East County Magazine
La Mesa hosting Home Energy Fair in March
East County News Service February 5, 2026 (La Mesa) — With San Diego County residents navigating some of the highest utility rates in the nation,…
Navy officials meet with Warner Springs community to address PFAS in water
Printer-friendly versionBy Karen Pearlman with additional reporting by Miriam Raftery Jan. 14, 2026 (Warner Springs) — Dozens of local residents and business owners visited the CAL Fire Station in Warner Springs on Jan. 12 to glean information from the United States Navy and several other federal groups as well as state and county water agencies about PFAS and their impact
“Forever chemical” crisis seeps into Southern California: from Sweetwater Reservoir to Orange County, districts grapple with how to protect drinking water supplies
Printer-friendly versionPhoto: PFAS have been detected in Sweetwater Reservoir, via Sweetwater Water Authority By Karen Pearlman Jan. 8, 2025 (San Diego County) — “Water, water everywhere, nor any drop to drink” goes the line from Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s 1798 poem, The Rime of the Ancient Mariner, describing sailors surrounded by undrinkable ocean water. That old phrase also fits today. Obtaining clean,
Reader’s Editorial: Venezuela could yield more profits from ecotourism than from oil
Printer-friendly version By Renee Owens, wildlife biologist Photo by Renee Owens: capybaras and sunset in Venezuela’s llanos January 7, 2026 (San Diego’s East County) — Having lived and worked in Venezuela, I can no longer remain silent amidst all the clueless rhetoric. Venezuela is more than a cliché of dictators and oil. It is a wondrous place and a cautionary tale
The Water Conservation Garden gears up for a blooming 2026
Printer-friendly version Photo of a buttefly at the Dorcas E. Utter Butterfly Pavilion at The Water Conservation Garden and story by Karen Pearlman Jan. 3, 2025 (Rancho San Diego) — The Water Conservation Garden, the 6-acre botanical showcase of sustainable landscaping and water-wise gardening adjacent to Cuyamaca College, has rooted out its slate of events for Winter and Spring 2026. The schedule includes educational opportunities,
PFAS “forever chemicals” found in Warner Springs groundwater: Navy to host open house January 12 and provide testing of wells at nearby properties
Printer-friendly versionBy Miriam Raftery Updated Dec. 31 with comments from the Warner Spring Community Sponsor Group chair and a local winery representative, plus a statement from the Vista Irrigation District. December 27, 2025 (Warner Springs) — The U.S. Navy has announced that PFAS, known as “forever chemicals” have been detected in groundwater in Warner Springs. The contamination is believed to be linked to a
County share: Sustainability hacks during the holiday season
Printer-friendly versionSustainable gifts are always in. Photo from Pexels.com East County News Service Dec. 10, 2025 (San Diego County) — Going green and being sustainable poses some challenges, and can be especially difficult to navigate during the holiday season. Gving and receiving gifts and packages of all makes and models — and most come with wrapping of all types —
Loveland Reservoir water transfer at 21% but coming to an end, SWA says
Printer-friendly versionPhoto of Loveland Reservoir by Ostan Patton By Karen Pearlman Dec. 9, 2025 (Alpine) – Sweetwater Authority’s plan to leave Loveland Reservoir with at least 25 percent of its water capacity during the most recent transfer of water into the Sweetwater Reservoir has not gone as originally planned, as shared with East County Magazine on Dec. 5. Sweetwater Authority (SWA), the
East County AWP construction boosts cost, but officials say recycled water supply is worth the price
Printer-friendly versionBy Mike Allen Photo: Education Center at AWP plant December 5, 2025 (Santee) — Three years into construction, the massive East County Advanced Water Purification Program is approaching the finish line late next year when the region’s sewage now being treated at Point Loma will be pumped to a new Santee plant and converted to drinkable, purified water.
Loveland Reservoir draining underway brings pushback from East County residents
Printer-friendly version Loveland Reservoir showing what is left of the public fishing zone. Photo by Ostan Patton By Karen Pearlman Dec. 5, 2025 (Alpine) – It’s been three years since Loveland Reservoir was drained by Sweetwater Authority to “deadpool” level for the first time ever, leaving the area susceptible to environmental challenges, killing fish and increasing fire hazards. Now another extreme draining is underway by Sweetwater
Search by Specific Date
Support community news in the public interest! As nonprofit news, we rely on donations from the public to fund our reporting — not special interests. Please donate to sustain East County Magazine’s local reporting and/or wildfire alerts at https://www.eastcountymedia.org/donate to help us keep people safe and informed across our region.
HOW TO LANDSCAPE WITH LESS WATER: WORKSHOP OCT. 13 WITH AUTHOR/GARDENING DESIGNER SCOTT CALHOUN IN EL CAJON
Printer-friendly version October 10, 2009 (El Cajon)–Do watering restrictions put a damper on your gardening enthusiasm? The City of El Cajon’s Community Development Department hosts a workshop Tuesday afternoon on how to landscape your home during this time of heightened water conservation. To author and gardening designer Scott Calhoun, working with drought conditions is exciting and can take gardens in new
GREEN BUILDING PRODUCTS MANUFACTURER DONATES MATERIALS TO BUILD HOME FOR EL CAJON FAMILY IN NEED
Printer-friendly version October 8, 2009 (El Cajon)– Cali Bamboo, a premier manufacturer of green building materials made entirely from bamboo for residential and commercial projects, has announced its partnership with the San Diego Habitat for Humanity. The company will provide $15,000 worth of flooring and fencing materials as well as volunteer employees to help build the final Jimmie Johnson Foundation
KIDS EXPRESS THEIR HOPES FOR A CLEAN FUTURE AT THE SUSTAIN LA MESA ENVIRONMENTAL FESTIVAL
Printer-friendly version By Kristin Kjaero September 29, 2009 (La Mesa)– “Be an Eco-Hero! Each person can make a difference and you can too…. Let your voice be heard!” read a sign at the City of La Mesa’s second annual Sustain La Mesa Environmental Festival. A number of young people showed they are well on the way to being eco-heroes
COASTAL CLEANUP DAY A BIG SUCCESS : EAST COUNTY RESIDENTS PITCH IN AT LAKE MURRAY
Printer-friendly version Story and photos by Kristin Kjaero October 7, 2009 (Lake Murray)—In honor of this year’s 25th California Cleanup Day on September 19, Coastal Cleanup Day in San Diego County was bigger than ever. 10,032 volunteers in the county (up from 7,800 last year) covered 163 miles of coast and inland waterways to collect 101,933 pounds of trash
EDITORIAL: BOLD NEXT STEPS FOR CLIMATE CHANGE
Printer-friendly version By Congressman Bob Filner Democratic Representative from the 51st Congressional District The impacts of the climate crisis are already being seen around the world through increasing hurricane intensity, melting ice caps, and refugees fleeing extreme weather conditions. Here in Southern California, we are particularly vulnerable to a variety of threats posed by unchecked global warming – threats to
SAN DIEGO SOLAR HOME TOUR SAT. OCT. 3
Printer-friendly version October 2, 2009 – The San Diego Solar Home Tour 2009 offer working examples of residential solar energy technology on a tour from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. This year, the California Center for Sustainable Energy is joining the American Solar Energy Society (ASES) National Tour to showcase residential homes using solar technology at locations throughout San Diego
RAMONA FIRE VICTIMS FIND A “VINE” WAY TO BUILD HOME THAT’S FIRE-SAFE & GREEN
Printer-friendly version By Miriam Raftery Zak Valade and his wife, Gina, lost their home in the 2007 Witch Creek fire. Now, they’re rebuilding a new home designed by famed architect Drew Hubbell,.constructed of fire-safe and energy efficient materials. They’ve also ripped out their avocado grove and planted a vineyard instead. “Today, this is the new fire buffer,” Zak Valade
SOLAR ENERGY CONFERENCE SEPT. 29
Printer-friendly version September 24, 2009 – As part of Solar Energy Week, the California Center for Sustainability is sponsoring an all-day Solar Energy Conference featuring keynote speakers and high-level experts who will be exploring the latest policy, trends, technologies and other issues. Learn the latest in solar trends, and network with solar industry insiders. The conference promises something for everyone
WE’VE GONE GREENER!
Printer-friendly versionSeptember 18, 2009 (San Diego’s East County) – We’re proud to announce that our server is now powered 100% by wind energy. Since our online publication is already paperless and green, we’re definitely the most eco-friendly news publication in town! Did you know that nearly 10% of all greenhouse gas emissions in the U.S. are produced by the paper
SDSU GETS RECOVERY ACT FUNDING FOR CARBON CAPTURE RESEARCH
Printer-friendly version September 19, 2009 (San Diego)–Congressman Bob Filner (D-San Diego) announced that a $299,993 Recovery Act grant has been awarded to San Diego State University (SDSU) Research Foundation through the U.S. Department of Energy. Funds will be used for a web-based carbon dioxide (CO2) subsurface modeling project and will create training opportunities for graduate and undergraduate students to develop skills for
Search by Specific Date
Support community news in the public interest! As nonprofit news, we rely on donations from the public to fund our reporting — not special interests. Please donate to sustain East County Magazine’s local reporting and/or wildfire alerts at https://www.eastcountymedia.org/donate to help us keep people safe and informed across our region.