A controversial proposal that considered dumping the Central Valley’s selenium-contaminated irrigation water into Estero Bay near Cayucos has been delayed.
The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation announced August 1 that it’s postponing a court-ordered decision which was expected this week on a location for disposal of the tainted waste. Piping it to Estero Bay was one of the options considered, though the “preferred option” is disposal in Central Valley, according to Dave Jones, a bureau spokesperson.
The Estero Bay disposal option was studied due to a lawsuit filed after selenium-polluted water caused deformities in waterfowl at the Kesterson National Wildlife Refuge in the Central Valley.
Local officials and citizens have expressed strong opposition to the Estero Bay plan.
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This article appears in Aug 3-10, 2006.
