CalMatters is a public interest journalism venture committed to explaining how California’s state Capitol works and why it matters.
Photo: More than 100 years old, San Diego’s Lake Hodges Dam is one of 42 dams where the state has restricted storage because of safety concerns. Repairs began in 2022 and the dam is expected to be replaced by 2034. Photo by John Gastaldo for CalMatters
June 16, 2024 (Sacramento) -- Several dozen dams throughout California could store up to 107 billion more gallons of water if they underwent repairs to fix safety problems. But facing a staggering state deficit, Gov. Gavin Newsom has proposed cutting funding for a dam repair grant program in half this year, while state legislators want the $50 million restored.
California has an aging network of nearly 1,540 dams — large and small, earthen and concrete — that help store vital water supplies. For 42 of these dams, state officials have restricted the amount of water that can be stored behind them because safety deficiencies would raise the risk to people downstream from earthquakes, storms or other problems.
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