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Public criticizes Loveland Reservoir drawdown, seeks state reinvestigation and moratorium
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Summary
A resident and advocate described large-scale drawdown of Loveland Reservoir, alleged fish kills, erosion and damage to wildlife habitat, and urged the State Water Resources Control Board to support a reinvestigation and a moratorium on similar dewatering actions in wildfire-prone areas.
A San Diego-area resident told the State Water Resources Control Board on March 4 that Loveland Reservoir was drained to "half of 1%" of its normal pool and that the dewatering caused fish kills, black sediment release into wildlife areas and damage to federally and locally protected habitat, including for arroyo toads and the southwestern pond turtle.
The commenter said he originally filed a CalEPA complaint in 2020 and has since worked with regional staff and the board's chief counsel. He asked the board to support a renewed investigation by chief counsel and the enforcement division, and to consider a moratorium on complete reservoir drawdowns in wildfire-interface areas.
Why it matters: Reservoir management decisions can affect multiple public interests — water supply, flood and fire protection, recreation and habitat — and may trigger civil or regulatory review if they cause environmental harm, the commenter said. He urged the board to weigh the cumulative impacts when facilities are dewatered during dry conditions.
What the commenter said: Russell Walsh described habit loss and sediment movement after the reservoir was nearly emptied; he said the sediment filled wildlife protection zones and that fish and other species were harmed. He asked for board support for chief counsel to investigate whether the reservoir operator's actions were lawful and whether changes to law or policy were needed to prevent similar outcomes in the future. He asked the board to consider imposing a moratorium on full dewatering in wildfire-interface areas while policy is fixed.
Board response: Chair Joaquin Esquivel thanked the commenter and said the board will follow up and look into whether the actions were within the operator's lawful authority. Board members emphasized that staff will need to review the facts and noted that public forum is not the venue for immediate enforcement action, but said staff would continue communications with the commenter.
Ending: The testimony added to ongoing questions about reservoir operations in wildfire-prone and ecologically sensitive areas. The speaker requested formal investigative follow-up; the board indicated staff would continue to examine the matter and consult with counsel and regional programs.
