Wrightwood California State of the Village

Date: Sun, Sep 8, 2002
Name: MW
City: Wrightwood
Comments: Barking Dogs: It seems there are two camps in Wrightwood about the dogs: the people who say barking is a natural thing for dogs and say "get over it" and the people who want owners to take responsibility for their dogs' behavior or get rid of them. I think it probably depends on your neighborhood. I used to live on Thrush, and was surrounded by barking dogs. One down the street that barked constantly at everything and nothing and was ignored by the owners as far as I could tell. He would bark when I walked ONTO the street, a half a block away! I used to lay awake at night having fantasies about kidnapping and debarking him. Kind of sick, as I actually love dogs, but this was ridiculous. The dog behind us wasn't as bad, but would bark early in the morning and wake us up on weekends, and the dogs next door were just too close because of the high density living, so any barking at all from them was annoying. It was really bad. Then I moved to another neighborhood, one without chain link fences, the tell-tale sign of outdoor dogs. I hear dogs occasionally from other blocks, but it's no big deal. I love it! Moral of the story: the occasional barking of dogs isn't the issue. The "normal" barking of dogs isn't the issue. It is the incessant, unrestrained barking of dogs that are ignored by their owners, which cause other dogs in the area to bark more, that give Wrightwood residents cause to be angry. And the fact that while we ostensibly live in the "country," our houses are often built as close or closer on the tiny lots as those in the city, so noise from neighboring houses intrudes more. SO, dog-owners especially should help other dog owners take responsibility so we don't end up resorting to zoning laws that affect both the "good" and 'bad" dog owners. And help each other make the world a nicer place, because people that live in barking neighborhoods get really cranky from all that lack of sleep.

Date: Sun, Sep 8, 2002
Name: Maggie
City: Wrightwood
Comments: We live on the San Andreas Fault, in perhaps the most rapidly eroding, rugged, steep mountain range (according to John Muir and John McPhee), under the 2nd largest landslide in North America, in a town built on top of old debris flows from that slide, in the middle of a fire ecology pine forest, in southern California in the worst drought year ever. Wow. My first thought about the sudden, rapid water drop that was bigger than predicted from the drought alone was that it was related to seismic activity--and now the water company says that is being researched. Does everyone have their earthquake supplies and safety latches, etc? Also, the biggest debris flows happen in wet years after fires...and I have heard people talking about this being another El Nino year--got sandbags? But then again, there is evidence in tree rings and lake bottoms that there have been droughts in California in the 1100's of up to 100 years!! What would we do then? Interesting to live in an area with so many potential disasters! Earth is a dynamic planet and we are passengers...sometimes it's a bumpy ride. Know your community's natural hazards and be prepared, but most of all, enjoy the ride!

Date: Sun, Sep 8, 2002
Name: VJ
City: Wrightwood
Comments: Dear Sleepless: Perhaps our garden is one of those that looks green when you drive or walk by. Looks can be deceiving. Most of this garden is actually burned up and gone. The more drought tolerant surviving garden is watered a bit, but mostly gets used water from inside the house. I no longer wash clothes up here, but do our laundry while visiting off-hill. When we shower and do dishes we save the used water for our thirsty yard, all so we can have a garden that people may assume is coming straight out of the local tap. Please assume nothing. P.S. How many local people work Mt. High? Enough to rationalize future snow blowing? This could turn out to be a very long drought.

Date: Sun, Sep 8, 2002
Name: Sleepless in Wrightwood
City: Wrightwood, CA
Comments: 1) We should praise those who put their lives on the line EVERY DAY: Sheriff, highway patrol, police, etc. 2) Mt. High employs many residents and brings visitors (business) to our city and should be allowed to pump water to make snow. 3) Amazing how many emerald-green, lush lawns and gardens that I see around town while the rest of us are conserving. If builders must build in Wrightwood, please use some imagination. 4) I have spent many sleepless nights and almost fallen asleep at the wheel due to barking dogs. Do whatever it takes to shut your yappers up before we start taking drastic measures. Zoning them out and ignoring the obnoxious, incessant noise is not an option at 3 in the morning--don't you think we have tried that? 5) Other than that, things are just lovely--in spite of it all, we wouldn't live anywhere else!!!!!!!

Date: Sat, Sep 7, 2002
Name: Joe Blow
City: x wrightwood resident
Comments: Wow you guys are killing me. You have nothing better to do with your time, than complain. how is the water situation? it looks like wrightwood will never be the same as it was 5,10,15,20,25 years ago. things do grow people do change people come people go.wells run dry!!! OH HOW IS THE WATER? GOT WATER? GOT DOGS BAKRING? HEY CAN'T WE ALL GET ALONG, LETS TRY THAT!!!!!!

Date: Sat, Sep 7, 2002
Name: Despise Dog Barking
City: Wrightwood, CA
Comments: Dear Danna and others who feel that those complaining against barking dogs should "relax": You people must either drink yourselves into oblivion at night or be heavy sleepers. OR, do not have incessant dog barking in your neighborhood. When you are awakened at 3 a.m. to barking dogs, it is impossible to "zone them out" without popping a sleeping pill.My husband has a remedy for those dog owners who leave their dogs out at night and do nothing to control their barking: Find the owners' phone numbers and phone them repeatedly. OR, get in your car, drive up to their houses, with your brights on and honk loudly. Yes, you might awaken the neighbors but they're already probably awake. Geez, you rude people with your barking dogs are ridiculous to suggest we should just accept around the clock barking....you need to get lives in the human world!

Date: Fri, Sep 6, 2002
Name: TICKEDOFF
City: WW
Comments: TO CAN"T SLEEP IN DOGWOOD... Sue your neighbor personally for your inability to enjoy peace in your own home because of her noisy dogs. If a small fine doesn't get her attention, perhaps a couple thousand dollar judgment will!! If other neighbors are sick of her barking dogs too, make it a class action lawsuit. Before doing any of that, make sure she sees this website. If that does not get her to deal with her dogs then speak to an attorney. So many people are irresponsible when it comes to their dogs barking. If you want to be sure they are not disturbing anyone while you are away from home keep them INSIDE your house!! Some of these dogs are chronic barkers and their owners know it. There is NO EXCUSE for the inconsideration involved with letting everyone else suffer listening to constant barking. Shut em up or shut em up in your house!

Date: Fri, Sep 6, 2002
Name: Danna
City: Wrightwood
Comments: I agree with Rich about the Big City attitudes. I moved here to get away from that kind of stuff. (been here 1 year and love it) In the city I didn't even know my neighbors, now my neighbors have a key to my home, to get my animals out if an emergency occurs. You should be able to talk to your neighbors, TRY IT!!! Dogs bark more in the mountains because of the wildlife, they most likely did not have that in the city. My dogs are huskies so they don't bark much, they howl and talk and my neighbors love them. They only bark when there is an animal or a person. My neighbors' dog barks occasionally but I don't let it bother me, I just zone it out. Don't sweat the small stuff!!! Life is too short! Be greatful to live in such a beautiful place!! I am.....

Date: Fri, Sep 6, 2002
Name: Lynda
City: Wrightwood/CA
Comments: A NOTE TO THE WEBMASTER I just wanted to send a note of appreciation to you for keeping us informed on important issues such as the recent fires and water problems. Many times I have turned on the news thinking I would find an update on fires and have heard nothing mentioned. Your site has been so helpful and well maintained.. it is appreciated by many in this community.

Date: Fri, Sep 6, 2002
Name: Can't sleep in Dogwood
City: Wrightwood
Comments: My neighbors have 3 dogs, 2 of which are large and bark all the time. The dogs bark into my bedroom window, about 15' away...and they are loud ! Sleeping is not an option anymore for me...I often times stay off the mountain, with friends so I can get a good nights sleep. My neighbor's remedy was to make ME responsible...I should bring in her dogs into her home at night, when she is gone !!! All of the surrounding neighbors have complained to her, we have filed with animal control and an arraignment is this week. From what I understand, they can only fine her, but the barking continues. She spends no time with the dogs, and she is gone all the time...and the dogs are lonely, and without any discipline or affection !!! I work 10 hours, commute 2 hours each way to work, have lived in WW 15 years and it used to be a quiet lovely place to live !!! Owners of all animals must be responsible and if they are not, then animal control and the courts MUST do something... I will be taking this to court every month if necessary, in order to fine them into solving this problem !!! Any words of wisdom out there for any other approach to take with such neighbors with this type of neighbor ???

Date: Fri, Sep 6, 2002
Name: dog owner
City: Wrightwood
Comments: I am not appreciating the assumptions that all dogs in wrightwood are troublesome. We leave all day for work and when we're home we bring the dogs in with us. They sleep inside when they aren't too warm and they come in when we're home on the weekends. I know that they bark- at squirrels, loud noises, sirens, people too close to our house, etc. etc. But this behavior is normal isn't it? We live in the wilderness people - dogs are going to bark at things. I have also used bark collars and just so you know if the dog has thick fur they don't work too well. My dogs alos play all day long - they're puppies somewhat - and growl and bark while they are doing so. If someone has a complaint about this behavior I suggest you take it up with the county to outlaw dogs as pets in Wrightwood. Dogs bark and growl and make noise. They should not be taught otherwise (taught to us in dog obedience thank you). It is their nature to use sound as communication as we do. Isn't having a dog supposed to improve your home security? Isn't that why dogs bark when strangers come close? I think it is ridiculous that so many people think of them as a noisy nuisance.

Date: Fri, Sep 6, 2002
Name: RJM
City: Wrightwood
Comments: Re: Dog Barking Dogs bark because its in their nature to bark. They bark for the following reasons: 1. sirens (we could shut Mt High down 2. Coyotes (we could hunt them to extinction 3. Strangers (teach dogs to ignore people coming on or near your property or maybe they should be smart enough to know the difference between strangers who going to do harm versus those going for a walk. 4.seismic activity - we live on the San Andreas fault -don't know hoe to fix that one 5. Other animals - again we can eliminate them by issuing hunting licenses. People that live in cities don't have these problems generally because cities are noisey Get a life!!!

Date: Thu, Sep 5, 2002
Name: Another Dog Owner
City: Dogwood
Comments: Dogs are just like kids, if you let them get away with something they will continue. We should be looking into sending the owners to obedience school. Dogs are domestic animals that should be a benefit to humans not a nuisance. (I'm not talking about a dog barking occasionally when they should. Coyotes, raccoons, bears and intruders but not when someone walks down the middle of the street or barking for no reason at all.) Shut 'em up or get rid of them.

Date: Thu, Sep 5, 2002
Name: R.Walton
City: Wrightwood
Comments: I have gotten the forms from Animal Control. I have put notes on my neighbors house, and sometimes it gets better, sometimes not. I do notice that the schnauzer owners' are trying to stop the incessant barking of those tyrants. The german shephard owners, are gone a lot, and those neglected animals bark too much. They are just lonely, and not getting enough interface with other humans/dogs. Some people should just not own dogs, if they can't be "one of the family".

Date: Thu, Sep 5, 2002
Name: dog owner
City: W.wood
Comments: I own a dog, too, but i put her in at night, and when we are home. I don't work, so am at home a lot. Most people in Wrightwood have dogs that are outdoors their whole life, and are left alone a lot. No wonder the poor things bark. It is NOT INHUMANE to debark a dog, either. I have known many people who have done it for the sake of peace between neighbors. The dogs were just fine. Bark collars are supposed to be used while one is away from the home, (at work, etc), and should be taken off when you get home, then YOU stop your dog from barking, when he does it. Some folks just ignore their dog, not realizing it is offending others. I love dogs, but don't appreciate inconsiderate people.

Date: Thu, Sep 5, 2002
Name: Barking Dog Owner
City: Wrightwood
Comments: I have been through the complaint process with Animal Control. It doesn't change a thing. I myself have dogs that bark at other dogs and people who get too close to our yard. First of all I have notice that most dogs in Wrightwood bark quite a bit - it must be something about the air . . . . My dogs never used to bark before we moved here and what do ya know they bark like crazy now! Not all the time like some have described about neighbors, etc, but they bark at people who come near the fence and other dogs that come close as well. I find this normal dog behavior bu t obviously some don't. We had a complaint filed against us when we first moved in and we tried many things to get them to stop barking altogether (which I have been told is a bad thing to do to a dog)- obedience training, electric bark collars, bark sprays and niose bark devices. Too bad they still bark. So far there haven't been any more complaints. I was thinking about filing a complaint about another dog in the neghborhood that barks at all hours of the day and night at nothing but from my experience - dogs bark - there's nothing you can do about it - fining the owner doesn't get you anywhere. And anyone who wants someone to debark a dog is inhumane.

A special note from the Webmaster of WrightwoodCalif.com.......
I have spent a great deal of time in the past few months working on photos and stories about the 4 fires this season and must say that I am proud to live in this community and to have met so many professional people willing to risk theirs lives to protect us and never once heard one of them complain about the job they were doing.
From Caltrans workers manning a gate hours on end without a break in blistering heat, to firefighters standing on Hwy 2 all day watching for burning embers or the firefighters climbing on terrain that is made for big horn sheep, I have not ever heard a complaint!
Wrightwood Residents wish to thank ALL Firefighters, the Forest Service, Federal, State and County workers, companies, individuals and volunteers who have ALL contributed so much in protecting us during the "Year of Wildfires 2002".

Date: Wed, Sep 4, 2002
Name: R. Walton
City: Wrightwood
Comments: Enough about the water issue! How about those barking dogs? Why can't people curtail their dogs' barking? Like my 2 neighbors, one on each side of me. Even when the owners are at home, the dogs just bark like crazy, at anyone just walking by. Does anyone else have a doggy problem? btw, I, too conserve water--and do my part. My lawn is dying, and my plants are raggedy. I don't smell any chlorine, tho.

Date: Tue, Sep 3, 2002
Name: nancy
City: Wrightwood, cal.
Comments: I am a Wrightwood resident of 14yrs., been through a few fires that were very frightening, but always had confidence in our fire fighters. Now you're telling us that some bimbos have screwed up big time and there's a possibility that in case of a house fire, we may not have enough pressure to put it out? I feel for any professional who does not have the tools with which to do his or her work....water for fire fighting, for instance. I wash my dishes and rinse them in two small plastic tubs, then dump the water on what few plants I have that are still living, I only flush brown water and keep the nice yellow stuff most of the day till I can't stand it any longer, then flush it. I also hooked up a long hose to my washer so that I can water with grey water. But I wash only when I really have to. As for the skin itch, I've got it. Now I buy bottled water so that I don't get sick. I'm ready to move out.

Date: Tue, Sep 3, 2002
Name: Bob
City: Juniper Hills
Comments: With all the finger pointing going on regarding the water shortage,, I feel you'd all have more water if MtHigh didn't pump water out of the ground to make snow. The snow that didn't evaporate melted and was used by thristy plants. I'm sure your wells wouldn't be (as dry) if MtHigh was banned from pumping ground water to make snow. oh yeah, and they only make snow in dry years,, which can only make matters worst for you all wanting a drink of water in Wrightwood.

Date: Thu, Aug 29, 2002
Name: RESIDENT ON WEST SIDE OF VILLAGE
City: WW, CALIF.
Comments: I ALSO STRONGLY DISAGREE WITH THE "NAME BLAMING". WE HAVE LIVED IN WW FOR SOME 14 YEARS. WAS THERE NOT A CLUE WHEN AN ARTICLE SHOWED UP IN THE DAILY PRESS ABOUT LAKE ARROWHEADS WATER LEVEL DOWN SOME TWELVE FEET, BECAUSE OF THE LACK OF RAIN OR SNOW. THIS WAS MARCH OF 2002. I FIND IT OUTRAGIOUS THAT A WATER COMPANY DOES NOT KEEP BETTER TRACK OF THEIR OWN FACILITIES. MY IN-LAWS LIVE IN MINNISOTA AND THEY HAVE MANDENTORY ODD AND EVEN DAY WATER USAGE DURING THE SUMMER MONTHS. EVEN ON VERY HIGH WET WINTERS. WE POURED A NEW DRIVEWAY ON THE DAY THE WELLS WENT DRY. IF ANYONE KNOWS ABOUT NEW CEMENT ON A HOT DAY, YOU NEED TO KEEP IT MOIST UNTIL IT SETS. AND HOW 'BOUT THOSE ADDITIVES TO THE WATER THAT HAVE KILLED THREE OF OUR PINE TREES, DEAD GRASS, DON'T HAVE A FLOWER LEFT IN THE YARD. WE DO NOT DRINK THE WATER, NOR DO I COOK WITH WW WATER, OUR ANIMALS GET BOTTLED WATER. THANKS TO VERONICA HILL I USED BOTTLED WATER TO CHANGE OUR FISH TANK. SHOWERS ARE A LITTLE ROUGH, THE HIGH CONTENT OF CHEMICALS BURNS YOUR EYES AND SKIN RASH IS NO FUN. DOES ANYONE KNOW WHO I SHOULD SEND MY BOTTLED WATER BILL TO? THE CHARGE FOR THREE PINE TREES, FLOWERS, LAWN? TO BAD WE CAN'T TURN OFF SCWC AND HAVE SPARKLETTS OR ARROWHEAD WATER THROUGHOUT THE HOUSE. THE SERVICE CHARGE IS AT LEAST FIFTY SOME DOLLARS LESS. CHECK OUT THE SCWC SITE ON THE INTERNET. VERY INTERESTING. WHO ARE WE SUPPOSED TO BLAME, MOUNTAIN HIGH, THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, THE BUSISESS'S IN THE VILLAGE,YOUR NEIGHBOR, ME. I THINK NOT. WE ALL IN THIS VILLAGE KNOW WHERE THE BLAME IS TO BE GIVEN, SCWC. THANKS FOR LISTENING.

Date: Wed, Aug 28, 2002
Name: Lou Thompson
City: Ca.
Comments: What I have to laugh about in the mailer is the Q&A page where one of the questions asks why our bills are so high. SCW acknowledges that our rates are very high...blah, blah,blah but nowhere do they explain a reason for the rates. That is one question that they will never be able to answer truthfully. I,ll wager that none of the shareholders pay rates like ours. I know that water companies who buy water from the WRD (the state entity that replenishes the ground water in So.Cal.) pay around $ 117 per acre foot. Thats somewhere around 329,000 gals of water. Enough to take care of a family of five for 2 years. It should all be listed on the WRD website (www.wrd.org) Something sounds a little fishey. I know a person who works there and have been told that they use the ULF toilets in their office and everyone has to flush them at least two times after every other visit. Ironic ?

Date: Tue, Aug 27, 2002
Name: B.R.
City: Wrightwood - 20yrs +
Comments: I disagree about the finger pointing. SCWC had failed to notify the residents that they were having problems with production until they ran out. On July 2, 2002 SCWC reported to a meeting of the Wrightwood Property Owners' Association that water levels in the wells were "not bad." Some days after the meeting they called to report that the water level had suddenly dropped 40 feet in the Government Canyon well (the best well) and that the reservoirs were dangerously low. They new that production was down and failed to notify the folks. As far as pulling together in a conservation effort we have responded. Go pick up your mail today at the post office and read the letter from SCWC. They state that we have made extra voluntary effort in conservation. In fact they are not going ahead with the mandatory plan at this time. The thing that amazes me is that they didn't bother putting in the envelope a conservation stuffer explaining methods to conservation.

Date: Mon, Aug 26, 2002
Name: VJ
City: Wrightwood
Comments: HEY..... I don't know if the low flow toilets have improved, but they used to be LOUSY! You had to flush the darn things 2 and 3 times to get them to clear... AT NO SAVING OF WATER and possibly WASTING MORE WATER. Better check this out BEFORE trading in your fixtures! Written by a survivor of the Northridge Earthquake... where they got most people to trade in their toilets... TO OUR REGRET!

Date: Mon, Aug 26, 2002
Name: Becky
City: Wrightwood
Comments: I also have had major problems with chlorine! My water turtle almost died - he got extremely sick. My tortises got sick and they barely drink water at all. And my dogs got diarrhea. I have had to stop giving all my pets the tap water and buy bottled water for them! Do you know how expensive that gets?! And I have been itchy and get rashes all the time. I am pregnant and not supposed to scratch so that is not helping me any. I have had to wash my clothes down the hill at my mother's in order to keep them from contributing to the itchiness. I have to go buy extra bacteria for my septic tank due to the chlorine killing it. It was just pumped less than 6 months ago and it is not working properly. The pumping co has said the levels of chlorine are too much for the system. I have now started to smell the chlorine in the water and won't even use it for cooking -it's so bad. Hopefully this doesn't go on much longer - I can't live like this - it's uncomfortable and expensive!

Date: Mon, Aug 26, 2002
Name: B.R.
City: Wrightwood - 20yrs +
Comments: SCWC the free toilet program is great but you need to inform ALL the residents. The local paper is only read by 1/4 of your customers. A saturation mailing to all Wrightwood residents would have ran you less than $500 dollars. How about another town meeting to update the residents on our conservation efforts, your well drilling progress, your Mandatory Water Plan & most importantly the water status?

Date: Sun, Aug 25, 2002
Name: Chris
City: Wrightwood
Comments: I have lived up here for over a decade and I can tell you this. The SCWC and almost every other outside organization that deals with Wrightwood doesn't care about Wrightwood. Just look at our water shortage for example, they neglected to tell us about the water running low until it was almost out. Now they want us to pay even more then we are now even though we pay one of the highest premiums in the state. Another company that doesn't care about us is Caltrans, when they fixed the roads they just put gravel on top of what was already there so that in a couple of months, or a good rainfall it would all be back to where it was. Some of the roads in Wrightwood can't even fit 2 cars side by side, the state minimum is 16 feet wide, some of the roads aren't even 15 feet wide.

Date: Fri, Aug 23, 2002
Name: R. Jackson
City: Wrightwood
Comments: SCWC pay attention to the problem at hand. A few undisputed facts....... 1) You knew for a period of time that your wells were dropping and the output was declining but you failed to notify Wrightwood customers, until you were out of water.
2) On my last two water bills, including the one I just received through 8/15/02, not even a mention of water shortage or a conservation message, yet you use the message area on the statement to try and sell stock in your company.
3) You were supposed to put a new well at least 5 years ago and if you had we would not be in this current situation.
4) It's costing you a fortune for hauling water and would not have happened if you would have notified the residents of short supply when you knew it.
5) The SCWC senior management is to blame for the problems not the residents or the local water company employees. The local employees have no say on capital expenses like well drilling. I feel sorry they are taking such heat for SCWC executives not giving a damn about Wrightwood. It's the bottom line that they care about and now they pay a big price for all the extra expenses they have caused and will try passing the buck onto the residents of Wrightwood.

Date: Fri, Aug 23, 2002
Name: 20 year resident
City: Wrightwood
Comments: I completely agree with Mike Buchta's comments in this week's Mountaineer about Mountain High having something to do with the water shortage. Did anyone know that Mountain High ran completely out of its snowmaking water early this past, very dry season? And that suddenly water "magically" appeared a few days later? Perhaps there are some "loyal" Mountain High employees who would like to shed some light on this. As we all know, Mountain High does such a fabulous job making its employees feel valued. It shouldn't be too difficult to get someone to talk about this. Ex-snowmaking employees, where are you?

Date: Mon, Aug 19, 2002
Name: Bob Reed
City: Wrightwood
Comments: In a Daily Press article Southern California Water Co. spokesman Joe Young, said the Public Utilities Commission, which regulates all utility companies in the state, wouldn’t allow the Southern California Water Co. to raise rates because of costs associated with hauling water to Wrightwood.
However, company officials could ask for a rate increase if the shortage requires them to dig new wells or buy new equipment to increase water output from the wells, he said.
And if you haven't already noticed, on the home page of this site, SCWC is currently drilling a test hole at the east end of town. Since we are only in the top 8 highest rates in California we have room to move up the list thanks to SCWC.

Date: Sun, Aug 18, 2002
Name: D. Bender
City: Wrightwood
Comments: According to the 2001 Black & Veatch "California Water Charge Survey", Wrightwood ranks in the top 8, for the entire state, for total monthly charge. (Total monthly charge is the sum of monthly residential service charge and monthly commodity charge)
Click here to view a residents letter protesting the Mandatory Water Draft

Date: Sun, Aug 18, 2002
Name: Lou Thompson
City: Wrightwood
Comments: Over the years I have lived in a lot of places all over La, Orange, Kern and San Bernardino counties and have never ever paid water bills that were even as high as the smallest one I have gotten since moving here 8 years ago. You don't have to be a genius to see that SCW does not have to pay to pump water up here from another source. It doesn't come from the river, aqueduct, or some other zone. It's not normally hauled up in trucks. It all comes from natures own aquifiers via a few wells and stored in tanks. You can't believe that they are still paying on those things after this much time. I realize that private companies are entitled to a profit but since they and many of the other companies have the PUC in their pocket, they can gouge us with impunity. We can't turn to the state or county for help because our public officials look at us and laugh as they figure we are too small to hurt them or vote them out on our own. The surrounding communities are just like everyone else. The mentality is," You take care of your backyard and we will take care of ours ". So...no help there. Maybe a class action is all we have left.

Date: Sat, Aug 17, 2002
Name: Fred Schmidt
City: Wrightwood
Comments: It is Saturday the 17 of August and with the water shorage Wrightwood is hosting a car show . How much water will the outsiders and the non-Wrightwood venders use for their themselves .I am sure they did not bring their own port-a-potties with them . By the way how does Wrightwood profit from these street clogging events ? Not many Residents even attend any of these events . Does anyone out there who does not profit from these water wasting things enlighten us on their value ?

Date: Fri, Aug 16, 2002
Name: D. Bender
City: Wrightwood
Comments: I've talked to many Wrightwood residents and most all of them are talking about the high chlorine levels in our tap water. People are complaining about house plants dying, dogs getting sick, rashes on sensitive skin, fish dying and vegetable gardens that are dead.
We need to hold SC Water responsible for their lack of attention on our water system. They have spent all their efforts trying to raise our rates and using capital improvements as the reason they need more money. Where are all the capital improvements that we pay so dearly for? We pay such a high rate for our water and now we have to pay for bottled water.
SEND YOUR COMPLAINT TO THE PUC!!
Are there any attorneys ready to start a class action lawsuit? I'm ready to pitch in.

Date: Thu, Aug 15, 2002
Name: Becky
City: Wrightwood
Comments: I am just wondering how many other people are being affected by the water right now. I have very sensitive skin anyway but now I have red blotches on my arms and neck and I itch all the time. This only started happening since a week after that first town meeting. I am wondering if this is water realated since I keep hearing rumors about the chlorine levels. I also agree with some of the other posters that the SCWC should be held responsible for the crisis we are supposedly in. We all know how valuable our water is - we pay enough for it - so why would we be wasting it? I don't think we have any problem conserving or being rational in our intake of water. The water company should have realized there was a problem before it got this far. The county or the PUC hopefully will realize this and not let SCWC take it out on us.

Date: Tue, Aug 13, 2002
Name: JR 25 year resident
City: Wrightwood
Comments: This is the third time that we have had a water shortage that I can remember. One was in December around 20 yrs ago. The other two were during the Summer months including this one. During the last water shortage a building restriction was placed on the village that lasted around 5yrs. All of the shortages seam to have been caused by the inatention of the water co. that had athurity at the time.New wells must be drilled when the old wells slow down. This cuts into the profit margin of the water co. also Mountain High must not be allowed to pull from the same water source as the public wells. Oh well, good luck to all of us as I do not see any help comming from the P.U.C. They don't have that kind of history.

Date: Tue, Aug 13, 2002
Name: 3 year Wrightwood Resident
City: Wrightwood
Comments: I have lived here for 3 1/2 yrs and always have been conserving water since it costs so much. I monitor showers and try to recycle as best I can. This has definitely been mismanagement from the water company. I have spoke with many people who have had leaks or know of someone who has had leaks and it took 15 days of calling the water company every day before it was fixed. What's up with that? Also, the big well up highway 2 had a leak in front of it for weeks. They need to hire more qualified people if they can't do the job. I know buy bottled water to drink, and I have a filter on my fridge. It tastes nasty, and definitely has an odor to it now. I agree the company should have to take the brunt of this issue, not us.

Date: Mon, Aug 12, 2002
Name: Laura Rogers
City: Wrightwood
Comments: I think SCWC needs to be investigated to the fullest for what they have put this community thru. Here we have been paying the second highest service charge in the state and for what? Yes, indeed we are suffering the worst drought in years but it's not the whole reason behind what has happened here and we can't let SCWC push the blame elsewhere. Since we are in a bad fire year they should have been on top of everything and making sure that we had sufficient water for any emergencies that could happen and they failed to do so. They put this whole town at a great risk. I too have noticed a lot of new homes being built and wonder why and will there be enough water to go around during another bad season. Is another well really the answer if the earthquakes are to blame? How many more years before the plates shift and it happens again? Another thing that just irks me is the fact that the US Forest service drills wells for Mountain High. OK, I can see that MH is leasing the land from the forest service and the supply of water for drinking, eating and bathrooms are needed but to blow snow? According to what I read in the paper When MH wanted to give us water. "the water actually belongs to the National Forest and the selling of publicly owned water to a private company is not allowed because the public would be paying for water it owns." Then how can the Forest Service let MH use it to blow snow for profit specially when only a small percentage of it actually gets back to our water supply and the rest is evaporated into thin air? Who actually owns these wells? MH or the NFS? And what's the deal with 5 of these wells drawing off the same aquifer as SCWC? Last year was a dry winter and MH blew a lot of snow which I'm sure didn't help our present situation either. All in all, somebody, somewhere screwed up big time and it sure wasn't the residence of Wrightwood. I think all involved in our suffrages and frustrations should pay dearly. I have been writing the local TV news stations, the government, the state, etc., voicing my frustrations and concerns on this and I think everyone else should do the same. Come on peoples of Wrightwood, lets show them what we are all about! Let our voices be heard, let our frustrations be felt.

Date: Sun, Aug 11, 2002
Name: Valerie Martin
City: Wrightwood Resident of One Year
Comments: WRITE THE PUC! WRITE THE PUC! I moved to WW one year ago. I am a full time, year round resident. Perhaps I should have known, but I never heard anything about drought up here.... so I began a garden. I always conserve water here, even doing my laundry when I visit L.A. or San Diego! Now this SCW thing! I am apalled and disgusted... We are expected to watch our yards wither away in the heat of the day and, for the most part, I have been doing just that. BUT TO ALLOW THE PLANTS TO DIE!? This is unacceptable to me. I have written the PUC and I urge everyone in WW to do so also. I DO NOT WANT TO SUFFER FOR SCW's BUSINESS MANAGEMENT PROBLEMS! Let's get together on this and complain!

Date: Sun, Aug 11, 2002
Name: Bob Reed
City: Wrightwood property owner
Comments: SCW should have seen this coming months ago. It didn't sneak up on them. Indeed, drought is a factor, but they continue to mismanage this utility and they, and their shareholders, should have to pay for this mess, not their water customers who have been conserving water for years.
Now SCW is putting so much chlorine in the water most people who have house plants are watching them die. (I have been told that it is 7 times the normal amount) People are complaining of skin rashes from all the chlorine and have no way to rinse it off since all of our water is worse then ever.

Date: Sun, Aug 11, 2002
Name: 25 year Wrightwood property owner
City: Wrightwood CA
Comments: Southern California Water (SCW) should be held responsible for the situation our town is now in.
As a group, Wrightwoodians are conservative by nature. We understand the precious commodity water is and use less water than 75% of ALL SCW customers. But not to water the little vegetation that we've added to nature's abundance is pound-foolish. Now there would be a new fire hazard that we certainly don't need caused by SCW's poor management.
For SCW not to notify us that their well levels were getting low and that their pumps were not able to keep up, until they ran dry is unacceptable. I think the residents of Wrightwood should file a "Class Action Law Suite" and hold SCW responsible for them putting us in this position. Now they want us to pay additional penalties by mandating water conservation rules that they control. We are the ones that know how to conserve water, not the so called experts that run SCW!
Don't let them pull the wool over your eyes. Sure a Water Conservation Plan sounds like something everyone would be in favor of. This plan is so SCW can pass the burden of their mistakes onto us. We have and will continue to conserve water like no other community they service. Wrightwood should be a model for conservation efforts not a scapegoat for SCW years of community neglect.
Excellent job by this web site to help pull the community together. I'm sending my email message to the PUC and having everyone I know do the same thing. Let's all let the PUC & our elected representatives know what SCW has done to our great town.