press release

February 9, 2005

CONTROLLED WATER RELEASE
BETWEEN RESERVOIRS TO BEGIN FEBRUARY 14
A planned release from Loveland Reservoir in Alpine to Sweetwater Reservoir in Spring Valley will be monitored and should not cause any problems along the Sweetwater River channel.

Sweetwater Authority (Authority) plans to conduct a controlled release of water from Loveland Reservoir into the Sweetwater River channel starting the week of February 14, 2005. The release will transfer water from Loveland Reservoir to Sweetwater Reservoir for use by the Authority's customers.

The transfer will last approximately two to three weeks. The release will be monitored and modified if necessary depending on weather conditions. Since the flows will be controlled and monitored closely, there should not be any problems created by this release. Downstream property owners will be notified individually.

This type of transfer is conducted periodically, dependent on a variety of conditions and is coordinated with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Sweetwater Authority provides public water service to 177,000 people residing in National City and the South Bay Irrigation District (which includes portions of Chula Vista and most of Bonita).

Updated: The closely monitored water release that began Feb. 14 from Loveland Reservoir to the Sweetwater Reservoir ended Tuesday, Feb. 22 at 3 p.m. A total of about 3,600 acre-feet of water was transferred. Any new flow between the reservoirs should be from local rainfall.