County leaders have approved $2.5 million to extend the boat launch ramp at El Capitan Reservoir, aiming to keep the popular recreation site usable even as water levels fluctuate.
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The San Diego County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously earlier this month to approve the proposal, brought forward by Supervisors Joel Anderson and Monica Montgomery Steppe.
“The need for this investment has become increasingly apparent as lower reservoir levels have often rendered the existing boat launch unusable,” a county letter reads.
Located in the unincorporated community of Lakeside, El Capitan Reservoir is a popular recreational site for East County residents and visitors. Visitors use the site for water activities such as canoeing, kayaking, tubing and shore fishing.
However, its primary use is water storage and supply for customers in the city of San Diego. Recreational uses are often limited when water draining lowers reservoir levels, according to a staff report, causing recurring closures, restricted operating hours and inconsistent boating access.
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The proposal will extend the reservoir’s four-lane boat launch by about 200 feet, with a 60-foot-wide reinforced concrete ramp.
It is the result of a yearslong county effort to improve recreational conditions at the reservoir, which is owned and operated by the city of San Diego. The change will allow boating access to continue during lower water elevations.
“Keeping the reservoir open gives families and neighbors a reliable place to gather, connect and enjoy the outdoors together, low water levels shouldn’t lock us out of our own public park,” Montgomery Steppe said.
The allocation will transfer $2.2 million from the Office of Emergency Services and $300,000 from earlier funding assigned to El Capitan Reservoir. Once transferred, the city of San Diego is responsible for the project’s design and construction.
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