Loveland water transfer sparks calls for transparency, recreation access

Sweetwater Authority’s recent transfer of water out of Loveland Reservoir has reignited debate over whether water rates or public recreation should take priority.

After local residents complained about being caught off-guard by the transfer, the authority’s board of directors last week called for increased transparency and for residents both down and upstream of the reservoir to be notified of upcoming transfers by the water agency’s administrators.

The authority oversees Loveland Reservoir, located south of Alpine, and Sweetwater Reservoir, located south of Spring Valley, as well as the Sweetwater Dam. Water is perioidically released from Loveland, treated in Spring Valley and then supplied to 200,000 customers in South County.

Authority officials said in mid-November that the agency would consider conducting a water transfer from Loveland Reservoir in anticipation of heavy rainfall to secure supply for the coming year.

The agency said it would transfer about 10,000 acre-feet of water to Sweetwater Reservoir to “support residents in Chula Vista, National City, and Bonita.” The water transfers began Nov. 18 and valves were closed Tuesday.

Total water capacity at the reservoir dropped from about 63% in mid-November to 20.3% as of Dec. 11, according to daily levels on the authority’s website.

One acre-foot of water is equal to about 325,850 gallons, or enough to cove...