BY MIKE STEVENS
ESCONDIDO – Shortly after Lake Hodges officials announced the indefinite closure of the concession, anglers found out (some the hard way) that the lake was completely shut down to recreation on October 25. Typically the lake closes for the winter on the last weekend of October.
The city of San Diego plans to permanently lower the Lake Hodges Dam spillway by 35 feet to prevent catastrophic flooding in the event the upcoming El Niño winter delivers enough precipitation to significantly raise the water level. State regulators previously labeled the 108-year-old structure the most dangerous dam in California, warning that heavy rains could easily overwhelm its current drainage pipe.
The $30- to $50-million project will take about seven years, starting around 2030 and wrapping up by 2037. Because the work is still years away, the lake will not help manage heavy rains expected this winter. However, city officials said operations staff will closely monitor forecasts and control water levels manually.
Nearby residents and civic groups strongly oppose the project. They argue that permanently keeping the reservoir at a lower level limits recreation like boating and fishing, renders a $208 million pump unusable, and increases wildfire risks by drying out surrounding vegetation. Critics also question spending millions on a temporary fix when a permanent replacement dam remains under review.
State and local officials maintain that lowering the spillway is the only viable interim solution to ensure public safety. Meanwhile, a long-term cost analysis regarding a potential replacement dam is expected next spring. Building a new dam was previously estimated to cost up to $697 million, leading partner agencies to dispute funding responsibilities and spark ongoing lawsuits.
While city leaders explore shifting federal loan funds to other projects, they note that Lake Hodges was originally built for water storage rather than flood control.
