ADVISORY/Metropolitan Hosts Media Day at Diamond Valley Lake, Southland's Newest, Largest Lake Opening Next Week

Business Wire, Sept 25, 2003

News Editors/City Desks

ADVISORY...for Wednesday (Oct. 1)

--(BUSINESS WIRE)

Lake's Opening Highly Anticipated by Anglers, Sailors

Throughout West, World

WHAT:    Metropolitan Water District will host a media preview day at
         Diamond Valley Lake, Southern California's newest and largest
         reservoir being opened to boating, fishing and sailing
         Friday, Oct. 3.

WHEN:    Wednesday, Oct. 1, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

WHERE:   East marina, Diamond Valley Lake near Hemet in southwest
         Riverside County. The marina's entrance is off Searl Parkway
         along Domenigoni Parkway. Map/driving directions available
         on-line at www.dvlake.com.

PARTICIPANTS:

         Phillip J. Pace, chairman of Metropolitan's board of
         directors; Riverside County Supervisor Jim Venable; Lori Van
         Arsdale, mayor, city of Hemet; Mike Giusti, biologist,
         California Department of Fish and Game

BACKGROUND:

         Diamond Valley Lake, which holds more water than Lake Havasu,
         is ready to become one of the premier lakes in California, if
         not the world. Fishing and boating enthusiasts as far away as
         Japan have anticipated the lake's Oct. 3 public opening since
         construction of its three dams began in the mid-1990s. In
         fact, reservations for opening day sold out in less than four
         hours.

         The media preview will include pontoon boat tours of the lake
         and will offer reporters and editors the chance to interview
         officials about recreation at the lake, its world-renown
         fishery, and the opportunities it offers local and regional
         economies.

VISUALS: B-roll videotaped footage of the lake, its construction and
         the fishery will be available.

Note to Editors: A PDF map of Diamond Valley Lake is available on
request.

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.