Foundation Prep More Than Halfway Complete

The contractor has built a small, semicircular steel cofferdam on the upstream (wet) side of the dam. This allows workers to install a new water outlet pipe through the dam. All of this work is being monitored by the State Division of Safety of Dams and will not affect the integrity of the existing dam.

The Water Authority expects to award a contract for the next construction phase this spring, with work starting shortly thereafter. The next phase includes making and placing the concrete to raise the height of the dam 117 feet.

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Project Description

The San Vicente Dam Raise is part of the Emergency Storage Project, a system of reservoirs, interconnected pipelines, and pumping stations designed to make water available to the San Diego region in the event of an interruption in imported water deliveries.

San Vicente Dam currently stands at 220 feet and can store up to 90,000 acre-feet of water. The dam raise project will increase the height of the dam by 117 feet – the tallest dam raise in the United States and the tallest of its type in the world. The raised dam will store an additional 152,000 acre-feet of water, more than doubling the capacity of the reservoir.

The environmental studies were completed in 2008.

San Vicente Dam Raise Fact Sheet

Construction Schedule

Construction of the San Vicente Dam Raise project began in June 2009 and will take about four years. Construction will take place in multiple phases, as follows:

• Foundation preparatory work: summer 2009 – summer 2010
• Dam raise: spring 2010 – early 2013
• Replacement pipeline: summer 2012 – summer 2013
• New marina construction: summer 2013 – summer 2014
• Site restoration: summer 2013 – summer 2014
• Reservoir open to recreation: between late 2014 and late 2017

Recreation at San Vicente Reservoir

To assure public safety during construction, the reservoir is closed to boating, fishing, and all other water recreation. San Vicente Reservoir will reopen to recreation after construction sometime between 2014 and 2017, as soon as the water level reaches the boat launch ramp at the new marina. The amount of time needed to refill the reservoir will depend on water supply and demand.

The new marina will feature many new improvements once the reservoir is reopened. The Water Authority will improve the reservoir's access road, making it wider and less steep. The boat ramp will be expanded and extended, and the size of the parking area will be increased. Additional shade trees and picnic areas at the marina will provide more options for recreational visitors to the reservoir.

New Marina Rendering

San Vicente Reservoir High Watermark Map

Printable Version

San Vicente Dam Cross Section Diagram

Printable Version

Photographic Tour

Click here to view a photographic tour that shows aspects of construction at the San Vicente Dam Raise.

Community Information Updates

• Construction and Nightwork Update to Muth Valley – April 2010
• San Vicente Construction and Schedule Update – February 2010
• San Vicente Dam Raise Construction Update Postcard – September 2009
• Start of Construction & Blasting Letter – July 15, 2009
• San Vicente Dam Raise Construction Update Email – June 2009
• Dam Raise Construction Start Postcard – June 2009
• San Vicente Dam Raise Construction Update Email - February 2009
• San Vicente Reservoir Closing Postcard - August 2008
• Reservoir Summer Schedule Postcard - April 2008
• Final EIR/EIS Community Notification Letter - April 11, 2008
• Reservoir Closure Update Postcard - Sept. 2007
• EIR/EIS Community Notice of Availability Letter - Aug. 27, 2007
• Reservoir Summer Schedule Returns Postcard - April 2007
• San Vicente Reservoir Closure Update Letter – Dec. 1, 2006
• Reservoir Closure Update Postcard – Dec. 2006
• EIR/EIS Community Update Letter – Oct. 10, 2006

Community Meeting Summaries

• June 2010 – Lakeside Community Planning Group Update
• February 2010 – Lakeside Community Planning Group Update
• November 2009 – Lakeside Community Planning Group Update
• July 15, 2009 – Lakeside Community Planning Group Update
• June 2009 – Lakeside Community Planning Group Update
• February 2009 – Lakeside Community Planning Group Update
• September 2008 – Lakeside Community Planning Group Update
• May 21, 2008 – Lakeside Community Planning Group
• May 14, 2008 – Lakeside Design Review Board
• Feb. 20, 2008 – Lakeside Planning Group
• Oct. 17, 2007 – Lakeside Planning Group
• June 11, 2007– Valley Center Community Planning Group
• June 6, 2007 – Lakeside Planning Group
• May 2, 2007 – Lakeside Planning Group
• Feb. 21, 2007 – Lakeside Planning Group
• Oct. 18, 2006 – Lakeside Planning Group
• Oct. 16, 2006 – Valley Center Community Planning Group
• Sept. 20, 2006 – Lakeside Planning Group
• Nov. 7, 2005 – Lakeside Chamber of Commerce
• Nov. 2, 2005 - Lakeside Planning Group
• July 20, 2005 - Lakeside Planning Group

City Lakes and Recreation

San Vicente Reservoir is owned and operated by the city of San Diego. For more information about other city reservoirs while San Vicente is closed, please visit the City Lakes and Recreation web page at: www.sandiego.gov/water/recreation/index.shtml.

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