Lake Hodges facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lake Hodges |
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Lake Hodges looking east with views of the 2009 pedestrian bridge, Interstate 15's Lake Hodges Bridge, and the San Pasqual Valley in the distance
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 Lake Hodges
Location in California
Lake Hodges
Location in the United States
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| Location | San Diego County, Southern California |
| Coordinates | 33°02′42″N 117°07′43″W / 33.04500°N 117.12861°W |
| Type | reservoir |
| Primary inflows | San Dieguito River |
| Primary outflows | San Dieguito River |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Surface elevation | 220 ft (67 m) |
| Dam | Lake Hodges Dam |
Lake Hodges is a large lake and reservoir in Southern California. It is located about 31 miles (50 km) north of San Diego. The city of Escondido, California is just to its south.
When Lake Hodges is completely full, it covers 1,234 acres (5 km²). The deepest part of the lake is about 115 feet (35 m) deep. It also has a long shoreline, stretching for 27 miles (43 km). The lake can hold a total of 30,251 acre-feet of water.
The water level in the lake is kept at a maximum of 295 feet (90 m) above sea level. This is 20 feet (6 m) lower than the dam's top spillway for safety. The amount of water in the lake can change a lot. This depends on how much rain flows into it from the San Dieguito River area.
Interstate 15 crosses Lake Hodges using the Lake Hodges Bridge. There is also a special bridge for bikes and people walking. This bridge opened on May 15, 2009. It is about 1,000 feet (300 m) west of the I-15 freeway bridge. This pedestrian bridge is the longest stressed ribbon bridge in the world.
The city of San Diego owns Lake Hodges. It provides water to the San Dieguito Water District and the Santa Fe Irrigation District. Some people even say that a mysterious creature, called "Hodgee," lives in the lake!
Lake Hodges Dam: Building a Water Source
The Lake Hodges Dam is a special type of dam called a multiple-arch dam. It was built across the San Dieguito River. The Volcan Water Company asked for it to be built, and John S. Eastwood designed it. The dam was finished in 1918. Later, the city of San Diego bought it.
The dam helps supply water from Lake Hodges to homes and farms. It serves customers in the Santa Fe Irrigation District and the San Dieguito Water District. The dam stands 131 feet (40 m) tall and is 729 feet (222 m) wide.
Connecting Lake Hodges to Other Water Sources
In 2005, the San Diego County Water Authority and the City of San Diego started a big project. They began building a pipeline to connect Lake Hodges with another reservoir called Olivenhain Reservoir. This important project was completed in 2012.
This connection allows 20,000 acre-feet of water to be stored at Lake Hodges. This water can be used in case of an emergency. It helps make sure that people in the area always have enough water.
