The San Diego County Water Authority announced a milestone in the San Vicente Dam project.
The existing dam’s wall height has increased 117 feet bringing it to 337 feet. Click here for time lapse video
The addition has added 152,000 acre feet of water in the reservoir or enough water for about 1 million people for about a year according to project manager Kelly Rodgers.
The project nearly doubles the city-owned reservoir's capacity for potential emergencies and allows the water authority to store extra water during wet years that will be needed in dry years.
The structure, built in 1943, was in the right condition to be raised in what’s described as the largest dam raise in the United States
Construction is set to be completed next spring. Soon after, the water company will begin construction on the new reservoir portion of the project to be complete the following year.
Until then, all boating and fishing in the reservoir has been put on hold. For more information about recreational opportunities at other city reservoirs while San Vicente is closed, visit the city of San Diego Lakes and Recreation website.
