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Update May 27: Sweetwater has announced on its website that it will reopen the reservoir to hiking and birdwatching on May 30, but the district has not yet committed to when or if fish will be restocked.
By Miriam Raftery
May 18, 2023 (Alpine) – Loveland Reservoir in Alpine has been closed since January, after heavy storms caused major erosion to trails left exposed by Sweetwater Water Authority's decision to drain the lake to dead pool status. Though rains have replenished water levels to above the heavily eroded banks, public access has not been restored--much to the consternation of area residents.
Last night, East County residents in support of reopening Loveland packed the hearing room at the Sweetwater Water Authority headquarters in Chula Vista to voice their views.
But Loveland supporters, many of whom had traveled more than an hour from Alpine to speak, became angered when board Chairman Hector Martinez announced that commenters would be limited to one minute each, instead of the three minutes listed in the agenda. Over a chorus of objections, he assured that the district is working on options such as a bridge to “make it safe ”to reopen the reservoir.
During public comments, residents called on the district to reopen the lake and its trails now that heavy rains have submerged the damaged aeras that had pose
d hazards. Many also urged that the lake be restocked with fish and spoke passionately of what Loveland means to them.
Trail advocate John Allen noted that Loveland’s parking lot is the only safe parking for the California Riding and Hiking Trail, which runs to Anza, as well as to adjacent Forest Service lands. “We could put up safety tape,” he suggested as a low-cost solution to restore access while also protecting public safety.
David Thomas voiced anger to board members that after promising to keep the lake open after COVID closures, “You suffocated every single fish…How is this legal for you to kill every single fish in that lake?” he asked, noting that he has to buy a fishing license to catch even one fish. “That lake was my dream, and it’s gone,” he lamented.
Mary Hicks recalled that in 2000, firefighting aircraft scooped water from the reservoir to stop fires from burning homes over the hill. “There are covenants that you have broken,” she said, also objecting to destruction of a natural resource used for hiking and horseback riding by the people of Alpine.
Karen Wood recalled a land swap with the Forest Service that provided Sweetwater with an easement, provided it maintain shoreline access for fishing at Loveland. “The primary reason you own that land is because you promised to expand recreation,” she said. “Our request is simple: restore fishing and reopen the lake,” said Wood, who also asked the district to commit to not drain Loveland to dead pool status again.
Alpine Community Planning Group member Mary Davis chastised the board for limited public comments. “Limiting voices when people have come all this way is a form of censorship and suppression,” she said, noting that SANDAG and County Supervisors have at times also used this tactic. “Forty percent water loss is not okay. We want ongoing dialogue,” she told the board, urging them to take up State Senator Brian Jones’ offer to facilitate discussions with Sweetwater and state agencies to accelerate reopening Loveland.
Carolyn McGavock asked the board to restore cooperation that occurred before the extreme draining at year’s end. “Before, there was a long history of 
balancing environmental and public health concerns,” she said, adding, “We all need nature for health…and some very nice people are hurt by this.”
Kyle Georgi lives less than a mile from Loveland. “It’s a shame to see it declined,” he said, adding that he wants his daughter to enjoy the lake as he did in his childhood.. “The hazards are easy to mitigate. Let’s get it done,” he urged.
Bob Patton asked angrily, “What logical, rational person would want to cause so much ecological devastation?” He added, “I don’t see anything concrete 
happening. Why are you letting it deteriorate?”
Tammy Georgi, a 40-year Alpine resident, said she wants to keep Loveland open “for all of the kids to have a place to fish.”
Jamul resident Sean Walsh read aloud a letter that State Senator Brian Jones sent to Sweetwater, similar to a letter Jones sent to Cleveland National Forest, in which Jones voiced strong support to reopen Loveland and offered to help facilitate cooperation among agencies to make that happen.
Jones letter reads:
I am writing today in support of restoring public access as well as recreational access to the Loveland Reservoir, especially as it relates to the fishing opportunities that this reservoir provided.
I have learned that residents from Alpine, Jamul, and the other surrounding neighborhoods are enthusiastic about having this reservoir in their backyard, and are eager to be able to use it as they have in the past. I would like to encourage the Sweetwater Authority to work with the Cleveland National Forest to develop solutions to allow for the public to be able to access the reservoir as I understand that there are challenges with long standing easement agreements. I want to offer my office as a means to help facilitate those conversations or work toward additional solutions that ensure our mutual constituents can continue to have access to the lake for the recreational activity that fits their needs. Furthermore, I am happy to facilitate discussions with State Agencies that may play a role in this unfortunate closure of Loveland to the public for certain recreational activities. Whether those agencies are the Division Safety of Dams, Water Resources Control Board or the Department of Fish and Wildlife my office stands ready to work to break down barriers that limit our mutual constituent’s access to recreational activities they once enjoyed. In fact, I want to encourage the district to explore options to restock the reservoir with fish by working with the Department of Fish and Wildlife.
It is my understanding that there are numerous ecological, psychological, and recreational benefits to keeping the reservoir open. While the residents of Alpine and Jamul are much closer to the Reservoir, I have heard that there are residents from as far as 32nd Street Naval Base who visit the lake on a regular basis. In some instances I have learned these are father and son teams who enjoy spending time together in the outdoors, and other times there are veterans with PTSD who find the hiking and fishing opportunities therapeutic.
As the Senator for California’s 40th District and an avid outdoorsman, I am grateful for our expansive back country and the unique beauty we have in our County. It is my hope that the residents of San Diego County will be able to access this reservoir and the benefits it provides for many years to come and I want to assist in helping ensure my constituents have the access to public lands as I do believe public lands should open to public use.
Again, if I can be of service to you in identifying solutions and facilitating communication with stakeholders to ensure continued access to cherished recreational activities, do not hesitate to reach out to my District office and 619-596-3136.
Russell Walsh, an avid fisherman and advocate for Loveland, criticized the change in speakers’ time limits with no notice as “unconscionable.” He said the lake can reopen since 
the erosion is now underwater after recent rains. He also suggested the district’s actions might result in losing its “clout” to secure state funding.
Robert Kilpatrick, a former volunteer firefighter, said when Loveland was drained to virtually empty before the recent rains, “If we had major fire, it would’ve added 10 to 15 minutes” to access water for firefighting. He urged the board to adopt a statement promising “that you’ll never do it again.”
Annie Wolan affirmed the importance of Loveland’s water to fight fires. “We were there during the Valley Fire and it was very scary.”
Elisa Peskin teaches integrity to students at the Cuyamaca Outdoor School. “Integrity means doing the right thing when no none is looking,” she said. “I see people coming to the lake and turning around because they didn’t know it was closed. We drove all this way to ask you to do the right thing.”
After public comments, Chairman Martinez asked General Manager Carlos Quintero to provide an update on the Loveland situation.
Quintero told the crowd that the budget being voted on later in the meeting included a $50,000 item to study options such as constructing a bridge along the west side of the trail, adding that the district is working with its insurance company to replace or repair the damaged fishing dock.
He said the district hopes to “reopen the trail within the next few weeks.”
The board later voted unanimously to approve the draft budget (a final vote on the budget will be held in June) including the Loveland funding item, which reads as follows:
But Sweetwater’s general manager and directors did not provide any timetable for restocking Loveland Reservoir with fish, leaving fishing advocates frustrated at the prospect of a reopened lake lacking any fish.
View video: May 17, 2023 Special Board Meeting
Photo below: Loveland Reservoir in March 2023
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