County Planning and Permit Upates.  On Thursday's Deputy Zoning Administrator agenda are permit applications for Luc Chamberland's "Saltwater" restaurant and for a rebuild of the Weltman/Butler residence on SFD Blvd.   Also, the New York Times covers David Lee Hoffman's unpermitted compound in Lagunitas, and the Board of Supervisors delays its May LCP hearing at the request of the Coastal Commission.  George Clyde provides the details.

New or Replacement Septic Systems within 600 Feet of Tomales Bay, Lagunitas Creek, Walker Creek and Bolinas Beach Must Meet Expensive Requirements, but Existing Working Systems May Be OK.  County EHS specialist Armando Alegria comments on the State Water Quality Control Board's proposed new policies to George Clyde. BPUD Director Don Smith says PhyloChip should be used to determine source of high fecal coliform levels.  Link to Water Board FAQs.

Woodacre Flats Wastewater Group Seeks Funding From Marin County and MMWD for an Environmental Impact Report for a Community Septic System Like the One in Marshall.  Christin Anderson and Maya Gladstern told Supervisors that the majority of the 158 homeowners in Woodacre Flats, where most septic systems are failing, favor sending treated waste water to the San Geronimo Golf Course. George Clyde reports.

The Lagunitas Brewing Company, Originally a Small Operation in Forest Knolls and Now Based in Petaluma, is Planning for Distribution in 49 States and a Second Brewery in Chicago Next Year.  Founder Tony Magee tells George Clyde about the Lagunitas beer story and how the Chicago brewery will cut transportation costs to the eastern markets.  But he says that West Marin will always be home.

Bodega Marine Lab Researchers in Tomales Bay Study Potential Impact of Rising Water Temperatures on Local Native Oysters and the Invasive Snails that Prey Upon Them.  Researcher Brian Cheng explains to George Clyde how the east coast snails can kill the oysters, and that rising water temperatures will increases the snails' appetite while stressing the native Olympia oysters - a "one-two punch."

Former Congressman "Pete" McCloskey, Local Ag Expert Dr. Jeffrey Creque and SF Attorney Mark Goodman Ask F&G Commission to Assert Authority Over Shellfish Aquaculture at Drakes Estero.  Attorney Richard Thalhammer of the California AG's office says the law favors the Park Service, but Commissioner Richard Rogers says F&G Commission should claim authority. The matter was continued to the May 23 meeting, with the Park and Sen. Dianne Feinstein's office on the invitation list.  Video of hearing (@2:44).

At Palomarin Field Station in Bolinas, Scientists Trap Four Golden-Crowned Sparrows With Tracking Devices Installed the Prior Year.  PRBO Conservation Science's Dr. Nat Seavy tells Jacoba Charles about solving the mystery of where the birds go on their annual journey of over 2,000 miles to the Alaskan breeding grounds and discusses implication for conservation and even more questions for research. Link to the article in the journal PLoS ONE authored by Seavy and three other PRBO scientists here.