Sleep in a Sewer Pipe!

I love Google Alerts! Look what it found at Slate Magazine:

http://www.slate.com/blogs/atlas_obscura/2013/10/29/sleep_in_a_concrete_sewer_pipe_at_this_austrian_hotel.html

Dexterity, Giant Sized!

This operator is amazing—think he has done this a few thousand times before?

Sewer Work on Sixteenth

Similar to, but different from the reconstruction of the tanks on16th (and the street being torn up for the new piping that went with it), the sewer construction is the most exciting thing to hit 16th. OK, the broken unmarked water pipe near the bike path was high drama a few days back, but it was over pretty fast. This is going on for a while.

It started with the pot holing.

Then the street was unzipped.

Water applied at every step to keep down the dust.

Electrical wires lifted out of the way.

Coming up the hill.

Digging sand.

The point of digging, placing pipes. Rather a pretty color!

The trench boxes are moved around with surgical precision.

Tap, tap, tap. Then more digging inside the box.

Plates go down to keep the sand contained.

When the pipe is in the trench boxes come out. 

Note the lift in the back, they are pretty heavy.

Plates arrive to cover the excavation.

Look to the upper left at the holiday appropriate antenna decor!

There is so much more to say about the mind boggling dexterity of the equipment operators. How they lift, trek, nudge and tap these giant hunks of steel as though they didn't weigh tons.

And the fantastic project coordination with the many steps that require perfect timing between the different parts of the team—the guys constantly measuring, guys cutting pipe, so as soon as the trench is ready, in goes the pipe, the street sweeping and watering both with the equipment and by hand, new water arriving via truck, two trucks lined up to keep the dirt coming up and away from the trench, the dirt coming back to go into the newly piped section, putting on the plates with some hot asphalt to keep them firmly in place. Today is Saturday and the watering trucks came twice (while I was paying attention). 

I got nothing done Friday watching this oh, so, beautiful show.

September 2013 Progress Report Now Online

The County has newly posted the LOWWP's September Progress Report online—go check it out:

http://www.slocounty.ca.gov/Assets/PW/LOWWP/document+library/PM+Monthly+Update+Sep+2013.pdf

16th Street Water Works!

Well, it was a tough day on 16th Street for both the ARB construction guys and our own CSD water crew (and for residents and one of the schools too). There was an unmarked water pipe (where have we heard that story before?) a tad north of the El Moro Bike Path and one of the big machines hit it. I missed the first part, the fountain, but will show some later shots of the event. I only knew something had happened because I went to wash my hands, two drops of water came out, then nothing.

The CSD crew had already jumped into action, Frank was running up the street to the tanks to turn something off and our other CSD water crew guys were locating the shut off valves to shut the water off, of which there were more than one.

The ARB crew had to halt work until the water stopped off course, but some brave residents motored out of the mess with no problem.

Fortunately the drainage project at the bottom of 16th had been set up years ago and it worked to get the water across and under Paso Robles down to Walker Ditch and beyond.

Once the water stopped, the ARB crew was all ready to go with a new section of pipe and two couplings. So as one guy said, "we have an upgrade!"

The main things about this, no one was hurt, no homes flooded and the repair was done amazingly fast. Sure, too bad about the water loss, but now that the CSD is FINALLY out of bankruptcy, maybe some money will be available to do some capital improvement upgrades which have been on the back burner for years.

I had two in-depth conversations, one with with ARB's Paul Gallagher, Project Manager and one with HDR's Jim Brantley, Construction Manager. They both were on top of the problem immediately. They both have had experience with big projects like this, so this was not anything new to deal with, they had seen it all before. We are in good hands, no question, these guys and their crews are quite amazing and we are lucky to have them working for us!

Looking South

Drainage at Work

The Hidden Pipe

Looking North

All Fixed

The Latest News From Dig!

On time for completion and over half way done!

http://www.diglososos.com/2013/10/18/construction-update-more-than-half-way-done-on-track-for-completion/

Government Shutdown Impacts the LOWWP

The New Times' latest issue which came out today has a story on the impacts of the government shutdown to our county. Our sewer project funding took a hit, which hopefully, since the shutdown is over, will go back to normal money-wise. Sad, sad, sad that this happened, not simply for our project as the broader picture is far worse.

Read the New Times story here and look for the heading, Effects on local government:

http://www.newtimesslo.com/cover/10142/fed-up-octobers-partial-federal-government-shutdown-is-just-the-latest-manifestation-of-the-cyclical-crises-plaguing-slo-county-and-the-nation/

Sewer Related, That's For Sure

Today the CSD put out a press release with the FINAL results of the bankruptcy caused so many years ago by stopping the last sewer project. I'll put a copy up here in case you would like to read what it says.

Sad, sad, sad, so much wasted time, money and water (as we could not conserve nearly so much water without a sewer project to fund it.) Oh well.

Regional Board's Response to LOCSD Letter

I heard about this letter Wednesday and here it is—the response from the Regional Board to the LOCSD's letter on de-watering. Looks like they are fine with what the contractors are doing and if they are not concerned, so neither should we be. To the hair-on-fire commenters on other online places, the fire is officially out.

Update From Coastal Commission - Amendment Approved

Yesterday's meeting had a Los Osos item on the Consent Agenda for the Central Coast. It was called an "immaterial amendment" and it was to move the stand-by power station for the Lupine Pump Station. There were 9 items on this agenda, and of course, the only one to engender an objection was the Los Osos item. However it did not change Staff's opinion to allow the amendment to pass and the Coastal Commission agreed. This took a grand total of 40 seconds. Access the documents for this item at this link:

http://losewersaga.blogspot.com/2013/10/california-coastal-commission-hears.html

One wonders, had the objections not been there, and as the staff report made full approval of this amendment, was there any need for the expense of sending Mark Hutchinson and Paavo Ogren to San Diego for 40 seconds? My advice to the obstructionists? Don't. Please don't. You are costing this project unnecessarily—once again.

If you are into CCC geekiness, you can access the video of the meeting off this page, but for 40 seconds 25 minutes into the meeting, better to read the outcome here.

Doorhanger!

Yippee!!! Got my 72-hour door hanger!!! Can't wait for the construction to begin!!! (The 16th Street tank project with the new water lines was the opening act a couple of years ago and that was fascinating!)

Dig Los Osos Advises Caution

The pipe that will take the treated water back to town will begin installation today, 10-9-13. It will travel from Clark Valley Road back to the disposal sites. Expect traffic delays and be careful! This return pipe will take less time to install than the outbound gravity lines and force mains and you can read the full story here:

http://www.diglososos.com/2013/10/08/traffic-alert-work-on-los-osos-valley-road-resumes/

California Coastal Commission Hears Project Amendment

Thursday October 10, 2013 the CCC will hear a proposed amendment to the Coastal Development permit for the sewer project. The Executive Director deems the amendment as immaterial and recommends that the change as it is consistent with the original CDP approval. However, if objections are received, the amendment won't be passed unless three Commissioners agree to the immateriality of the of the Executive Director's determination. If they do not, the application shall be processed as a Material CDP amendment.

Please read the report below.

Part of the Sewer Plan, the HCP

One of the conditions to the sewer project is the Habitat Conservation Plan (see the need for this and what it is at this link to project conditions - No. 92, page 37 of 98 if you open the document in Acrobat).

We haven't heard much about it, but it will be unveiled next week at the South Bay Community Center, Tuesday October 8. There will be two sessions for you to learn and to give input. The LOCAC website lists the times at 3:30-5:30 p.m. and at 7:30-9:00 p.m..

I have a copy of the old 2005 plan, but all the links to a copy of that plan online seem to be dead. So to get an idea of what this is about, here are some useful links:

For mostly what you need to know about what the plan is, click the blue links or just scroll through to the bottom:

https://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2013/09/19/2013-22778/habitat-conservation-plan-for-the-community-of-los-osos-san-luis-obispo-county-ca-notice-of-intenthttps://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2013/09/19/2013-22778/habitat-conservation-plan-for-the-community-of-los-osos-san-luis-obispo-county-ca-notice-of-intent

Lots of info here on the County document at this link:

http://www.slocounty.ca.gov/Assets/PL/environmental/Los+Osos+Communitywide+Habitat+Conservation+Plan/NOP.pdf

And here is the timeline/status report:

http://www.slocounty.ca.gov/Assets/PL/environmental/Los+Osos+Communitywide+Habitat+Conservation+Plan/statusreport.pdf

$300,000 in grant funds were awarded to SLO County from the Coastal Impact Assistant Program to pay for the state and federal EIR reports needed for this plan required for the wastewater treatment facility by the California Coastal Commission.

Public participation is invited and encouraged, so I hope to see you there!

(Not to confuse you, but this is not the same thing as the Habitat Management Plan which fulfills Special Condition 3 of the CDP or Coastal Development Permit.)

New Tweet from Dig on LOVR Traffic

Dig Los Osos has posted a new article about the traffic impacts on LOVR due to construction. I failed to think about that today and sat through a 10-minute delay! Plan ahead!

Read the story at this link:

http://www.diglososos.com/2013/10/02/traffic-update-work-on-los-osos-valley-road-continues-expect-delays/

Reclamation Facility On Supes Agenda 10-8-13

Board Business:

19. Letter transmitting plans and specifications (Clerk’s File) for the Los Osos Wastewater Project, Water Recycling Facility, Los Osos for Board approval and advertisement for construction bids and submittal of a resolution making findings pursuant to Public Contract Code Section 3400 designating product requirements. The recommended bid opening date is Thursday November 21, 2013. District 2

When the support documents are uploaded, I will include a link.

Here is the link to the support documents:

http://agenda.slocounty.ca.gov/agenda/sanluisobispo/Proposal.html;jsessionid=41E21522081D225E794B77C2A97F8423?select=2653