Local angler group focused on preserving San Diego City Lake fisheries consider Lake Sutherland also threatened
BY ROB MAGARGAL
SAN DIEGO— After boasting a water surplus just two years ago in the San Diego City Lakes system following the 2023-24 rain season, the angling community and citizens of San Diego are now faced with the water level at El Capitan Reservoir being drawn down to a point recreation on the popular lake will not be possible.
This is due to the continued mismanagement of the city’s infrastructure for utilities and water supply, and it will shut down all boating and all fishing tournaments for the foreseeable future. Without the rain to bring the levels back, we may never see El Capitan Reservoir as we all knew to be again.
This is beyond comprehension.
As a coalition of thousands of members through both the Friends of the City Lakes and San Diego Bass Fishing group (Facebook) we find this information extremely alarming that our water has been managed in this way.
Being to a point that at a minimum three of our reservoirs will be dry ramped before we hit June is beyond disturbing. At no time in the history of the San Diego Lakes chain have we been in this situation.
What has happened over the past decades alone is egregious with the dilapidated condition of Lake Hodges Dam. Every government entity within San Diego knew of these issues. At no time did any San Diego officials step up to rectify this issue: The PUD, City Council or Water Authority. They have released millions of gallons of water into the river and out to the ocean over the past several years.
We also know the city of San Diego is being sued by neighboring counties north of San Diego who agreed contractually to receive water from lake Hodges. They are suing from breach of contract of San Diego not repairing or replacing the dam decades ago knowing what was in their future so that they could continue receiving their allotment of water. They were ignored by the city of San Diego.
We are looking at a 2035 timeline at the very earliest for the Hodges Dam to be completed. And we know all to well that even with completion it does not guarantee water levels to be at a usable state.
We are now face to face with this same exact issue at El Capitan Reservoir.
Once again, poorly managed to know for a minimum of 15 years the condition of the Dam. Releasing millions of gallons of water into the river bottom from the 2023-24 rains and ruining people’s property on the way out to the San Diego River. Releasing the water to limit fines by the State of California for having the water level above the Army Corp of Engineers safe zone for the extremely poor condition of the Dam.
El Capitan Dam is considered in the top 10 worst Dams in the State. We would like to thank you all within the City’s government and PUD as well as Water Authority for at least being in the top 10 of something.
From these extremely poor management decisions over the decades, we are now faced with closures of the recreation program at El Capitan reservoir.
Lake Hodges and El Capitan Reservoir are not equal. Both are extremely important yet not equal. There are no concessions at El Capitan, there are no boat rentals at El Capitan, and there is no easy access to El Capitan.
El Capitan is a boat/vessel lake. It is not in a community where it has easy access. You cannot see it or drive by it. Once its launch ramp is closed, the lake is closed.
It is beyond reproach what is about to happen to that reservoir. We know the history of the PUD and the City of San Diego. They will never be able to replace the water to a level of being able to use the lake again as it has no pumping system, only release. With water drafting and serious evaporation from it being such a shallow body of water it will take many years of serious rain before we see that lake again.
And once again, with history, they will just draft it away.
Sutherland is next, we all see the writing on the walls.
How anyone from the PUD or any City official can turn their heads and look away from the havoc they have caused has everyone who frequents the lakes dumbfounded.
The revenue losses will be staggering for the local communities that you pass through on your way to El Capitan reservoir. The tax revenue losses for the county of San Diego will be staggering as well.
The programs created from a place to go get kids outside. Youth groups and fishing tournaments for them. A place for wounded warriors to go enjoy and to forget at least for a few precious hours the mental pain they endure.
This issue is far-reaching and goes well beyond basic water needs for the city.
We have water; we know we have water. We have reservoirs within the city lakes chain to draft from.
If the City of San Diego and the PUD actually understood water management and what it takes to keep a reservoir workable for everyone. If they did that there would be no reason to draft water past the point of operation for any lake or reservoir within the chain let alone, El Capitan and Sutherland reservoirs.
Yet here we are, and now every one of us has to live through their poor management decisions.
Please take under advisement, the voters matter. There will be strong ripple effects felt from these closures and poor city management.
To take part in the discussion and for more info, visit Friends of the San Diego Lakes and San Diego Bass Fishing (group) on Facebook.
HOW YOU CAN HELP SAVE OUR LAKES
The Facts
Our Mission
PLEASE CONTACT the San Diego City, San Diego County and State of California representatives below…ask them to NOT CUT OR CLOSE San Diego City Lake Recreation and Invest MORE into this program. GO TO OUR FACEBOOK PAGE for a Statement you can send or write your own.
Contact information
MayorToddGloria@sandiego.gov ; SeanEloRivera@sandiego.gov ; vivianmoreno@sandiego.gov ; RaulCampillo@sandiego.gov ; StephenWhitburn@sandiego.gov ; KentLee@sandiego.gov ; jennifercampbell@sandiego.gov ; MarnivonWilpert@sandiego.gov ; JoeLaCava@sandiego.gov; HenryFoster@sandiego.gov; joel.anderson@sdcounty.ca.gov; Terra.Lawson-Remer@sdcounty.ca.gov; Monica.MontgomerySteppe@sdcounty.ca.gov; jim.desmond@sdcounty.ca.gov; nina.krishel@sen.ca.gov; MYagyagan@sandiego.gov;
