Copyright 2003 Business Wire, Inc.
Business Wire

July 22, 2003, Tuesday

DISTRIBUTION: News Editors/Assignment Desks

LENGTH: 593 words

HEADLINE: Metropolitan's Diamond Valley Lake Scheduled to Open for Boating,
Fishing Oct. 3

DATELINE: LOS ANGELES, July 22, 2003

BODY:
MWD board committee authorizes 30-month contract with concessionaire for services at
lake's east marina

In an eagerly anticipated announcement, the Metropolitan Water District of Southern
California today announced Oct. 3 as opening day for Diamond Valley Lake, Southern
California's largest freshwater lake, to public boating and fishing.

In a tandem action, the executive committee of Metropolitan's board of directors
authorized a 30-month, revenue-sharing contract with Urban Park Concessionaires of Red
Bluff, Calif., to oversee recreation operations at the 4,500-acre lake's east marina.

Also announced was that fishing will be provided along 1 1/2 miles of the lake's shoreline
beginning on opening day, and a dock to accommodate wheelchair-bound anglers will be
provided as soon as possible. Development of shoreline fishing had been scheduled for
the second phase of recreation development at the lake, but has been accelerated due
to public requests.

"Our authorization of a concessionaire clears the way for Southern California's newest
and largest freshwater lake to open in early October," said Metropolitan board Chairman
Phillip J. Pace.

"A little more than two months from now, Diamond Valley Lake will present visitors with
an incomparable boating and fishing experience, while it preserves the integrity of the
high-quality water stored inside its dams," Pace said.

A certified small business enterprise, Urban Park has extensive experience working with
drinking water utilities that allow recreation on their reservoirs, providing the
concessionaire services for Contra Costa Water District's Los Vaqueros lake and East Bay
Municipal Utilities District's San Pablo and Camanche reservoirs. Diamond Valley Lake
is the Southland's largest water-storage reservoir, holding a six-month emergency supply
for the region's 18 million people.

Under the agreement, Urban Park will administer the reservation system for boating;
collect entrance, boat launch and fishing fees; maintain and rent boats; sell fishing
licenses, bait, tackle, and limited food and non-alcoholic beverages; service the floating
restrooms; and maintain buoys and markers.

Fees will be $7 for entrance, $6 for boat launch, $3 for fishing (which will go to
maintaining the lake's fishery), and $3 for reservations, which will be required initially.
Hours of operation will be from sunrise to sunset.

Metropolitan and Urban Park will share the net revenues after monies are set aside for a
repair and replacement fund. The limited term will allow Metropolitan to gain experience
with recreation at DVL, construct Phase II of the East Marina facilities, and send out a
request for proposals for the long-term concessionaire agreement.

E-mailed updates on the lake's opening, reservations, fees and related news can be
obtained by registering online through Metropolitan's Web site, www.mwdh2o.com. For
example, the district will be announcing the dates and locations of pre-opening boat
inspections throughout the Southland. To ensure that the reservoir's water quality is
maintained, all boats must be inspected and certified before they will be allowed on the
lake.

In addition, Metropolitan will soon unveil its Diamond Valley Lake Web site