SUPERVISOR ANDERSON SEEKS SIGNATURES ON PETITION TO OPEN LOVELAND RESERVOIR FROM SUNRISE TO SUNSET

East County News Service

August 11, 2024 (Alpine)—Supervisor Joel Anderson is asking the public to sign a petition which he will deliver to Sweetwater Water Authority asking the agency to restore sunrise-to-sunset hours at Loveland Reservoir. You can sign the petition here.  

Anderson  has emerged as a champion for local recreational enthusiasts seeking to protect access at several local lakes, including a prior petition that yielded positive results.

In November 2021, he authored a  Board Letter to explore the feasibility of providing operational support for the recreational use of reservoirs on a permanent basis. In March 2023, he wrote a Board Letter to look for funding sources, including support for using the County budget to cover the costs and ensure the lakes stay open. The County reported back to the Board with alternative funding opportunities as well as considerations for collaborations.

An earlier petition launched by Anderson resulted in reversing City of San Diego plans to cut $59,000 from the City Lakes Recreation Program, which would have resulted in major cutbacks in days and hours that El Capitan,  Lake Hodges, and Sutherland Reservoirs would have been open.  Anderson’s efforts resulted in the County agreeing to fund the $59,000 to keep those lakes open.

Now Supervisor Anderson has set his sights on persuading Sweetwater Water Authority to restore sunrise-to-sunset access at Loveland Reservoir, a move long sought by local fishermen and recreational enthusiasts. Sweetwater has drawn fire for draining Loveland to dead pool status, which resulted in massive fish die-offs and severe damage to a floating fishing pier.  Sweetwater has recently committed funds to restore the pier and has partially reopened access for recreational users,but hours remain limited.

The new petition came at the request of local activist Russell Walsh,  who has long advocated for restoring sunrise-to-sunset access, which was part of an agreement Sweetwater entered into with the U.S. Forest Service as part of a land swap deal  Walsh stated in an email to his Supervisor,  “A petition for Loveland would be broadly recognized as further commitment to  Supervisor Anderson's commitment to rural area lakes for the broadest range of recreation and subsistence fishers. It would be inspirational to advocates that we both have seen as nearly hopeless in the face of losses at our lakes. “

The nonprofit Friends of Loveland Reservoir had also pushed for restoration of sunrise-to-sunset hours, even offering to have volunteers man the entrance,  a proposal that the Forest Service rejected.

In an August 7 letter to Sweetwater,Supervisor Anderson thanked the district for its efforts to maintain a safe environment for constituents who use the reservoir for recreation and fishing, also voicing appreciation for the district’s use of a $750,000 grant secured by State Senator Brian Jones to enhance trail access following storm damage.

In addition, he wrote, “My constituents residing in the unincorporated communities surrounding Loveland Reservoir continue  to reach out with their request to see access for fishing and recreation expanded. On their behalf I would like to convey my support for their request for sunrise to sunset access throughout the year.”

Supervisor Anderson offered support from the County’s Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) as  well as his staff.

“As you may recall, my Board Letter that advocated for increasing recreational access at reservoirs in the unincorporated area passed unanimously in November 2021. Both DPR and my staff met with the Sweetwater Authority team on potential partnership opportunities, and we remain committed to working with your staff moving forward so the County can be a helpful partner in reservoir recreation activities for County residents,” Anderson’s recent letter concluded.

But Sweetwater has still not agreed to restore the sunrise-to-sunset access sought by residents, working people and fishing enthusiasts, so Anderson launched his petition in hopes of showing broad public support for the action.