press release

Monday, January 28, 2008

CONTROLLED WATER RELEASE FROM LOVELAND RESERVOIR
BEGINS TODAY -- The controlled 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.

Chula Vista, CA -- Sweetwater Authority (Authority) will conduct a controlled release of water from Loveland Reservoir into the Sweetwater River channel starting Monday, January 28, 2008. The release will transfer approximately 7,000 acre-feet of water from Loveland Reservoir to Sweetwater Reservoir for use by the Authority’s customers. (An acre-foot is about 326,000 gallons, and serves the annual needs of two typical families.)

The transfer will last approximately two to three weeks. The release will be monitored and modified if necessary, depending on weather conditions.

This type of transfer is conducted periodically, dependent on a variety of conditions and is coordinated with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Recent rains have provided favorable conditions for the release. A similar release was last conducted in February 2005.

Currently, Loveland Reservoir is about 58 percent full, while Sweetwater Reservoir’s capacity stands at about 30 percent. Daily lake levels are available at www.sweetwater.org.

Sweetwater Authority provides public water service to 183,000 residents of Chula Vista, National City and Bonita.

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Contact: Sue King, 619-409-6721