Fight ignites over fate of fishing at Sweetwater Authority’s Loveland Reservoir
Sweetwater Authority uses its Loveland Reservoir to serve about 200,000 water customers, including in National City, Bonita and parts of Chula Vista.
Credit: Zoë Meyers/inewsource
A floating dock now sits on mud at Loveland Reservoir, April 13, 2020. A controlled water transfer by Sweetwater Authority has visibly lowered the shoreline level. Author: Jennifer Bowman | inewsource Updated: 4:27 PM PDT April 22, 2021
CALIFORNIA, USA David Thomas knows the cove that once was. He spent much of his childhood at Loveland Reservoir near Alpine, sneaking onto the eastern shore to cast a line where the lake had been deemed off limits for fishing.
Mosher compared the process to a very, very large fire hose.”
Once the water gets to Sweetwater Reservoir, the water authority can treat it and provide it to customers, Mosher said.
The entire process takes roughly three weeks. The Authority hasn t opened the dam since 2019.
Martinez said they’re moving enough water to last all of Sweetwater’s customers eight months.
“Saving approximately six-to-ten million dollars in water purchase costs,” he smiled. “That’s how we keep water rates low.”
Mosher added they can only do water transfers between reservoirs at certain times of the year because they have to take into account endangered species along the route and the weather.