By Miriam Raftery

File photo: El Captain reservoir and dam, by BIlly Ortiz

August 20, 2023 (Lakeside) – The City of San Diego has announced that today it has begun releasing water from El Capitan Reservoir in Lakeside, in anticipation of a potential spill due to Tropical Storm Hilary. 

Flowing water will be visible downstream from the dam in El Monte Valley and beyond. The notice is posted on the city’s webpage for El Capitan Reservoir.

El Capitan is an aging dam made of rocks, built in 1934. The dam is 237 feet tall and 1,170 feet wide, but no longer meets state standards, ECM warned back in 2017.

The aging dam is considered in poor condition and would pose a high risk of loss of life downstream if it were kept full and should rupture. Last year, NPR reported that El Capitan dam “is capable of storing over 36 billion gallons of water — enough to supply every resident in San Diego for most of a year. Today, it's three-quarters empty — intentionally kept low because of concerns it could fail under the strain of too much water.”

August 19, 2023 (Jacumba Hot Springs) -- Outer bands of Hurricane Hilary have sparked an estimated 1,000 cloud-to-cloud lighting strikes in San Diego County, the National Weather Service says.  At the Desert View Tower in Jacumba Hot Springs, overlooking Imperial Valley, Gabrielle Schultz had a birds-eye view and shot this dramatic video of a lightning storm before dawn this morning.

August 18, 2023 (Lakeside,  CA) -- The Sheriff is asking for public help to find 68-year-old Jose Martinez, who is reported missing from a care facility in unincorporated El Cajon. Martinez was last seen at the care facility around 9:00 p.m.last night by staff.

Deputies from the Lakeside Sheriff’s Substation responded to the care facility and began checking the area for the missing man.A Sheriff's Command Post has been established at the Awaken Church located at 950 North Second Ave in El Cajon. The Sheriff's Search and Rescue (SAR) Unit has also activated. SAR Volunteers responded and searched the area throughout the night, says Lt.Chris Katra..

Mountains and deserts forecast to get 5-7 inches of rain, with winds up to 60 mph

By Miriam Raftery

August 17, 2023 (San Diego’s East County) – Hurricane Hilary is barreling toward San DIego County, slated to hit this weekend.

“The storm is going inland, so the strongest winds will be in the mountains,” meteorologist Miguel Miller with the National Weather Service in San Diego told  East County Magazine. “The rainfall, flood potential and winds are actually going to be stronger the more east you go. This will be a really wet and windy storm.”

Currently a category 2 hurricane, Hilary could be upgraded to a category 4 by the time it hits Baja, Mexico, though it will likely be downgraded to a tropical storm once it reaches San Diego County. However, the impacts will still pack a wallop, with thunderstorms, very heavy rains and flooding likely --with the worst in inland areas.

Desert areas are forecast to be soaked with 5-7 inches of rain, with 5-7 inches in the mountains, 2.5 inches in Alpine, and 1.75 inches in El Cajon from Saturday through Monday. The worst of the storm is expected to peak on Sunday.

Wind gusts of 40 to 60 miles per hour are expected in the mountains, with 30 to 50 mph winds on the desert floor. West of the mountains, 30 to 40 mph winds are forecast. High surf will occur along the coast.

This isn’t the first time a hurricane has hit our region.

Back in September 1976,  Hurricane Kathleen had a similar trajectory. Designate a tropical cyclone by the time it reached our region, it as ECM previously reported on an anniversary of that storm, it caused massive flooding and destruction.

East County News Service

August 16, 2023 (San Diego's East County)—Yesterday the  Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals issued a published opinion vacating as “arbitrary and capricious” the Federal Aviation Administration (“FAA) denial of a petition by an environmental organization, Backcountry Against Dumps.

The group sought discretionary review of a plan by Terra-Gen Development Company to construct 72 wind turbines, including 60 that would be 586 feet tall on the crest of the Coast Range on the Campo reservation in the Campo-Boulevard areas of San Diego's East County. The turbines would be roughly twice the height of the Statue of Liberty and located within the principal aviation corridor between San Diego, California and Yuma, Arizona.

Backcountry’s petition recognized the vital need for renewable energy to counter climate change, but pointed out that public and environmental safety must also be factored into project reviews.

It cited documentation showing the turbines would pose collision hazards to fixed wing and rotary aircraft, impair radar function, potentially trigger greenhouse gas-emitting wildfires due to wind-induced sparking of power lines, lightning strikes and overheating of rotors, impede aerial firefighting and other emergency response, and force air traffic to fly at higher altitudes more prone to icing hazards to clear these enormous obstructions.

By Jacob Pamus

Photo:  Pastor Rolland Slade speaks out on Council's decision to defund the task force.

Updated August 21 with statements from Bonnie Baranoff, Coordinatorof the East County Homeless  Task Force, disputing the city's assertions and media statements.

August 16, 2023  (El Cajon) – El Cajon’s City Council majority voted to drop its funding for the East County Homeless Task Force.  Ironically El Cajon has the most homeless among East County communities and 16% of the homeless in San Diego County. 

City Manager, Graham Mitchell said during a Council meeting in late July that even though El Cajon’s interests do align with the task force, “Over time, that alignment has been shifting.” Mitchell  noted that initially he was in support of the task force because of how many different perspectives were involved, including law enforcement and business oriented individuals, but now he does not see that.

By: Jessyka Heredia

Photos from City of El Cajon meeting and presentation

August 14, 2023 (El Cajon) – The  El Cajon City Council on Tuesday was given a presentation by the city’s marketing and engagement manager, Chris Berg, about a new farmers market idea that includes a beer garden, farmers, artisan foods and goods plus three concert stages and more. The proposal is much larger in scope than other farmers markets around the county.

The City Manager, Graham Mitchell, also introduced three different proposals to the Council on possible projects to use their remaining ARPA funds on.

East County News Service

August 9, 2023 (Sycuan) – The 2023 Sycuan Powwow will be held September 8-10 at the Sycuan Resort, 5577 Dehesa Road in El  Cajon.

The annual celebration will feature tribal dancing contests each day as well as bird singing competitions on Sept. 9. Other activities include peon games at dusk, traditional Native American arts and crafts vendors, and refreshments.

Update 10 p.m.-- All evacuation orders and warnings are lifted.  The fire has burned 184 acres and is 20% contained. Residents are asked to call 911 if you see a flare-up.

By Miriam Raftery

Photos by Josh Stotler

August 9, 2023 (Ramona) -- The Sheriff has issued a mandatory evacuation order due to the #BunnieFire in Ramona, which has burned 103 acres in the area of San Vicente Road and Bunnie King Lane in Wildcat Canyon just north of Lakeside.

The shaded areas of this map show the original evacuation area.  A temporary evacuation point is beingset up at Olive Pierce Middle School, 1521  Hanson Lane. This updated map has evacuation warnings and evacuation orders.

The safest evacuation route is heading north on SanVicente Road or South on Barona Road.

By Jacob Pamus

Image: Rendering of a proposed e-billboard in La Mesa

August 8, 2023 (La Mesa) – On July 25, the La Mesa City Council rejected a recommendation of an ad hoc committee known as the “Digital Billboard Ad-hoc Subcommittee.” Councilwoman Patricia Dillard and Councilman Jack Shu are in this subcommittee; its purpose was to issue a request for proposals with billboard companies to build digital billboards in La Mesa.

But ultimately, Shu and Dillard shifted their stances to oppose electronic billboards.

Update: The evacuation warning has been lifted.  One lane of I-8 west has been reopened.

By Miriam Raftery

Photo by Eileen Martinez

August 6, 2023 -- The #PassFire has burned 10 acres near Ribbonwood Road and Opalacka in Pine Valley near Boulevard. I-8 west is closed, with traffic diverted onto Ribbonwood.

The Sheriff has issued an evacuation warning  with vulnerable people urged to leave, such as those who are disabled, have access issues,or large animals.  

However Cal Fire/San Diego County Fire reports the forward spread has been halted at 10 acres.

By: Jessyka Heredia

August 3, 2023 (Rancho San Diego)—On Tuesday, members of the Valle De Oro Community Planning Group met at their regular monthly meeting to discuss the recently recirculated Environmental Impact Report (EIR) on the Cottonwood Sand Mine project that is proposed on 214 acres of land at the Cottonwood Golf Course. The goal was to approve a drafted letter to the County to share their concerns on the project.

East County News Service

August 5, 2023 (Lakeside) – Lakeside Fire Protection District Director and former Fire Chief Mark Thomas Baker died July 10 after complications following a medical procedure for a heart issue.

“He was dedicated to his work to ensure the success of the Lakeside Fire District and the safety of the residents he served,” says a statement from the district on Facebook, which voiced “great sadness” at his passing.

The California Fire Chiefs Association issued a statement recalling Chief Baker as not only “a dedicated professional, but he was also a kind-hearted individual with a great sense of humor. He brought joy to those around him and always had a smile on his face.  He will be greatly missed by all those in the fire service that not only knew him, but also looked to him as a leader and mentor."

By Jessyka Heredia

Photos provided by Shane O'Garro

August 1, 2023 (Lemon Grove) – On July 18^, Lemon Grove was the fourth city in East County to pass an emergency ordinance that will pave the way to hopefully having more shelter beds in East County and sharing the burden with other East County cities by applying for grant money as a region instead of individual cities The Council voted 4-0 with Liana LeBaron  absent.