Historical Society members and other Lakesiders attended a tour of the San Vicente Dam on April 26. It was very interesting and educational. You should try to attend the next tour which will be held Saturday May 19. You must call (858) 926-4048 to make your reservation, only two per family. There may be other tours scheduled if the community shows an interest.
  The tour began in the office trailers near the bottom of the dam, on Moreno Avenue, where a video of the dam raise project was presented. Afterwards the group was driven by vans up the hill to the top of the dam which was built in 1943. We got up close and personal to the huge concrete structure and actually walked on the top. Looking up we were shown the marks where the future height would be, an additional 54 feet. We were also shown a higher mark where the dam could be built if the newer plans are approved. Looking down we could see the site of the former Foster Train Depot and the road that actually went through the dam on the way up to Mussy Grade and on to Ramona.
  "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.
  "The dam will be raised 54 feet as part of the Emergency Storage Project to increase the reservoir's storage capacity by 52,000 acre-feet over the present 90,000 acre-feet.
  "A recent Water Authority study identified a need for an additional 100,000 acre-feet of surplus water to use during droughts or other times of shortage. The name for this additional water storage is called the Carryover Storage Project and the San Vicente Reservoir is a potential location to store this water. Therefore, the dam may be raised further to 117 feet, or about 63 feet beyond what is planned for the Emergency Storage Project. An environmental study is underway to address the potential impacts of the additional dam raise and a decision to move forward is scheduled for early 2008.

  "There will be many new improvements once the reservoir is reopened. As part of the project, the Water Authority will improve the reservoir's access road, making it wider and less steep. Also the boat ramp will be expanded and extended and the size of the parking area will be increased. The work will also include adding shade trees and picnic areas." www.sdcwa.org