press release

January 4, 2006

CONTROLLED WATER RELEASE FROM LOVELAND RESERVOIR
BEGINS TODAY

The 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) will conduct a controlled release of water from Loveland Reservoir into the Sweetwater River channel starting Wednesday, January 4, 2006. 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. Downstream property owners were notified by mail last month. A similar release was conducted last February.

Currently, Loveland Reservoir is about 99 percent full, while Sweetwater Reservoir’s capacity stands at about 35 percent. Daily lake levels are available at this link.

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 residents of Chula Vista, National City and Bonita.

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