Cal Fire: Ponds, lakes used for water drops are disappearing
JAMUL, Calif. - Firefighters are getting nervous about the drought conditions, and it's not just about the dry brush.
Fire crews are concerned that ponds and small lakes used for water drops are drying up.
Just off Procter Valley Road, in a state preserve in Jamul, Yvonne Reese took 10News on a hike she's been making for more than 20 years.
"The drought is actually very scary," said Reese.
There is brown where there should be green, and less than a mile in, there is a patch of parched earth and brush.
Reese remembers something far different, saying, "It would have been over my head by about 2 feet."
Reese is referring to what locals called a lake, known for ducks and skinny-dipping. A piece of underwear still sits in the dirt.
The water level started dropping at the lake seven years ago, and now it's completely dry.
"We're extremely concerned," said Cal Fire Capt. Kendal Bortisser.
Bortisser said in many remote areas across San Diego County, those ponds used by helicopters for water drops are shrinking, and in some cases, disappearing.
Bortisser showed 10News a photo he took of a quickly vanishing lake south of Pine Valley.
"It's going to cause our crews to have to travel further for water, making our response times difficult and longer," said Bortisser.
In the last few months, Cal Fire crews and pilots have been surveying the terrain, mapping out alternate water sources. They're also developing plans to use portable water tanks that can be used by helicopters.
In San Diego, lakes and reservoirs are at their lowest levels in recent memory.
Lake Morena was 17 percent full at this time in 2010 -- now it's down to 3 percent.
Barrett Lake was nearly full in 2010 at 96 percent, but today it's down below 6 percent.
Lake Sutherland, up at more than 30 percent full in 2010 has fallen to just 8.5 percent.
Source: http://www.10news.com/news/cal-fire-ponds-lakes-used-for-water-drops-are-disappearing
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