From: Mark Brest van Kempen <mbvk@sbcglobal.net>
Date: June 9, 2005 4:04:44 PM PDT
To: "Osalbo, Faustino Jun" <fosalbo@oaklandnet.com>

Cc: "Brooks, Desley" <DBrooks@oaklandnet.com>, "Nadel, Nancy" <NNadel@oaklandnet.com>, "Uzegbu, Marcel" <MUzegbu@oaklandnet.com>, "Estes, Lesley" <lcestes@oaklandnet.com>, "Schwarz, Alison" <aschwarz@oaklandnet.com>, "'klichten@waterboards.ca.gov'" <klichten@waterboards.ca.gov>, "'friendsof2creeks@yahoogroups.com'" <friendsof2creeks@yahoogroups.com>, "'nannystu@pacbell.net'" <nannystu@pacbell.net>, "Neary, Mike" <mjneary@oaklandnet.com>, "'Friendsof2Creeks@yahoogroups.com'" <Friendsof2Creeks@yahoogroups.com>, Office of the Mayor <OfficeoftheMayor@oaklandnet.com>, "'gantenbein@n-h-i.org'" <gantenbein@n-h-i.org>, "'chiye@cazuma.com'" <chiye@cazuma.com>, "Ward, Ron (PWA)" <rgward@oaklandnet.com>, "Lau, David W" <dwlau@oaklandnet.com>, "Sweiss, Fuad" <fssweiss@oaklandnet.com>, "'jean@jeanquan4council.org'" <jean@jeanquan4council.org>, "'cityochang@aol.com'" <cityochang@aol.com>, "Madison, William" <wmadison@oaklandnet.com>

Subject: Chimes creek silty again

Jun
Thank you for checking into the extremely silty water in Chimes creek after yesterday's rain. As usual since construction in the Quarry began the Creek became completely opaque with silt- that same unique orange /brown color as the quarry is. The normal pre construction run off color is much less opaque and grayish.

You told me that you found no dirty water leaving the site although you also described to me that sand bags were being used as a measure to prevent dirty water from entering the storm drain in several locations. In the past I have seen sand bags used in this way and Im not at all convinced that it would do anything to prevent the fine silt from entering City storm drains.

In any case the fact remains that the Creek is full of silt because of this construction project STILL after more than a year of "working on it" and it seems that nobody is particularly interested in getting to the bottom of it.

This reminds me of a year ago when it took two months to find that the daily barrage of silt during working hours was coming from the Quarry rather than a "dirty manhole" that magically stopped emitting dirt when grading stopped as city inspectors insisted.

I understand there have been more problems with whipsnake monitoring and dust from the site. I’m sorry that you have your hands so full with this project. Perhaps if you had some political backing from the City you would have been able to rectify these problems a year ago and not still be plagued with them.

I am continuing to photograph and monitor the creek for future reference. The community is very disappointed in how this project has been run and will keep on file all information regarding the project which might help to explain problems that may develop in the future.

As always interest is in the health of this Creek and the Bay.


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Mark Brest van Kempen
3835 Delmont Ave
Oakland CA 94605
510 568 6889