SB Now

Mr. Andrew Edwards…

I find it rather humorous that the SUN appears to be surprised by the sequence of events of the MWD and their ongoing projects. On three, yes 3 separate occasions during the past 3-4 years I have called the SUN and requested they update the long past story about just what the MWD is up to with their tunneling in the San Bernardino Mountains above our City. Each time I was rather rudely blown off and told that they (the SUN) decides what is news and what or where the community interest lay.

The last I can remember was a story about 5 years ago concerning the tunneling off Highway 330 behind Wal-Mart and the problems they were having that were not anticipated. These problems centered on the amount of ground water experienced deep inside the tunnel and the force or velocity of the ground water being so great that the MWD had to go back to Germany and get additional technical support to deal with this unanticipated water problem that impacted their work schedule. Also there were issues with the boring machines too. Then there was the problem with the Indians who said the tunnel was taking all their sacred mountain water that they were planning to bottle and sell. That issue was headed for the courts as the Indians wanted the tunneling to stop. There was to be a bottling plant built on their reservation above their casino. Did that happen?

I again called when the tunneling was begun near the Arrowhead Springs Hotel. I requested the SUN to update their readers bring them to date as to the progress of the tunneling the past problems and the future plans. Again, I received thanks for the tip but, well you know, nothing appeared in print that I saw.

Next, a few weeks to a month ago I again called when tunneling was begun at the Devil Canyon Power Station above Cal State SB. I again requested a follow-up story and again, mum is the word. It is like the SUN has been told not to report on what is happening under the noses of the residents of San Bernardino.

Now, the big surprise is in print today. Large colossal pipes are needed somewhere in San Bernardino and the MWD is involved. Could they be associated with the tunneling currently underway in three locations in the close by mountains? Like so often, an interesting story about events ongoing in San Bernardino is mask by perceived political battling between Mayor Morris and City Attorney Penman. The solution is simple. If the current laws on the books prevent these super heavy loads on City streets, then before the law is waved in favor or MWD, they (MWD) must agree to replace all roads they move their heavy loads on. Once the moves are completed begin the rebuild. The damage to the substructure of these roads may not show until a really good rain or 2 to 3 years down stream. To ensure the City does not pay for this Los Angles area MWD project now or in the future, they must agree to rebuild the roads from below the sub-grade up to and including the pavement, curbs, and bridges that were impacted. Not may be impacted, but were or are impacted. If the transport on it, they rebuild it. Just that simple.

Lastly, could this tunneling and large pipes be associated with the Diamond Valley Lake reservoir in Riverside County? If so, why not just say so instead of saying it is for the San Jacinto Area? By the way, the large pipeline that will carry the water from Highway 330 through Highland, Mentone, Yucaipa and on to Diamond Valley Lake is in and waiting this water.

That in itself is another story about how the Department of Water Resources (DWR) brings water down the Aqueduct to Silverwood Lake, through Devils Canyon Power Generating Station and on to Lake Paris and Lake Mathews for the MWD and its LA Area customers. Now they are taking more of this Northern California Delta water for the Diamond Valley Lake. What is not mentioned here is the problem with the endangered smelt in Northern California limiting the amount of water coming to Southern California and also the fast growing invasive species of the Quagga Mussel that has come with the Northern water and the long range problems that await that are associated with this mussel. (see: http://westernfarmpress.com/news/091107-California-water/)

As you can see (I hope) the story is NOT the ever present battle between the Mayor and the City Attorney but with this grand water project costing millions of dollars that is under the noses of the residents of SB. I would bet 3/4th of your readers are clueless about this water project the details and what it means to So Cal and the costs associated. Perhaps again this information will receive the same welcome as before. We will see.

Reader Bob,

I don't know who you spoke with in the past about this issue but it's not my intention to blow off readers.

It's this reporter's view that the MWD project and its significance for San Bernardino and the Inland Empire are of greater import than City Hall rivalries. I plan on following this issue.

By the way, readers who want to suggest stories can contact me via email at andrew.edwards@sbsun.com. I can't guarantee in this post that I'll have time to be able to cover all suggested stories but I like to be accessible.

Mr. Edwards

Listed on page 2 of the SUN are contact phone numbers for the newspaper. One is listed "Do you have a news tip?" Sorry I did not ask for the person's name I spoke with but there is where I tried to provide the said information, and there I was schooled on what is news worthy information and what is not by whom. It is history now, but it still would be interesting to read about the tunneling ongoing today and updating on the progress and problems encountered.