Senate OKs Bill Curbing Covering of Reservoirs

Southern California water officials lost a bitter fight Monday when the state Senate passed a bill that would restrict the covering of open reservoirs because the coverings would ruin the scenic view of nearby residents.

The measure, sponsored by Assemblyman Mike Roos (D-Los Angeles), is aimed at drying up a plan by the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power to put rubberized covers over six small neighborhood reservoirs, while building new water filtration plants at larger lakes.

Under the Roos bill, those kinds of major modifications to reservoirs in Los Angeles, Orange and San Diego counties could be undertaken only in the event of an emergency--such as an earthquake--and only after a lengthy hearing process.

As it happens, the DWP is considering a new filtration plant at the Silver Lake Reservoir in the Los Feliz area, where Roos is now building a home with a commanding view of the water.

Roos said Monday that the reservoirs are “cool oases in the middle of our crowded cities. We should not lose these recreational and scenic resources that have long been an integral part of many neighborhoods by helping to shape their character and, in some cases, even their climate.”

Yet water officials argue that Roos’ bill is a public health gambit on behalf of a lucky few with vistas of the water. They underscore that the bill, if passed, would tie their hands at a time when the state and federal governments are considering tougher new drinking water standards.

“It’s a knee-jerk reaction to a problem that affects a very small number of people and could have a costly result,” said Lester Snow, general manager of the San Diego County Water Authority.

Snow and other water officials say the rubberized covers are the most economical way to prevent expensive evaporation or to stop the damage to water quality done by bird droppings, small animals and debris tossed into the open waters.

In Los Angeles, the DWP had planned to cover six smaller neighborhood reservoirs--the Santa Ynez, Upper Stone Canyon, Upper Hollywood, Ivanhoe, Elysian and Rowena. Ron McCoy, DWP’s assistant chief engineer, said covers are already in place at the Eagle Rock and Franklin reservoirs, with construction beginning on the Green Verdugo reservoir.

However, the Roos bill would restrict use of the relatively cheap covers and may force water agencies to instead build expensive filtration systems to improve water quality. Those kinds of construction projects could add an extra $10 to $50 to the average monthly bill for Southern California water users, water officials have argued.

Senate President Pro Tem David A. Roberti (D-Los Angeles) on Monday said those estimates were exaggerated, and he urged his colleagues to support the Roos measure on behalf of residents who use or live near the man-made lakes.

The Senate responded by voting 21 to 16--a bare majority--to approve the bill, sending it back to the Assembly for a legislative blessing before it is sent on to Gov. George Deukmejian.