New Loveland Updates

[Everydog]

Sweetwater gets a California grant of 750K for "trail system restoration' at Loveland. I wouldn't get too excited because it's quite possible they will try to use it well below the waterline where they caused erosion. Strange they get this after three years of trying to condemn the hiking fishing and birdwatching and continued Sweetwater threats to drain the fishing program again.

Local people will try to get something useful out of it. It's pretty absurd on the face of it.



(21) $750,000 for Streetwater Authority for planning, design, and construction activities related to trail system restoration at Loveland Reservoir.

https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/face ... sgvNbWrjd8

[Everydog]

My CalEPA case has been open since April 20th. I mostly expect powers in Sacramento to quash it, but I don't really know. I try to make that hard for them to do just in case. In the next post, I'll cut and paste the email I sent this morning exemplifying that. It's a lot of work, but It's probably leveling the playing field some. Might be why we got 750k thrown at the "trails restoration"....a political solution is expected where Sweetwater never admits wrong, maybe even gets a bailout, but we do o.k. Who knows. Maybe they will get the walk of shame they deserve with real formal reprimands. Can't control that.

I am trying to get DFW to agree that the fish were killed during a CalEPA violation and not a valid "ministerial" water district operation as they seem to assume.

The next meeting with State Senator Jones's staff is early next week. Someone from Congressman Issa's office is going to be there. This could be a glimpse of a start of a good change on the Federal side, though I don't expect proof of that real soon. We are trying to cover some topics before the meeting with Forest Supervisor Tangenberg who has preemptively promised not to be too interested in anything about Loveland. Probably have around 30 people there for that but it could be more or less. Most of the Planning group seems to be pulling for us now. Senator Jones' office talks like the $750k belong to lake users/the community. That's my position and should be everyone's position. It might be used to buy back sunrise-to-sunset access in a roundabout way. Sweetwater will walk away with it as they did with 75% of the congress-assisted Hud funds when they put in the fishing float instead of a bridge to the Jamul side as agreed. I think it should be for trails and other USEFUL improvements, and sunrise to sunset should be restored simply because it's in the Forest Service easement from the landscape and it's Sweetwater's obligation.

Found this interesting article which is a PR piece about Sweetwater bragging about their service during the Valley fire. (These articles, and most "news" about Sweetwater, are built by Sweetwater's PR people) https://www.waternewsnetwork.com/water- ... 63tfiPl4vg

[Everydog]

Here is the email tying the fish kill off and demands for restocking to the CalEPA violations.

Karen Kramer, PG, PMP

State Water Resources Control Board

Division of Water Rights

Enforcement Section

1001 I Street, 14th Floor

Sacramento, CA 95814




Hi Karen,


I hope you have had a nice summer.


I want to let you know that attempts are being made to bring it to the attention of DFW that the fish at Loveland were killed , and a massive wildlife dislocation occurred, during a breach of California environmental reasonable use standards and a water diversion license violation, not during appropriate "ministerial operations' as I have been told has been the assumption at DFW. Has anyone from DFW contacted you about any of these implications? This is a valid point for an joint investigation that will lead to environmental restoration including fish for recreation and wildlife food supplies. I had my fishing license checked and frequently saw DFW law enforcement staking out the Loveland Reservoir before Sweetwater decimated the resource anglere were liable to carry a Calfornia Fishing License for and still are and for which we were under appropriate regulatory/law enforcement scrutiny from DFW. Even now, with the decimated fish stock a license is required and DFW regulations are to be obeyed. We are witnessing a painful, extremely out of conformity, double standard that will have oppressive connotations at least until the fish are back. Sweetwater has pulled back it's public claim from the March Alpine Community Planning Group meeting that it has a budget for stocking fish.

Secondly, Sweetwater Authority did what they did to Loveland last fall and winter, based on water security provided to the water district by the $31.5 million Federal and State Desalination Plant expansion money. This exploitation is clear in Sweetwater's documents and meeting records which has been , or at least I attempted to introduce into the CalEPA submission and investigation file of my CalEPA complaint.


Currently , Sweetwater is on track to receive funding from the Water Resources Control Board for recycling studies, and probably get on track for another very large green project funded by California citizens and taxpayers. This really brings up a lot of concerns about the priority service and even possible excess of something like mercy that Sweetwater is getting from California. Will all this priority and mercy lead to more public and environmental harm? I am wrong to be concerned that it telegraphs or predestines a cutoff of needed regulatory action on the CalEPA complaints. We have seen so much of it over the last 3-4 years, and records show further, that it is a fair question.


Sweetwater also just received a grant for $750K from the California Budget AB102 for something fairly ambiguously described as "trail systems restoration". Will this be used to repair damage they caused with the excessive drawdown, help the public , or like most of the last large Loveland recreation grant from Hud , simply be taken back to Sweetwater for undocumented purposes? That Hud money including the fishing float Sweetwater left stranded in the riverbed and was destroyed after only 12 years in public service. Can this be put into a holding account until the environmental public benefit harm aspects of our CalEPA complaints are fully investigated?


Furthermore, while Sweetwater accomplishes and pursues these state funded green projects, besides committing environmental and public benefit atrocities and planning more, the water district is neglecting its own water treatment infrastructure and dams. They spent the entirety of the 2017A revenue bonds for dam repairs which they claimed would be finished before 2018 ended.



Currently Sweetwater is spending $500k from your agency on a new well including land that they will add to their owned assets.


It is not out of line to keep public funding in check for Sweetwater until some or all of this is resolved, including the other issues I have raised with DSOD , JLAC people and the State Auditor's office. I have vision of endless state charity and clemency to the Sweetwater Board of Directors while our hopes for justice and public centered restoration are dashed.

Please advise on any and all of this that you can and update on the CalEPA complaint when able.


Appreciatively,


Russell Walsh


Russell Walsh

[Everydog]

We had a good meeting today with Congressman Issa's Representative and State Senator Jones' District Director.
There was a good mix of volunteers who had a good grip on the reasons the operation of the lake should be the same as it was on the grand opening day of the 1996 relocated fishing program. Senator Jones District Director says these meetings are important and we should have another one next Wednesday. That means about three Wednesdays from now if the trend stays, but beggars can't be choosers.

I hope we will clear the air on Senator Jones granting $750K to Sweetwater. I don't agree with that and neither do something like 9 out of 10 advocates. Being the guy that has been up against Sweetwater for 3 years fighting to protect taxpayers and fighting desperately for justice on the CalEPA complaint I have a lot more reason to be frustrated with this sum of money going to this terrible Sweetwater Authority. Two sides to the story though. I wish he had waited until Issa's people had a chance to work on the Land Swap documents and easements before giving Sweetwater taxpayer money. I can ask the governor to cancel it if I feel like a stink must be made. Let's see.

[Everydog]

Please show up and help with the impression that our fishing programs are something we will stand up for.

The next meeting is still Thursday at 6:00 PM at the Alpine Community Planning Group meeting.
08/24/2023 6:00 PM 1830 Alpine Blvd. Alpine CA, 91901

We finally get a chance for a public meeting with the Forest Service Supervisor. He may act like he has the final word here and maybe he does.
More likely denials of the validity of the Fishing program, especially sunrise to sunset, water, and fish restocking will bring more advocacy from the community. We may not get everything, especially accountability for what Sweetwater did.

[Everydog]

Senator Jones' District Director emailed me that he got Congressman Issa's legislative team to open casework. This is what I had with Juan Vargas two years ago but they closed it. I don't know the details it may be a type of "community casework" with the Congressman.

Also "roundtable' meetings have been agreed to by the Sweetwater Authority, Senator Jones's staff, and Congressman Issa's staff.
We want the lake open from Sunrise to Sunset and fish restocked before we go to these meetings. I don't get everything I want but if you read the email you would think it's all up to me. Andrew is a good guy but he was mad because I bashed him for giving Sweetwater $750K. That money should be locked in a safe until Sweetwater is forced to bring the lake back to Land Swap Standards.

[Everydog]

From Senator Jones' office: Now let me update you – I communicated with Sweetwater last week regarding this. The request by our office, which has been agreed to, is to have public workshops/roundtables with stakeholders related to the funding with our office present, as well as the Congressman’s office, and I’m even going to try and get Supervisor Anderson’s office to be there as well. This is where FOLR and any members of the public, the Senator, and the Congressman can lay out the priorities and what they should be for the trail access and restoration. This way, we can help support the items that you believe need to be implemented so that we can work to restore recreational access where it has been limited. I’d like to have that roundtable in the next couple of weeks. I’d also really appreciate your insight, as well as FOLR, with respect to what is needed in this restoration so that we can advocate with you at this roundtable for those items. I’m happy to schedule a meeting with you and FOLR to go through all of those details prior to any workshop. Again, up to you.

[Everydog]

Casework at Congressman Issa's office:

"Seeing as how you and I have yet to have the opportunity to discuss this since my last email as I was working to help connect you with our Congressman’s office who, as you may recall, would not speak with you or really respond. I might add that we successfully were able to get casework moving with them yesterday during our meeting. You and I both know how important having them at the table is."

We need that casework to be transparent and for us.


It is not necessarily accurate that Congressman Issa's office would not speak with me or even respond....but it doesn't matter. I know Issa's people would rather not deal with me and choose Senator Jones's office instead.

[Everydog]

delete

[Everydog]

Has anyone ever caught a redear sunfish at Loveland and would you lobby for smallmouth in the lake if there is a do-over?
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1H4gcM9 ... sp=sharing

[Everydog]

Great meeting last night, Forest Supervisor Tangenberg faced a bunch of Wildlife, Fire Resource, and Fishing Program defenders, who delivered a barrage of comments about the agreements, easement, and his public service obligations that matched what I have been telling him for years.

Most participants in this court of public appeals have not caught up on why we are owed 3.6-5 miles of fishing at Loveland, but it's getting there.

[Everydog]

Here is our Loveland Forest Service Meeting. Wish the old thread was alive to add this to it.
I don't expect anybody to watch it but damn it's been a long time coming.
FS Starts about 30 minutes talking about big budgets but everybody pretty much was there for Loveland.

[Everydog]

DFW has to say, should come out and say, "Look Loveland fanatics, if there is any kind of violation by Sweetwater Authority connected to the destruction of the fish resource at YOUR lake, at a minimum we will make them fix it"

[otaymichael]

could only hear those folks nearby. Hope it all gets resolved ASAP.

[Everydog]

Could be anybody to write DFW, especially anybody with a fishing license.
Write your state Senator and Assemblymember and tell them you want DFW to work on Loveland.

[Everydog]

Here is the East County Magazine Article about the Loveland defenders' meeting last week with the Forest Service Supervisor.
https://www.eastcountymagazine.org/alpi ... QawUFD6XDk

[Everydog]

Sweetwater has more problems at Loveland than we do now. Apparently, they were encouraged to drop all FEMA insurance claims related to Loveland damage and last winter's rains. This is likely due to the information that the Water district's draining of Loveland caused all the problems and the fact that there is a CalEPA investigation for it.

If FEMA doesn't pay for the damage, then the board of directors has to pass it on to their customers. Still waiting for accountability from Sweetwater for all of this. Maybe one day their customers will get as frustrated as Loveland stakeholders.

I think the CLAIMED damage value exceeds the cost of the water they got at Sweetwater, but this is hard to confirm.
I always feel for Sweetwater customers, add another reason.

[Everydog]

deleted.

[Everydog]

Fish Restocking at Loveland. Not on the horizon until Sweetwater Authority faces punitive action or sees it coming. I believe this makes sense. DFW will need a punitive decision on the case instigated by my CalEPA complaints and another person's complaint by CalEPA to demand fish restocking. CalEPA is not doing its job and apparently doesn't want to. We are trying to get CalEPA to a public meeting because I can't do much against them alone if the press won't be right about these things and I am otherwise Isolated. They simply will stop reading my emails. Senator Jones' office has offered to help us get a meeting with them but wants to ask CalEPA some questions first.

Sweetwater has problems with FEMA, but I am laying low on that so as not to say something that bothers FEMA or gets me in trouble. No sense in rubbing salt in those wounds at Sweetwater. We are not out for revenge we are out for justice.

[Everydog]

CalEPA MIssion Statement.

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About Us | CalEPA - CA.gov







Forest Service is a player again:

The Forest Service's Messaging on their role at Loveland Reservoir has improved. The door is open with the New Descanso Ranger Kyle Smith. The Forest Supervisor is a loser and a sore loser in Loveland. Never seen more foolishness and jackassness in my life than I did from Supervisor Tangenberg Descanso Ranger Robert Heair. All Tangenberg seems to know is that he feels "disrespected". This is Twighlight zone stuff.

I am told Sweetwater is "listening" now. They will always be Sweetwater. Our Politicians are definitely listening too. some help and some will jump on the bandwagon. Senator Jones's Staff did the best by far. I hope Issa's staff will correct the claim made to me over and over again that there is "no Federal Nexus". Issa's influence helped because he had to. His staff will probably never walk back the repeated claims that there is "no Federal Nexus". It will be a cat-and-mouse game where courage is needed. That's what it is.