Water Reclamation Facility Uncertainty Could Pay Off

by Jack McCurdy

Morro Bay is on a  five-year track to have a badly-needed new wastewater treatment plant (now called a water reclamation facility) up and running in five years, but that schedule has taken on some uncertainties, such as whether the city might decide to join efforts to build a regional treatment plant instead. That would raise many questions about when such a regional plant would become operable and whether it would adequately serve the acute potable (disinfected) water needs of Morro Bay residents. However, such a regional facility might wind up costing Morro bay water ratepayers less—if they got the water they needed. Read More

Embarcadero Expanding with Style

by Jack McCurdy

The Embarcadero, long a competitor of downtown Morro Bay, now may get reinforcements in the form of a rejuvenated "Embarcadero North," which a group of Cal Poly graduate students has designed to remove the sewage plant and now-closed power plant from that area and replace those eyesores with attractive facilities that will be appealing to tourists and residents alike. Their final plan is set to be submitted to the city and community on Tuesday, June 3. Read More

Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant Affecting Our Health?

by Peg Pinard, Former District 3 County Supervisor

A recent 'analysis' by a local television station of the health issues surrounding Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant didn’t seem to be comparing apples to apples. Their charts were citing SLO’s numbers and comparing them with the rest of the state and, while that may be interesting, it’s the statistics for SLO itself that are important. What Mangano's report said was: compare SLO County’s cancer and birthweight statistics before Diablo opened with the cancer and birthweight statistics after Diablo went 'on line'. His data showed that there was a significant increase after Diablo opened.  Read More

Morro Bay Pedestrian and Bike Bridge to Receive
Coastal Commission Permit Waiver

Morro Bay Mayor Jamie Irons is pleased to announce the project to build a bridge over Morro Creek, the City's number one unmet pedestrian and bicycle need, is on the fast track for project approval. Coastal Commission and City staff worked closely together on the parameters of the project, resulting in the Coastal Commission staff supporting the project and recommending the Commission to authorize a waiver for the project at the Coastal Commission meeting this Thursday, May 15th in Inverness, CA. Read More

Paradox in Paradise as Amgen Tour of California Drains Water-stricken Town

The Central Coast of California offers some of the most spectacular vistas on the West Coast, with the tiny town of Cambria as one of its highlights. With a population of just over 6,000 residents, Cambria has been facing a significant water shortage, mirroring the water crisis that faces the entire state, prompting Governor Jerry Brown to recently declare a state of emergency because of an ongoing drought. And yet, despite shortages, this week an estimated 4,000 visitors will arrive in this sleepy bucolic oasis for the Amgen Tour of California, the largest cycling event in America and one of the top races in the world. Read More