READER’S EDITORIAL: USDA, FOREST SERVICE, CONGRESSIONAL AND SWEETWATER AUTHORITY CHRISTMAS GIFT

Sweetwater Water Authority has drained Loveland Reservoir to dead pool status despite community objections loss of recreational resources, wildlife habitat and firefighting impacts, as ECM reported.  Activist and fisherman Russell Walsh sent in photos and this message in response. 

Photos:  left, Loveland Reservoir after being drained to dead pool level; right, before the draining, maintained at 75 year minimum pool level.

By Russell Walsh

We are supposed to believe that this represents the celebrated balance of water storage, environmental conservation, and public recreation the Forest Service traded for in the 1996 Cleveland National Forest Land Swap :  200 surface acres of water and 8 miles of shoreline environment trashed for three months of water for the  Sweetwater Authority, that will be raising rates for customers on January 1, 2023.

The views in this reader’s editorial reflect the views of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of East County Magazine. To submit an editorial for consideration, contact editior@eastcountymagazine.org.