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

Reservoir Storage (AF) levels of Water Authority member agency reservoirs as of April 16, 2012.

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.

Agency	Reservoir	Capacity (AF)	Storage (AF)	Elevation (FT)	% of Capacity	From Previous Update 3/26/12 (AF)
Carlsbad M.W.D.	Maerkle	600	274	479.6	45.7%	125
Escondido, City of	Dixon	2,606	2,379	1,040.2	91.3%	(68)
Escondido, City of	Wohlford	6,506	2,334	1,456.8	35.9%	14
Fallbrook P.U.D.	Red Mountain	1,335	742	1,113	55.6%	85
Helix W.D.	Cuyamaca	8,195	1,695	4,626.3	20.7%	265
Helix W.D.	Jennings	9,790	8,893	694.7	90.8%	38
Poway, City of	Poway	3,330	3,078	933.8	92.4%	(12)
Rainbow M.W.D.	Beck	625	152	863	24.3%	(36)
Rainbow M.W.D.	Morro Hill	465	0	778	0%	0
Ramona M.W.D.	Ramona	12,000	2,642	1,254.3	22%	72
San Diego County Water Authority	Olivenhain	24,789	20,677	1,059	83.4%	1,070
San Diego, City of	Barrett	34,806	26,240	1,595	75.4%	(96)
San Diego, City of	El Capitan	112,807	79,793	726.6	70.7%	(564)
San Diego, City of	Hodges	30,251	22,003	306.7	72.7%	(1,573)
San Diego, City of	Lower Otay	49,849	41,654	479.2	83.6%	0
San Diego, City of	Miramar	6,682	5,493	706.2	82.2%	507
San Diego, City of	Morena	50,694	12,625	3,002.2	24.9%	323
San Diego, City of	Murray	4,684	4,044	532.5	86.3%	161
San Diego, City of	San Vicente	89,312	39,362	595.3	44.1%	745
San Diego, City of	Sutherland	29,508	12,331	2,018.6	41.8%	(289)
San Dieguito W.D.	San Dieguito	883	552	244.6	62.6%	107
Sweetwater Authority	Loveland	25,400	17,708	1,335.6	69.7%	346
Sweetwater Authority	Sweetwater	28,079	20,178	229.9	71.9%	(580)
Valley Center M.W.D.	Turner	1,612	1,612	1,071	100%	0
Vista I.D.	Henshaw	51,774	6,086	2,662.1	11.8%	1,117

Totals		586,582	332,545		56.7%	(1,755)