In the 1974 classic “Chinatown,” water wasn’t just water — it was power. Los Angeles power brokers quietly drained reservoirs, drove up scarcity, while ordinary citizens paid the price in higher costs and lost trust. Half a century later, San Diego County is living its own version of “Chinatown,” and the stage is set at Lake Hodges.
Disputes over water have been a constant in California history, and San Diego is going through a particularly rough patch on that front these days. At the center of the current maelstrom is Dan Denham, general manager of the San Diego County Water Authority.
The driest water year in nearly a decade ended Tuesday in San Diego, which recorded 5.07 inches of precipitation, barely half its seasonal average, the National Weather Service said. The shortage of rain has produced varying levels of drought across the county, elevating the risk of wildfires at the time of year when dry Santa […]
The Sweetwater Authority, which supplies drinking water to a wide swath of South San Diego County, is joining the ranks of local water agencies seeking to reduce their dependence on the San Diego County Water Authority. Sweetwater governing board members earlier this month voted unanimously to begin laying the groundwork for a major new groundwater […]
OPINION: Poor Decisions on Lake Hodges Risk Disaster
/in Media Coverage, San Diego County /by Sierra Stewart /San Diego Union-TribuneIn the 1974 classic “Chinatown,” water wasn’t just water — it was power. Los Angeles power brokers quietly drained reservoirs, drove up scarcity, while ordinary citizens paid the price in higher costs and lost trust. Half a century later, San Diego County is living its own version of “Chinatown,” and the stage is set at Lake Hodges.
OPINION: Water Chief Keeps Focused on Long Game Amid Rate-Hike Heat
/in Media Coverage, San Diego County /by Sierra Stewart /San Diego Union-Tribuneby Michael Smolens Quoted: Dan DenhamDisputes over water have been a constant in California history, and San Diego is going through a particularly rough patch on that front these days. At the center of the current maelstrom is Dan Denham, general manager of the San Diego County Water Authority.
The Driest Rainy Season in Nearly a Decade Ends in San Diego
/in Media Coverage, San Diego County /by Sierra Stewart /San Diego Union-Tribuneby Gary RobbinsThe driest water year in nearly a decade ended Tuesday in San Diego, which recorded 5.07 inches of precipitation, barely half its seasonal average, the National Weather Service said. The shortage of rain has produced varying levels of drought across the county, elevating the risk of wildfires at the time of year when dry Santa […]
Sweetwater Authority Joins Stampede Away from County Water Authority
/in Media Coverage, San Diego County /by Sierra Stewart /Voice of San Diegoby Jim HinchThe Sweetwater Authority, which supplies drinking water to a wide swath of South San Diego County, is joining the ranks of local water agencies seeking to reduce their dependence on the San Diego County Water Authority. Sweetwater governing board members earlier this month voted unanimously to begin laying the groundwork for a major new groundwater […]