I very much enjoyed Nels Johnson's article on housing in the Jan. 25 paper. He does a terrific job reporting on the issue of affordable housing.
I truly sympathize with the residents of Strawberry, but some of us in Novato are happy that some Southern Marin residents are feeling the impact of the Association of Bay Area Governments, the Metropolitican Transportation Commissision, the state, and our ineffective county Board of Supervisors.
Novato and San Rafael have contributed more than their fair share of affordable housing to the county, begging the question of why the state has any business mandating that local communities have an obligation to provide affordable housing.
Twenty-nine years ago, we moved to Novato even though my job was in San Francisco, because that's what we could afford.
So I'm happy to see the uproar over the Priority Development Areas for Strawberry. It may result in uniting the entire county in opposition to these state mandates.
All the members of the current board should be replaced.
Tom James, Novato