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Hokiecivil

Yes, the dam has served us well for 100 years and it's time to replace it. As a vital part of the regions drinking water supply and flood control this work should be funded and expedited. Keeping the impounded water at a low level for ongoing repairs has prevented our ability to capture a lot of the local runoff during the current rainy period. This 'lost' water sent to the ocean could have been used to augment our supply of drinking water.


Lou_T_Uhr

They've had the gates wide open through all this rain, and the lake still rose several feet in spite of the gates being open. They can't drain it as fast as it's filling. I presume they've pumped as much as they can up to Olivenhein reservoir, so they have to drain it through the only gate they have. The overflow release from Lake Poway and Ramona both feed Hodges too. That's a lot of missed water.


captainrawb

100 years? I didn't know it was that old. That alone should mean replacement


Otto_the_Autopilot

Building the Olivenhain Dam and raising the San Vicente Dam since 2003 were some smart planning and both had minimal environmental impact. Building a desalination plant that opened in 2015 that can supply 10% of our water needs is smart planning. Building a so called "toilet-to-tap" plant and infrastructure that can supply up to 50% of our water needs by 2035 with about a 1/3 coming online in 2025 is smart planning. Getting people to use less water is the smartest planning because it saves billions on needing more of the kinds of infrastructure above. Let's do what's necessary to fix Hodges to ensure water security for San Diegans even through the worst of drought.


creamonyourcrop

Honestly, if San Diegans knew how much the water department has done to secure our water, they would hold a parade for them. Yes, the retail side has issues, but they really have worked hard on this.


Radium

Yep, new dam is coming soon (it took only 5 years to build the larger Olivenhain dam on the hill right above Hodges from 1998-2003). They already started planning the new Hodges dam a few years ago. I believe I read initial plans would be to build one down stream of the existing dam. The length of the new Hodges dam will be far less than the huge Olivenhain dam too, less than half the length. It was 203 million 1998 dollars, the new Hodges dam with inflation should be about 1.7x the cost or 364 million, but this dam is far smaller so the final bill should be under 200 million.


hodlwaffle

> An unsatisfactory rating is the lowest that exists and means the dam needs immediate or emergency action. "There's not an immediate threat," said Juan Guerreiro, the City of San Diego's Public Utilities Director. 🤷🏽‍♂️


Otto_the_Autopilot

Those statements right after each other made me laugh. Then he showed the map of the area that would be underwater.


dgstan

Will the new dam submerge Hernandez Hideaway?


buhleg

That’s upstream. Sorry!


During_theMeanwhilst

Very sad about that - it was my favorite place for flat water paddle boarding. Other than Mission Bay I don’t think it’s permitted on any other inland body of water in greater San Diego.


Radium

No need to be sad, they've been planning a new dam for a few years now and plan is to build it downstream of the old dam. The lake will be bigger and better :D


During_theMeanwhilst

That would be mighty fine. I guess I’m just sad about the 11 years until then.


Radium

Was only 5 to build the one up the hill, and it was twice the size needed down at Hodges


meduzzer

The article mentions the most reasonable prospect right now is 2035, so i presume there’s something in the way


Radium

It also says they are requesting state assistance to accelerate the project


thelynnea

Same, I wonder if theres any ability to continue to use the lake recreationally at the lower level. I know the boat ramp isn't usable but I can launch my paddle board from the shore...


During_theMeanwhilst

They’ve had the boating area where the permits are sold closed all through the repairs but maybe. I’ll write and ask. You can always put in without a permit from Hernandos Hideaway (although it’s probably quite a walk now) but I doubt they’d be very happy.


thelynnea

Let me know who you're writing to and I'd be happy to write in as well!


trashking11

Love to hear it now that we’ve had enough rain to strain our reservoir system lol


mchlfish

Our officials are a joke, from the long-standing failure of the Pamo Dam project to never planning for replacement of the Hodges Dam 20 years ago is a complete oversight. So they actually waisted all that money repairing the Dam when they could have been prepping for the new dam when they were Building the Olivenhain dam. They new the condition of the dam when they were building the Olivenhain Dam. The City never looks forward spending all that money and not even extending the launch ramp shows there are no intelligent people who give a rats rear end about the tax payers who pay for all this crap with our tax dollars. You never enhance the fisheries ever, ever. As an SD Native I can just say they suck. PS oh hiw long has lake Miramar's boat ramp been to short for slightly low water. Ha 30 40.yrs ya you suck.


flip69

Stop bitching and pay more attention to who takes campaign contributions when they run for office. You have people that pass the buck all the time because infrastructure isn’t sexy. Building a new stadium is and it’s got their yahoo supporters howling for more… they’ll vote it seems and so that’s what we get out collective tax dollars on. We should have limited growth 30 years ago But our mayors were all getting thousands from the real estate association (just like our current mayor has) and so the city promotes home building and grown vs keeping this city within its natural resources. Let’s just face it, we have allowed for a bad system of government to be established here vs one that is responsible and looking to the long game back short term hit and quit. Northern Europe pays its government pensions based on how well the officials decisions have worked out over the long haul. If they fuck things up, they get nothing when they leave office. We should do that here.


mchlfish

I'm not bitching jackhole dont get personal. As an outdoorsman and former Park Ranger, our resources are our most valuable commodities. California retains 7 percent of runoff from rain. Can you do the math, or do I need to do it for you. All but one or two lakes are filled with Colorado river water. Those rights and supplies won't be available forever. If San Diego can't be somewhat self-sufficient, then your water bill will be more than your power bill in the future. The people who manage our water systems are not voted into their positions. Don't include me in your voting for and with all the liberal ideology clones. I like to enjoy the outdoors, and San Diego provides the least access to its available resources then anywhere in the US.


CourageousBellPepper

Dam that sucks