Reservoirs

Seven major stream systems originate in the mountains of San Diego County and drain into the Pacific Ocean. Runoff from these seven watersheds supplies the 25 regional reservoirs with local water supplies, which is a significant regional water resource.

While water supply was the original purpose of these reservoirs they also provide other regional benefits such as recreational opportunities and flood reduction.

Over the past 37 years (July 1975 through June 2011), the amount of local water used to meet annual demands has been as much as 167,800 acre-feet in 1983-1984, and as little as 19,200 acre-feet in 1976-1977. The long-term average annual production of local surface water is projected to be 47,300 acre-feet. Twenty-five surface reservoirs are located within the Water Authority's service area, with a combined capacity of approximately 587,000 acre-feet. Surface water represents the region’s single-largest local source of supply.

Map of San Diego County Reservoirs

Local Rainfall and Reservoirs Fact Sheet

Current reservoir balances of Metropolitan Water District of Southern California

Local reservoir storage, in acre-feet, for Water Authority member agencies - As of April 29, 2013

Agency	Reservoir	Capacity (AF)	Storage (AF)	Elevation (FT)	% of Capacity	Change from 04/08/13 (AF)
Carlsbad M.W.D.	Maerkle	600	189	472.2	31.5%	(102)
Escondido, City of	Dixon	2,606	2,325	1,039.8	90.2%	27
Escondido, City of	Wohlford	6,506	2,054	1,454.6	31.6%	(36)
Fallbrook P.U.D.	Red Mountain	1,335	653	1,107.8	48.9%	29
Helix W.D.	Cuyamaca	8,195	833	4,625.3	10.2%	(23)
Helix W.D.	Jennings	9,790	8,976	695.2	91.7%	34
Poway, City of	Poway	3,330	2,934	931.4	88.1%	(6)
Rainbow M.W.D.	Beck	625	0	845.0	0.0%	0
Rainbow M.W.D.	Morro Hill	465	371	816.0	79.8%	206
Ramona M.W.D.	Ramona	12,000	2,511	1,252.3	20.9%	88
San Diego County Water Authority	Olivenhain	24,789	19,283	1,051.0	77.8%	(51)
San Diego, City of	Barrett	34,806	18,719	1,582.1	53.8%	(52)
San Diego, City of	El Capitan	112,807	67,195	716.0	59.6%	(396)
San Diego, City of	Hodges	30,251	11,190	291.5	37.0%	(1,087)
San Diego, City of	Lower Otay	49,849	35,894	472.9	72.0%	(1,349)
San Diego, City of	Miramar	6,682	5,370	705.3	80.4%	95
San Diego, City of	Morena	50,694	8,028	2,992.3	15.8%	78
San Diego, City of	Murray	4,684	3,884	531.5	82.9%	15
San Diego, City of	San Vicente	89,312	38,394	594.0	43.0%	(186)
San Diego, City of	Sutherland	29,508	3,409	1,981.9	11.6%	(0)
San Dieguito W.D.	San Dieguito	883	424	244.2	48.1%	35
Sweetwater Authority	Loveland	25,400	9,100	1,304.4	35.8%	(25)
Sweetwater Authority	Sweetwater	28,079	11,077	216.1	39.4%	(980)
Valley Center M.W.D.	Turner	1,612	1,388	1,066.0	86.1%	(1)
Vista I.D.	Henshaw	51,774	6,688	2,662.7	12.9%	202
Totals		586,582	260,914		44.5%	(3,485)

Date generated: 04/29/2013

Note: Each reservoir’s change in storage level is a function of its unique operational characteristics, which may include movement of imported water supplies in and out of the reservoir as well as surface water capture from local rainfall.