RAINS REPLENISH LOCAL RESERVOIRS

May 2019 Articles

By Miriam Raftery

May 26, 2019 (San Diego) – At the 24 reservoirs across San Diego County, recent rain storms have helped to restore water levels depleted by several years of drought.

Ten reservoirs are now at 80% capacity or more:

Lake Turner, Valley Center 100%
Lake Dixon, Escondido 94%
Lake Jennings, Lakeside 90%
Lake Murray, San Diego 87%
Lake Olivenhein 86%
Lake Poway 85%
Lower Otay Reservoir 83%
Lake Miramar, San Diego 83%
San Vicente Reservoir, Lakeside 80%
Lake Wohlford, Escondido 80%

Four remain below 25% capacity:

Lake Ramona 24%
Lake Cuyamaca 20%
Lake Sutherland, Ramona 20%
Lake Morena 10%

Lake Barrett, which before the winter rains was below 10% capacity, is now nearly half full at 49.5%. Lake Morena, which was down below 3% after San Diego city water officials ordered it drained during the drought to supply urban water needs, has more than tripled but remains low at 10%.

Others measured include:

Sweetwater, Spring Valley 54%
Lake Hodges, Escondido 54%
Red Mountain, Fallbrook 44%
El Capitan, Lakeside 40%
San Dieguito 33%
Lake Henshaw, Vista 33%

Altogether, our region’s reservoirs are at 58% capacity according to the latest measurements posted by the county on May 15, 2019, though the actual totals are slightly higher; the city’s updates to its reservoirs updated May 21 show slightly more water for some reservoirs.

County of San Diego Reservoirs: https://www.sdcwa.org/reservoirs

City of San Diego reservoirs: https://www.sandiego.gov/reservoirs-lakes/about/water-levels

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