Contract for First Hiking, Horse Trail in North Hills at Diamond Valley Lake Awarded by Metropolitan Board.

Business Editors/Travel Writers/Environment Writers

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 9, 2003

Initial Trail Will Offer Scenic Vistas of the Lake,

and Protect Water Quality, Environment

Public recreation at Southern California's largest freshwater lake continued to take shape today as Metropolitan Water District's board of directors approved construction of the first in a series of hiking and equestrian trails at Diamond Valley Lake.

Metropolitan's board awarded a $1.05 million contract to L.D. Anderson, Inc., of Bloomington, Calif., to complete a 6-mile trail and two trailheads in the north hills of the lake, located near Hemet in southwest Riverside County.

"This pedestrian and equestrian trail will offer spectacular views of Diamond Valley Lake without compromising the area's environmental integrity or the lake's operations and water quality," said Metropolitan board Chairman Phillip J. Pace.

The north hills trail will link existing pathways in the area with new passageways to minimize environmental impacts. The trail will connect two 5-acre trailheads at the northwest and northeast ends of the lake.

Each trailhead will offer a picnic area and 50 large parking spaces for vehicles and horse trailers, as well as overflow parking. Individual, tree-shaded staging areas also will be provided for each trailer stall. Construction of the trail and trailheads is expected to be completed and open to public use by March 2004.

The trails program eventually will provide public access to portions of the 9,000-acre Southwest Riverside County Multi-Species Reserve, which surrounds the reservoir and Lake Skinner, opening the door for nature observation, interpretive programs and other recreational opportunities.

In addition, other recreation opportunities begin Oct. 3 when Diamond Valley Lake opens to the public for boating and fishing. Reservations are required for boating and fishing, as the initial stage of development has a limited number of parking spaces, and the earliest days were booked by anxious anglers within the first hours that the reservations system was open.

However, reservations are available for numerous times and dates, and may be made by phoning 1-877-DVL-LAKE, and through www.dvlake.com. Boating and fishing rules, regulations and fees also are available at that Web site.

The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California is a cooperative of 26 cities and water agencies serving 18 million people in six counties. The district imports water from the Colorado River and Northern California to supplement local supplies, and helps its members to develop increased water conservation, recycling, storage and other water-management programs.