Lake Miramar’s water level has dropped noticeably in recent weeks. The city says it’s due to treatment plant maintenance, not the heat wave.
SAN DIEGO — Anglers and regular visitors at Lake Miramar have noticed something different lately: the water is way down.
Aidan Chaung and Matthew McAllister fish for bass at the reservoir often. Chaung said he could tell the difference right away compared to two weeks ago.
“We were fishing on one of those docks and I fell off. Now there is nothing to fall on, just dirt,” Chaung said.
This story continues below.
The drop is visible from the shoreline, where water once reached nearly to the top of the reeds. Glenn Peterson, who was reading nearby, said he’d never seen the lake this low.
“I was startled to see this over here. I’ve never seen that dry patch that low, so I knew it was lower than I’ve seen it before,” Peterson said.
As of July 20, the most recent data available, Miramar was at about 78% capacity, below its typical level. The reservoir’s boat ramp is currently closed.
Peterson said he wasn’t sure what was behind the drop, so CBS 8 asked the city.
A city spokesperson said the lower water level at Miramar is tied to maintenance work at the Miramar Water Treatment Plant, which is supporting construction and commissioning for Pure Water Phase 1. The city expects the lake to return to normal operating levels by mid-to-late August.
The city also said Miramar and Murray reservoirs are smaller, with smaller watersheds, and exist primarily to support their associated treatment plants, which is why their levels are typically more consistent than other reservoirs in the county.
Miramar isn’t the only reservoir running lower than usual. The city said that for its larger reservoirs, water levels are managed first to protect the drinking water supply, which means levels naturally rise and fall based on demand, rainfall, runoff, treatment needs, water rights agreements and dam safety requirements.
Local water sources, including the county’s reservoirs, now make up more than 30% of the city’s water supply, up from about 5% a few years ago, according to the city.
The lower levels also leave more room in the reservoirs to capture storm runoff, including if El Niño brings heavier rain this season.
“It makes sense this time of year. The demand has to be high,” Peterson said.
Despite a stretch of hot weather across San Diego County, the city said heat is not a significant factor behind the drop in reservoir levels.
City officials say the overall water supply remains stable. Residents are still encouraged to conserve, but the city says San Diego is not at risk of running out of water.
Back at the lake, some anglers aren’t complaining about the low water.
“Good for us for fishing. Gnarly seeing it drop so low,” Chaung said.