4677 Overland Avenue, San Diego, CA 92123

Media Advisory

Contact: Craig Balben(858) 522-6726 (Office)OR John Liarakos(858) 522-6703 (Office)(858) 761-2544 (Cell)February 24, 2010

Water Authority Construction in Mission Trails Regional Park Update

Construction of new water facilities in the park proceeding well

The San Diego County Water Authority is currently constructing new water facilities in the northwestern portion of Mission Trails Regional Park. The new facilitiesinclude a tunnel for a new section of pipeline approximately one mile long, a new flowregulatory structure, a new crossing of the San Diego River and demolition of theexisting blue vent structures.The Water Authority’s existing Second Aqueduct runs north to south through thewestern portion of the park. The aqueduct contains separate pipelines for treated anduntreated water. An underground tunnel is being constructed and new sections of pipe arecurrently being installed to replace two smaller untreated water pipeline sections. Thenew pipeline will be larger and at a lower elevation than the existing pipelines, so it will be able to carry more water to treatment plants that produce drinking water for San DiegoCounty residents. Installation of new pipe in the southern portion of the new tunnel is-more-

Update on Water Authority construction in Mission Trails Regional Park

Page 2 of 4complete; the northern section is tunneled and pipe sections are currently being installedand secured into place.The new flow regulatory structure, which is scheduled to start construction insummer 2011, will be a buried reservoir measuring approximately 400 feet long by 300feet wide with an aboveground access building. It will be able to contain approximately12 million gallons of water and will control flows downstream. It will be similar in sizeand function to the first flow regulatory structure built in the same general area of the park in the mid-1990s for the treated water pipeline. When the new facilities arecomplete, the Water Authority will remove the remaining tall blue pipeline vent stack that is visible in the park and replace all the former blue vent stacks with much shorter structures.The new crossing of the San Diego River was completed in 2009, just in time for the rainy season. The new river crossing allows park rangers and emergency vehicles tomore easily access the interior portions of the park from the south. A bollard withmarkings was placed at the mid-point of the river, so those using the crossing can gaugethe likely depth of the river at its deepest spot. In conjunction with the river crossingwork, the contractor removed concrete debris and rubble from an old crossing adjacent tothe north side of the San Diego River. This work is being completed as part of the park restoration plan.At the end of construction activities, in 2013, the Water Authority will restore allareas disturbed by construction. Those areas will be recontoured and revegetated to returnthem to as close as original as possible. Some of the restoration work is currently under way on the first flow regulatory structure site, and at the San Diego River crossing, as isthe vernal pool creation effort near the location of the new flow regulatory structure.

Update on Water Authority construction in Mission Trails Regional Park

Page 3 of 4For more information about the Mission Trails Project, please visitwww.sdcwa.org, or call the toll-free project information line at (877) 682-9283, Ext.7004.

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The San Diego County Water Authority is a public agency serving the San Diego region as awholesale supplier of water from the Colorado River and Northern California. The Water Authority works through its 24 member agencies to provide a safe, reliable water supply to support the region’s $174 billion economy and the quality of life of 3 million residents.