San Diego to Release Water From Hodges Reservoir Into San Dieguito River to Meet Dam Safety Limits
Controlled release planned after reservoir level rises above state safety threshold
The City of San Diego is preparing to release water from Hodges Reservoir (also known as Lake Hodges) into the San Dieguito River after recent rainfall increased reservoir levels beyond a state-mandated operating threshold tied to dam safety requirements.
City officials said the reservoir rose above an elevation trigger set by California’s dam safety regulators, prompting a controlled release intended to reduce pressure on the dam and maintain required freeboard. The release is expected to move through the San Dieguito River channel and ultimately toward downstream reaches that run through North County communities before reaching the river’s coastal outlet.
Why releases occur at Lake Hodges
Hodges Dam, completed in 1918 and later acquired by the City of San Diego in 1925, impounds runoff from the San Dieguito watershed. Regulators can require reservoir levels to be kept below specified elevations when an aging dam needs repairs or when its condition rating and downstream hazard classification warrant added safety margins.
In this case, the city has cited a state-established elevation threshold designed to reduce risk to downstream communities and ensure safe operation of Hodges Dam. When storms raise the reservoir above that limit, releases become a mandated operational response rather than a discretionary water-supply decision.
Coordination with local water agencies
The city said it is coordinating the release with the Santa Fe Irrigation District and the San Dieguito Water District. Both agencies rely in part on Lake Hodges as a local water source and operate facilities in the broader system that can help manage flows and, when feasible, support beneficial use of water moved out of the reservoir.
Lake Hodges is also connected to regional water infrastructure that, under certain conditions, can allow captured runoff to be transferred for storage elsewhere during wet years. Operational constraints, including required lake levels and intake elevations, can limit when transfers are feasible.
Dam condition, repair needs, and long-term project costs
State dam safety assessments in recent years have placed heightened focus on older, high-hazard dams across California, with evaluations emphasizing emergency planning and near-term risk reduction where downstream populations are significant. Hodges Dam has been among the structures identified for urgent attention due to its condition rating and downstream hazard potential.
The City of San Diego has stated that Hodges Dam is expected to undergo additional repair work and that a long-term replacement strategy has been under consideration. City disclosures have also indicated that projected costs for a full replacement have increased substantially compared with earlier estimates, leading to a reassessment of options.
What residents may notice
Increased flows in portions of the San Dieguito River downstream of the dam during the release period.
Operational activity near dam and river access points as agencies manage flows and monitor conditions.
Potential changes in reservoir level over days following the start of releases, depending on inflows from additional rainfall.
Controlled releases are designed to lower reservoir elevation in a measured way, balancing dam safety requirements with downstream channel conditions and water-system operations.
City officials have indicated that additional releases may be required if storms continue to add inflows faster than the reservoir can be kept below the mandated safety level.