BY KAREN BILLING
RANCHO SANTA FE REVIEW
AUG. 24, 2022 1:46 PM PT
The lower water levels people might be seeing at Lake Hodges are not drought-related, but instead are due to the ongoing work repairing the 100-year-old Lake Hodges Dam. The emergency work on the dam began in May and is expected to be completed by October.
During an inspection earlier this year, the city of San Diego identified areas in the dam wall that needed to be repaired and sealed. To complete the work, the water level of the reservoir had to be lowered by about 18 feet, to an elevation of 275 feet. According to the city, by starting the repairs during the dry season, the water level can more easily be lowered and maintained at a lower level so that the repairs can be made.
The water level remains low so that crews can access parts of the dam that are typically underwater. The general contractor, Marathon, is completing the work on rafts specially shaped to match the curves of the dam’s upstream face. Damaged areas are being filled and repaired.
Impacts of the dam repair are being closely monitored, especially those to biological resources such as birds and fish. According to the city, there have not been any reports of negative effects.
The reservoir provides water supply for the County Water Authority, San Dieguito Water District and the Santa Fe Irrigation District, which serves Rancho Santa Fe and Solana Beach.
As a result of the lowered water level, Hodges Reservoir is closed for recreation while the repair project is underway. The San Dieguito River Park trails and facilities around Hodges Reservoir will not be impacted during the construction work.
