San Diego redacts public records on dam safety [Video]

SAN DIEGO — CBS 8 is Working for You to make California’s government more transparent. 

As journalists, we often face hurdles as we try to dig for the truth, sometimes running up against rampant redactions and elusive catch-all exemptions cited under the California Public Records Act.

The city of San Diego turned to one of these exemptions in its recent response to a CBS 8 public records request related to the safety of Lake Murray Dam in San Diego.

Lake Murray is a reservoir owned by the city of San Diego. The dam at the reservoir is more than 100 years old. Last year, the California Division of Safety of Dams (DSOD) ordered the water level lowered on Lake Murray due to seismic safety concerns.

“We look at all components of the dam itself. Seismic …