A recent water test revealed Vorticella, among the golden algae bloom that has led to the recent fish die-off, according to the POA.

Three independent water experts who have worked on Canyon Lake for the past decade recently addressed community concerns about current lake conditions at the Regular Session Board Meeting, which was attended by nearly 300 members, according to board president Bill Van Vleet. The water experts delivered a presentation and hosted a Q&A session.

The primary reason for the fish die-off is likely the golden algae bloom, which makes it hard for the fish to absorb oxygen through their gills, according to Canyon Lake Board President Bill Van Vleet in a recap of the recent board meeting, where the state of the lake was discussed at length. “The board and staff are working with experts and scientists are monitoring the lake.”

Though the vorticella does not have a known health risk to humans, due to the fish mortality event, “combined with an abundance of caution and guidance from GEI water consultants, residents are advised to avoid full-body contact with the lake at this time,” they announced on June 7. That day, the community came together to clean up the lake’s edge and assist in removing the dead fish from the shoreline and shallow water.

They have also advised against consuming any of the fish caught or found near the lake’s edge.

Additional water testing and fish toxicology results have not been released yet; those were expected in July. The lake will remain under advisory until further notice.

“A team of regional water quality task forces is actively developing a response plan. This includes representatives from the City of Canyon Lake, Elsinore Valley Municipal Water District (EVMWD), Lake Elsinore San Jacinto Watershed Authority (LESJWA), Santa Ana Water Project Authority (SAWPA), and the Canyon Lake Property Owners Association,” according to the FAQ page established to educate homeowners and lake users. “The Canyon Lake POA recently hired experts from GEI to provide continuing advice in developing a long-term solution. In addition, a new Lake Management Committee is being formed to support the Canyon Lake POA in these efforts.”

Daily cleanup crews will continue to remove dead fish from over 15 miles of shoreline, they said.

“Residents can request pickup of bagged fish from their docks or driveways. The community is urged to remain patient as conditions are expected to improve with warmer weather.”

No additional information was immediately available.

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LAKE ELSINORE, CA — With May Gray at the coast, now is the perfect time of year to explore and visit Southwest Riverside County. Visit Temecula Valley has launched its newest campaign, “10Lake Valley,” a campaign focusing on eight communities and 214 square miles of lakes, rivers, cities, mountain peaks, and fertile valleys of Temecula Valley Wine Country.

Visit Temecula Valley CEO Scott Wilson discussed the push to showcase the SoCal wildlands.

“To me, the 10 Lake Valley idea is that this is the ultimate outdoor playground in our area. You get out there in your own backyard,” Wilson said. “My favorite is hiking around Lake Skinner, and Diamond Valley Lake is massive. It’s beautiful and picturesque for fishing and boating. More, to create core memories with your family.”

Area residents regularly hike, bike, fish, boat, or hot-air balloon over much of our slice of Riverside County.

Jogging trails around Diamond Valley Lake, hiking trails along the Santa Rosa Plateau, and camping at Lake Hemet are only some of the area’s hidden gems.

“For the people who play on the edges and carve their own paths, who never leave a scenic route untaken, or a vista unviewed, the combined efforts of the initiative shows the varied regions that Southwest Riverside County has for residents and visitors to enjoy.

One of the top and most recognizable destinations is Temecula Valley Wine Country, spanning over 2,460 acres of vineyards with nearly 50 wineries. But there is much more to the area than that.

Where are the 10 Lakes Of Southwest Riverside County?

Within Southwest Riverside County, there are ten lakes, all distinct for their beauty, water sports, and fishing. They mirror the surrounding communities of Canyon Lake, Hemet, Lake Elsinore, Menifee, Murrieta, San Jacinto, Temecula, and Wildomar:

“These enchanting waters nourish our spirits, flourish our lands, and cultivate a refreshing sense of serenity and connection. So whether you’re here for thrills and watersports or chilling out on the water in the sun, these 10 lakes will stir your soul,” according to the website.

1. Canyon Lake: Welcome to the paradise of this close-knit lakeside community. When you visit,enjoy the hiking, pubs, and clubs and the sprawl of lakes and beaches.
2. Diamond Valley Lake: Surrounded by mountains, come to enjoy the stunning vistas. Home of “monster-sized” fish, you can rent boats or e-bikes at the marina, or walk the 22.7 mile trails around the lake.
3. Heritage Lake: A 1.3 mile walking trail surrounds this 25-acre lake. Come to use outdoor exercise equipment, sports equipment and children’s play areas.
4. Lake Elsinore: Ideal for outdoor adventure enthusiasts, skydiving, hang-glide, wingsuit or boat, jet ski, and windsurfing.
5. Lake Hemet: Fishing and camping lovers, the mountain lake of Lake Hemet offers glamping and lakefront cabins, boat rentals and a swim zone. Seasonally stocked with rainbow and lightning trout, and fish year-round for blue gill, crappie, bass and catfish.
6. Lake Perris: Birdwatchers paradise, this lake is ideal for hiking, biking, scuba diving, water sports, nature walks, horseback riding and fishing.
7. Lake Skinner: Camping, picnicking, splash pad, hiking, horseback, riding, sailing, fishing and non-body contact boating. Day use available. The location of the annual Temecula Valley Balloon and Wine Festival.
8. Menifee Lakes: Surrounded by two 18-hole golf courses, this lake stretches over 36 acres of waterways this lake is an idyllic backdrop of golfers, casual walkers and hikers.
9. Mystic Lake: Another birdwatcher’s paradise, Mystic lake sees 200 identified species of birds annually and sits adjacent to a 9,000 San Jacinto Wildlife area.
10. Vail Lake: Visit the KOA campground and check out the lake for bass fishing, bike park, a world-class bike park with 25-miles of trails, obstacles, flow track and races for mountain biking and BMX.

While Lake Skinner is a reservoir, with no body contact but fishing and boating allowed, lakes like Diamond Valley Lake, Lake Hemet, and Lake Elsinore attract visitors interested in water sports like fishing, kayaking, windsurfing, boating, water skiing, and jet skiing.

The project was in keeping with the statewide initiative to get tourism on track. To do that, extensive research was conducted, deciding on the locally known but not often shared outdoor activities around our many lakes. The result was the 10Lake Valley website and ad campaign, built to educate those who wish to come, stay, and play here. Financing for the project was bolstered by 2022 ARPA funds, according to Wilson.

Chuck Washington, Riverside County’s Third District Supervisor, discussed the project to expand local tourism beyond the valley.

“What many people don’t know about Southwest Riverside County is that there are many unique areas waiting to be discovered, and that’s what 10Lake Valley is all about,” Washington said. “I am immensely proud of this initiative, which showcases the incredible beauty of our region and creates new opportunities for exploration and adventure for our visitors.”

Learn more by exploring online at 10lakevalley.com.

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David Brian Harry, 46, perpetrated the two attacks roughly nine months apart, targeting residences in the 28000 block of Yosemite Place in Canyon Lake.

Last month, Harry pleaded guilty to attempted murder, arson and sentence-enhancing allegations of using an ignition device to commit arson and committing a crime while on bail.

The admissions were made under a plea deal with the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office, just as the defendant’s trial was set to get underway at the Banning Justice Center.

Seven related felony charges were dismissed as part of the agreement. Harry, being held without bail at the Smith Correctional Facility in Banning, is scheduled to be sentenced Wednesday morning.

According to sheriff’s investigators, for reasons never clear, the defendant became obsessed with the couple living immediately adjacent to him.

The trouble began on April 7, 2017, when a phone line common to the defendant’s and victims’ property was damaged, causing Harry to become angry.

According to a trial brief filed by Deputy District Attorney Timothy Cross, the following day, the defendant spat on the husband, whose identity was not disclosed, and brandished a baseball bat at him.

Soon afterward, Harry parked his pickup in the victims’ driveway and only moved it after deputies were called to the location and ordered him to do so. Cross said 20 minutes after the patrolmen left, the defendant poured gasoline on the man’s driveway and then set a fire in his own Jeep Cherokee, rolling it toward the victims’ home.

“The Jeep came down the driveway but veered off into a dirt hill and down an embankment, crashing into a neighboring house’s garage and golf cart,”according to the brief.

When deputies returned to the location, they found the Jeep’s accelerator pinned down by a “cane-type object” and a “burning bandana” on the driver’s side of the SUV, which had “multiple gasoline containers in it,” Cross said.

Harry was jailed and remained behind bars for weeks until his attorney argued successfully for a reduction in his $1 million bail, at which point he posted bond and was released.

The homeowner and his family obtained a restraining order against the defendant, after which he did not harass them further, according to the prosecution. However, another neighbor, identified in court documents only as “B.G.,” began having strange encounters with Harry around Thanksgiving 2017, Cross said.

He said the woman suspected the defendant was stalking her, sometimes standing near her front door as she returned home from work . One evening, she found a pentagram drawn on her door, with a burning cigarette stuck in it. “The next morning, there was writing with black duct tape on the side of the defendant’s house, facing B.G.’s house, that said “F you Fink.”

The following week, the victim found the front of her home damaged and the words “F U rat” spray-painted on her driveway, the prosecutor said.

On Jan. 3, 2018, the defendant drove his pickup into the side of her residence, impacting it with enough force that it shook, according to Cross.

When the woman stepped outside, she encountered Harry standing next to his vehicle, and he shouted, “F you, bitch. This is my house. This is my property,” according to the brief. “The defendant then lit a road flare and went to the side of her house,” Cross said.  “B.G. then ran inside, retrieved a firearm, and went back outside (and) confronted the defendant with the gun, telling him that if he didn’t get off of the property, she would shoot him. The defendant responded by lighting another road flare and going to the other side of the house. B.G. then went back inside and discovered that the curtains and carpet were on fire.” The victim extinguished the flames. She was not injured.

According to sheriff’s Sgt. Curt Harris, the defendant jumped into his pickup and sped away, but deputies quickly caught up to him on a road between Canyon Lake and Lake Elsinore.

The defendant soon transitioned to Interstate 15, heading northbound, where California Highway Patrol officers took over the pursuit, Harris said.

The officers partially disabled Harry’s vehicle, but he managed to continue at slow speed on the freeway. The sergeant said the chase stopped in the area of Featherly Park in Yorba Linda, where the pickup gave out. “Harry refused officers’ commands to surrender, but he was eventually placed under arrest after a brief struggle resisting their attempts to detain him,” Harris said. The defendant was treated for superficial injuries and booked into jail. He has no documented prior felony convictions in Riverside County.

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