Pala

A geological study to determine whether a North County valley should be included on a short list of potential landfill sites was approved Tuesday by the Board of Supervisors.

The decision to take another look at the so-called Lowry landfill site was done over the objections of the county staff and neighbors, who said a dump would, among other things, destroy views and habitat.

The site, about 3 miles east of Interstate 15, just south of California 76 and west of Pala, had previously been rejected by the county as being too small to handle the region’s trash needs. But, at the urging of the property owner, David Lowry, the county was requested to take another look.

Supervisor John MacDonald said he wants the county to do a geological study of the property above 350 feet to find out whether a dump would be a threat to an underground aquifer situated in the area.

The county has identified three other potential landfill sites in North County and is preparing an environmental impact report on them. Depending on the outcome of the county’s study of the Lowry site, a process that county officials say could take three to four months, the Lowry property could be added to the other three.