RAINS REPLENISH LOCAL RESERVOIRS
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