Lower Otay reservoir
Lower Otay
Lower Otay is a reservoir located in San Diego County, California. The reservoir was created in 1918 when the Lower Otay Dam was constructed to provide water to the growing city of San Diego. The reservoir is fed by the Otay River, and it also receives water from the Colorado River via the All-American Canal. The reservoir is used for agricultural irrigation, municipal water supply, and recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and hiking. The water levels in the reservoir are influenced by both surface flow and snowpack, with the latter being particularly important in dry years. The reservoir is managed by the Otay Water District, and it plays a critical role in providing water to the surrounding communities.
Daily levels at Lower Otay
Storage volume, pool elevation, and total release plotted from the operating agency's daily observations.
Storage
acre-ft · code 2
Pool Elevation
ft · code 1
Plan around the weather
Same NOAA / yr.no feed Snoflo's iOS app uses. Watch the precipitation column on the meteogram -- rain on the basin upstream typically lifts inflow 24-72 hours later.
Next 5 days, hour by hour
Temperature line with weather symbols on top, snow + rain accumulation as columns, humidity as a dotted line.
5-day forecast table
Every 3 hours, broken out across temperature, snow, rain, humidity, and wind. Each cell is colour-coded relative to the column min/max.
| Time | Condition | Temp (°F) | Snow (in) | Rain (in) | Humidity (%) | Wind (mps) | Wind dir |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loading detailed forecast… | |||||||
15-day temperature & precipitation
Daily temperatures, snow, and rain projected over the next two weeks.
Nearby streamflow gauges
USGS streamgauges around Lower Otay -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Jamul C Nr Jamul Ca | 10 cfs | → |
| Sweetwater R A Dehesa Ca | · | → |
| Los Coches C Nr Lakeside Ca | 0 cfs | → |
| San Diego R A Mast Rd Nr Santee Ca | 1 cfs | → |
| San Diego R A Fashion Valley At San Diego Ca | 2 cfs | → |
| Campo C Nr Campo Ca | · | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Lower Otay.
Boat launches
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Campgrounds
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Fishing spots
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River runs
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About Lower Otay
Where does the data for Lower Otay come from?
Daily storage, pool elevation, and release rates are sourced from USGS, USBR, and USACE monitoring stations. Weather forecast comes from NOAA / yr.no -- the same feed Snoflo's iOS app uses.
How often is the report updated?
Storage observations are updated daily by the operating agency. The 15-day weather forecast refreshes throughout the day. Snoflo caches and renders the most recent observation -- check the "as of" timestamp on the storage card.
What does the Hazard hazard rating mean?
The Corps of Engineers' hazard potential classification grades probable consequences if the dam fails: High = probable loss of human life; Significant = no probable loss of human life but possible economic loss / environmental damage; Low = no probable loss of human life, only minor economic / environmental losses. See the Dam Data Reference card below for the full definitions.
What's "% of normal"?
The current storage value compared to the historical average storage on this calendar day. 100% = right on average; values above 100% mean above-normal storage (wet year); values below mean below-normal (dry year or drought).
Can I get alerts when storage crosses a threshold?
Yes -- alerts are managed in the Snoflo iOS app. Favorite this reservoir, set a threshold, and you'll get a push the moment conditions cross.