Alternatives to Pamo Dam?

The City of San Diego, heavily dependent on imported water, had foresight in 1925 when it started purchasing land in the lovely Pamo Valley near Ramona for a future reservoir.

Sixty-three years later, foresight by the federal Environmental Protection Agency and local environmentalists has kept Pamo Valley from being flooded, at least for the time being.

EPA overruled the Army Corps of Engineers and refused a permit to dam Santa Ysabel Creek and flood 1,800 acres in Pamo Valley, saying that the plans for mitigating environmental damage are inadequate and that less-damaging alternatives exist.

After pursuing the dam for seven years--rejecting those alternatives as too costly or less effective--the San Diego County Water Authority recently decided to suspend its application for the federal permit, and it plans a yearlong review of the project and alternatives.

That was a smart move by the authority’s new general manager, Lester Snow. Final approval looked unlikely without a prolonged legal battle, and there is much conflicting opinion on the alternatives, plus some relatively new alternatives that need exploring.

Pamo Valley, geologically a prime spot for a reservoir, may eventually be needed. The county’s population is growing rapidly, and only about 10% of the water supply comes from local sources. Such a dam may be the best way to ensure water for North County if an earthquake disrupts the supply of imported water, which has been the principal reason cited by the authority for building Pamo.

But the stream-fed valley, bordering the Cleveland National Forest, is relatively undisturbed except for grazing cattle. It is home to a range of animal and plant life, including the endangered least Bell’s vireo, a songbird.

The Water Authority’s review, along with one being conducted by the city, if objective, should go a long way toward resolving the conflict.

While water storage is crucial in an semi-arid region, a resource such as Pamo Valley should not be sacrificed without every attempt to find an alternative.