East County Magazine
FRIENDS OF LOVELAND RESERVOIR ASK PUBLIC HELP AFTER FOREST SERVICES DENIES REQUEST FOR VOLUNTEERS TO HELP RESTORE SUNRISE-TO-SUNSET ACCESS
Printer-friendly versionBy Miriam Raftery July 11, 2024 (Alpine) – The nonprofit Friends of Loveland Reservoir has been advocating for a return of sunrise-to-sunset hours at Sweetwater Reservoir. Such access was agreed to along with an easement as part of a land-swap deal between the U.S. Forest Service and Sweetwater Water Authority (SWA) years ago, but in recent years amid tightened
AFTER OTAY FIRE, LA MESA CITY MANAGER OFFERS ASSURANCES ON SAFETY OF PROPOSED BATTERY STORAGE SITE IN LA MESA
Printer-friendly versionBy Miriam Raftery Image: Rendering of proposed Murray Project in La Mesa, via Enersmart’s project website July 8, 2024 (La Mesa) – A battery fire at the Gateway energy storage facility in Otay Mesa in May forced evacuation of nearby businesses for nearly two weeks. Enersmart has proposed building a battery energy storage facility at 8131 El Paso
AFTER OTAY FIRE, LA MESA CITY MANAGER OFFERS ASSURANCES ON SAFETY OF PROPOSED BATTERY STORAGE SITE IN LA MESA
Printer-friendly versionBy Miriam Raftery Image: Rendering of proposed Murray Project in La Mesa, via Enersmart’s project website July 8, 2024 (La Mesa) – A battery fire at the Gateway energy storage facility in Otay Mesa in May forced evacuation of nearby businesses for nearly two weeks. Enersmart has proposed building a battery energy storage facility at 8131 El Paso
AFTER OTAY FIRE, LA MESA CITY MANAGER OFFERS ASSURANCES ON SAFETY OF PROPOSED BATTERY STORAGE SITE IN LA MESA
Printer-friendly versionBy Miriam Raftery Image: Rendering of proposed Murray Project in La Mesa, via Enersmart’s project website July 8, 2024 (La Mesa) – A battery fire at the Gateway energy storage facility in Otay Mesa in May forced evacuation of nearby businesses for nearly two weeks. Enersmart has proposed building a battery energy storage facility at 8131 El Paso
PHOTO OF THE WEEK: JUNE BLOOMS
Printer-friendly versionEast County News Service July 8, 2024 (San Diego’s East County)– Junebug Owens sent in this idyllic image taken in late June of her Belgian Malinois mix dog, Ellie, lolling amid blossoms from a purple flowering Jaracanda tree and a scarlet Bougainvillea. Printer-friendly version
PHOTO OF THE WEEK: JUNE BLOOMS
Printer-friendly versionEast County News Service July 8, 2024 (San Diego’s East County)– Junebug Owens sent in this idyllic image taken in late June of her Belgian Malinois mix dog, Ellie, lolling amid blossoms from a purple flowering Jaracanda tree and a scarlet Bougainvillea. Printer-friendly version
CRITTER ENCOUNTERS: RAMONA RESCUE IS HAVEN FOR INJURED AND DISABLED ANIMALS
Printer-friendly versionBy Mimi Pollack Photo: Finley the Fennec Fox July 6, 2024 (Ramona) — In the United States, there is a problem with people acquiring exotic animals without really doing their research. People bring these pets home as tiny babies, not realizing that they can grow to be quite large as adults. For example black and white Argentine
CRITTER ENCOUNTERS: RAMONA RESCUE IS HAVEN FOR INJURED AND DISABLED ANIMALS
Printer-friendly versionBy Mimi Pollack Photo: Finley the Fennec Fox July 6, 2024 (Ramona) — In the United States, there is a problem with people acquiring exotic animals without really doing their research. People bring these pets home as tiny babies, not realizing that they can grow to be quite large as adults. For example black and white Argentine
18 LOCAL WATER SYSTEMS FAIL SAFE DRINKING WATER STANDARDS; 16 MORE ARE AT RISK
Printer-friendly version Update: Hear our in-depth interviews with state water officials, originally aired on KNSJ 89.1 FM Radio. By Miriam Raftery July 3, 2024 (San Diego) – The State of California has released its 2023 Drinking Water Needs Assessment, including a dashboard listing water systems that failed state or federal standards for safe drinking water. In San Diego
18 LOCAL WATER SYSTEMS FAIL SAFE DRINKING WATER STANDARDS; 16 MORE ARE AT RISK
Printer-friendly version Update: Hear our in-depth interviews with state water officials, originally aired on KNSJ 89.1 FM Radio. By Miriam Raftery July 3, 2024 (San Diego) – The State of California has released its 2023 Drinking Water Needs Assessment, including a dashboard listing water systems that failed state or federal standards for safe drinking water. In San Diego
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Supervisors greenlight pilot program for El Capitan Reservoir, promising expanded access
Printer-friendly versionSan Diego County Board of Supervisors voted 5-0 to approve pilot program for El Capitan Reservoir. Photo courtesy Friends of San Diego Lakes via Instagram By Karen Pearlman Oct. 1, 2025 (San Diego County) — In a move hailed by East County residents and recreation advocates, the San Diego County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously Wednesday to
Orphaned Mountain Lion Cubs Return to Wild
Printer-friendly version San Diego Humane Society’s Project Wildlife program helps young big cats reclaim their place in nature Source: San Diego Humane Society September 29, 2025 (Ramona) — Two mountain lion cubs who arrived at San Diego Humane Society’s Ramona Wildlife Center as orphans in March have been returned to the wild. The young carnivores were released into suitable habitat
Clean swimming: San Vicente Reservoir gets new floating restroom
Printer-friendly versionThe floating restroom at San Vicente Reservoir. (Photo courtesy of the city of San Diego) By JW August, Times of San Diego Sept. 13, 2025 (Lakeside) — Good news for anyone who uses San Vicente Reservoir to fish, swim or boat — the 1,600-acre reservoir has a new floating bathroom. The previous floating john is past
Cottonwood sand mine in Rancho San Diego rejected by Board of Supervisors
Printer-friendly versionBy Paul Levikow Karen Pearlman contributed to this report Sept. 10, 2025 (San Diego County) – The Cottonwood Sand Mine project in Rancho San Diego was rejected unanimously Wednesday by the San Diego County Board of Supervisors. In a packed board room, the supervisors heard from more than 100 speakers in a span of over two hours,
City of La Mesa gifting trees, hosting education series
Printer-friendly versionEast County News Service Sept. 10, 2025 (La Mesa) — La Mesa is hoping more trees will sprout up after it hosts a four-event educations series from September through November. As part of the series, thanks to partner Tree San Diego, 100 free trees will be distributed to La Mesa residents. La Mesa is partnering with Tree
Proposed Lakeside Sand Mine Owner Sues City of San Diego for Damages From Water Release at El Capitan Dam
Printer-friendly version 91-year-old dam is too dangerous for city to keep reservoir filled, leading to massive water waste and now, damage claims downstream Updated Sept. 5, 2025 with additional seismic risk details. By Karen Pearlman Sept. 1, 2025 (Lakeside) – A lawsuit against the city of San Diego is highlighting safety and management concerns at the El
Rollback of “Roadless Rule” to allow logging and road construction in National Forests draws opposition from tribes and ecologists
Printer-friendly version Trump administration opens 21-day public comment period Aug. 29-Sept. 19 By Miriam Raftery Photo: Cedar Creek Falls, one of the most scenic hiking destinations in San Diego’s East County, is in a roadless portion of Cleveland National Forest. August 29, 2025 (San Diego) — The Trump administration announced it is seeking public comment on its proposal to rescind the
Toxic Algae Bloom at Mission Trails Dam Site
Printer-friendly versionSource: San Diego River Park Foundation August 28, 2025 (San Diego) – Water samples collected last week at Old Mission Dam in Mission Trails Regional Park have tested positive for a cyanotoxin that can be harmful to people and pets. The San Diego River Foundation has posted caution signs, in cooperation with the California Water Boards San Diego Region
California Supreme Court hands victory to rooftop solar panel owners
Printer-friendly versionBy Malena Carollo, CalMatters This story was originally published by CalMatters. Sign up for their newsletters. Photo: rooftop solar panels on a home in the Rockridge neighborhood of Oakland, on Feb. 18, 2020. Photo by Anne Wernikoff for CalMatters August 7, 2025 (Oakland) – The California Supreme Court today sided with environmental groups in a case seen as pivotal for the
County closes three parks in August to protect hikers from heat
Printer-friendly versionBy Gig Conaughton, County of San Diego Communications Office Photo: El Capitan County Preserve August 1, 2025 (Lakeside) – As summer temperatures rise, the County of San Diego has closed three parks that it shuts down every year for the month of August to protect residents during what is often the hottest time of the year. Parks officials announced
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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.