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Acknowledgements
I relied principally on recent and past publicly available reporting from regional media (e.g., East County Magazine, Water News Network, City of San Diego, and state-level dam-safety oversight via the California Department of Water Resources (DWR), through its Division of Safety of Dams (DSOD)). I’ve drawn attention to known issues, historical context, and recent developments.
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Current state of San Diego’s reservoirs and dams
San Diego County maintains dozens of dams (about 54 under DSOD jurisdiction) that supply local water, store imported water, and support flood control and runoff capture.
According to DSOD assessments, nine of these dams have been rated as “fair” (rather than “satisfactory”), meaning that while they may hold up under normal conditions, they could be vulnerable during extreme events like earthquakes or heavy storms.
These dams — including those at reservoirs such as El Capitan Reservoir, Lake Hodges, Lake Morena, Barrett Lake, Lake Murray, and others — serve critical water-storage and supply functions.
Recognizing the age and condition of many dams, the City of San Diego initiated a $10-million comprehensive assessment of its nine major dams — fewer than half of which were judged “satisfactory” as of the most recent public reports.
That assessment may lead to significant investments: estimates indicate repair and upgrade costs for the city’s dam infrastructure could amount to about $1 billion over coming decades.
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Key concerns — Why certain reservoirs/dams deserve more attention
Structural Age and Dam-Safety Ratings
Many dams in the county are decades-old — some nearly a century or more.
Dams rated “fair” may perform under typical conditions, but issues may emerge under stress: severe rainfall, seismic activity, or unexpected loads.
Particularly, some reservoirs are subject to spillway restrictions or water-level limits to reduce risk — significantly reducing usable storage.
Water-Supply Reliability vs Safety Constraints
Because of safety limitations, water behind some dams cannot be fully utilized — even if rainfall or runoff replenishes it. Recent reporting says that water must sometimes be released downstream pre-emptively (e.g., at El Capitan Dam or Lake Hodges) to reduce pressure and risk, effectively “wasting” potentially valuable water.
This is especially problematic in a semi-arid region like San Diego County, where local rainfall is limited and surface-water storage is critical for drought resilience.
Increasing Challenges: Aging Infrastructure + Climate Extremes
Statewide, many dams are older and due for infrastructure upgrades; after events like the spillway failure at Oroville Dam, there’s more scrutiny and urgency for dam-safety investment.
California’s new climate realities — with potential for intense storms, droughts, and seismic activity — increase the risk for older dams originally designed under less challenging environmental assumptions.
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Recent developments, actions, and open issues
As noted, the city’s dam-assessment project is underway.
At least one major dam — for example, Lake Hodges — is slated for full replacement because of structural deficiencies and safety risks.
State-level funding efforts to improve dam safety and restore storage capacity have been proposed: a grant program initiated in 2023 aims to help local water districts regain lost capacity and upgrade infrastructure.
Despite these positive moves, progress remains slow: environmental permitting, cost, and logistics pose significant obstacles.
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Why this matters — for residents, water security, and future climate resilience
Given San Diego’s limited rainfall and semi-arid climate, reservoirs and dams play a vital role in securing water supply, especially during droughts. But if storage capacity is constrained — either by structural safety restrictions or by old, brittle dams — then even good rain seasons may not translate into usable water for the community.
Moreover, the potential danger to downstream communities from a dam failure — particularly in an urbanizing region — is serious. Low-probability but high-impact events (earthquake, storm surge, extreme precipitation) become more concerning when infrastructure is aging.
Thus, renewed attention — funding, maintenance, transparency, community awareness — is not just about water supply, but about public safety, long-term resilience, and environmental stewardship.
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My thoughts (with optimism)
I believe this moment presents an opportunity for San Diego to reevaluate and strengthen its reservoir system. With increased public awareness of dam-safety challenges, funding mechanisms (state and federal grants), and modern engineering practices — like building more seismically robust dams or upgrading spillways — the region could turn a risk into a long-term investment in water security.
If you like, I can draft a “call to action” summary (for community members, local government, or water agencies) that outlines what should be done in the next 5–10 years to ensure reservoir safety and water .
Please let me know if this topic interested you or if you’re from the area.
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