After days of heavy rain, the City of San Diego is releasing water from Lake Hodges Reservoir after water levels rose above state-mandated safety limits.
Crews began a controlled release on Wednesday at the 108-year-old Hodges Dam, sending water into the San Dieguito River. City officials say recent storms pushed the reservoir above the 280-foot elevation threshold required by California’s Division of Safety of Dams. The restriction is designed to protect downstream communities and ensure the safe operation of the dam.
Hodges Dam was built in 1918 and purchased by the City of San Diego in 1925. In a recent state report, the dam was rated “unsatisfactory,” with an “extremely high” downstream hazard potential if it were to fail.
Engineers say controlled releases like the one now underway help relieve pressure on the aging structure and reduce potential risk.
Meanwhile, City officials are coordinating with the San Dieguito Water District and the Santa Fe Irrigation District to maximize beneficial use of the water. When possible, the districts can draw water from the reservoir for use by their customers.
However, most of the excess water will continue flowing down the San Dieguito River and eventually empty into the Pacific Ocean near Del Mar, a reality that has sparked debate with some questioning whether more could be done to capture and store the excess water locally.
According to officials, the controlled release will continue until the reservoir drops below the 280-foot safety threshold. The timeline depends on additional rainfall and runoff, but city officials estimate it could take several days.
In the meantime, crews are closely monitoring reservoir levels throughout the rainy season. Residents and visitors along the river are urged to use caution, as water levels may rise during the release.