Trio on Dirt Bikes Could Have Contaminated Loch Lomond Reservoir

AND UNWITTINGLY THREATENED THE CITY'S DRINKING WATER SUPPLY. ACTION NEWS REPORTER PHIL GOMEZ JOINS US LIVE FROM SANTA CRUZ WITH TONIGHT'S TOP STORY. PHIL: THEY CUT DOWN GATES WITH STOLEN TOOLS ALL SO THEY COULD RIDE MOTORCYCLES ON THE DIRT PATHS AT LOCH LOMOND RESERVOIR. NOW AUTHORITIES WANT YOUR HELP IN IDENTIFYING THEM. >> ONE OF OUR FORESTERS HAS A TRACTOR ON THE PROPERTY FOR STORM DAMAGE TO REPAIR AND ON THAT TRACTOR HE HAD SOME TOOLS. THEY GOT INTO THE TRACTOR AND AND A SHOVEL AND THEY USED THOSE. PHIL: SURVEILLANCE CAMERAS AT LOCH LOMOND CAPTURED IMAGES OF THREE PEOPLE, TWO MALES AND A FEMALE, WITH TWO MOTORCYCLES. ONE IS A GREEN KAWASAKI , THE OTHER IS A RED HONDA, AND ONE OF THE VANDALS HELMETS IS COVERED WITH UNIQUE ARTWORK. THIS IS ONE OF TEN GATES THAT WAS DAMAGED AND COMPROMISED ON APRIL 1ST. TWO OF THEM ELECTRONICALLY OPEN AND SHUT AND ARE EXPENSIVE TO REPAIR. >> CUT ALL THE BARBED WIRE THAT WENT THROUGH THE AREA. PHIL: THEY TRAVELED THIRTEEN MILES THROUGH THE TWO THOUSAND ACRE SITE AND OTHER PRIVATE PROPERTY UP AND AROUND LOCH LOMOND RESERVOIR BETWEEN 4:30 AND 8:30 P.M. >> THERE USED TO BE AN AUTOMATIC ARM THAT AUTOMATICALLY OPENED THIS GATE. IT'S NOW GONE. PHIL: IT IS NOT JUST THE FINANCIAL COST OF REPAIRS, IT IS THE ECONOMICAL IMPACT AND CONCERN THAT A SPARK FROM A MOTORCYCLE COULD SET OFF A WILD LAND FIRE WHICH WOULD CONTAMINATE THE CITY'S MAIN DRINKING WATER SUPPLY. >> OUR WATERSHED IS VERY SUSCEPTIBLE TO WILDFIRE AND SHOULD A SPARK COME OUT OF AN ENGINE AND IGNITE A FIRE, WE WOULD BE IN VERY SERIOUS TROUBLE IN SANTA CRUZ. PHIL: THOSE AUTOMATIC GATES COST BETWEEN $600-$800 TO REPLACE. SO, IF YOU RECOGNIZE THE PEOPLE FROM THE SURVEILLANCE VIDEO, THE SANTA CRUZ WATER DEPARTMENT.