San Dieguito Water District reviews joint facilities CIP amid Lake Hodges uncertainty

The San Dieguito Water District on Sept. 17 received an informational update on its joint facilities capital improvement program that outlined near-term projects, deferred work contingent on Lake Hodges’ status and a solar-plus-storage installation intended to cut energy costs.

Marissa Potter, engineering manager for the Santa Fe Irrigation District, told the board the joint facilities—owned in defined shares by Santa Fe and San Dieguito—are governed by a 2021 master plan and an energy management plan and are now being reassessed in an interim update by consultant Dudek "to look at really what options or what projects are on the horizon for us and planning as we move forward for the next 10 years."

The update highlighted several active and planned projects. Potter said an inspection of one bay at the San Dieguito Reservoir dam found a leak; crews installed a temporary ("porta") dam to dry the area and Kleinfelder completed a follow-up inspection. Potter said the repair design is under review by the California Division of Safety of Dams and staff are monitoring that review before removing the temporary works and returning the structure to service.

Potter described a Clearwell solar project now under construction that she said will install about 467 kilowatts of ballasted solar panels and a battery system; construction is expected to finish by year-end with utility interconnection following in early 2026. Potter said the project applied under the earlier net-energy‑metering rules and that the districts’ analysis estimated a 25‑year net benefit of roughly $1.5 million to San Dieguito and $1.8 million to Santa Fe.

Other items Potter listed as planned or in procurement include rehabilitation or replacement of a leach field (regulatory coordination ongoing), replacement of anode beds that protect two 54‑inch steel transmission mains, and replacement of filter wash-water headers (main headers planned for November; branch headers to follow).

Board members asked how deferred capital projects would affect savings for major dam work. Vice President Ehlers asked whether money freed by delaying some CIPs would be set aside in a dedicated fund: "Is there a commensurate, setting aside of money for future dam projects out of CIP, or would we be putting that... into any sort of CIP savings account, if you will?" Potter and other staff said both districts have long-term saving practices for joint facilities work and that San Dieguito has been saving roughly $500,000 a year in a Lake Hodges‑related fund.

Potter cautioned that Lake Hodges is the subject of active legal discussions with the city of San Diego and state agencies, so the districts cannot yet predict outcomes tied to reconstruction or other actions. The general manager told the board staff plan to present a closed‑session briefing once legal and factual information is assembled, likely by November, followed by any required board decision.

President Lyons and other board members praised staff for the presentation; Scott Campbell, the sole public commenter during oral communications, praised the district’s work and said, "They do a really good job."

The board received the informational report; no formal action was taken on the CIP update during the meeting. Staff said the interim master plan work will inform a rate study scheduled for next year that will set any changes to charges needed to fund the program over the coming years.

Votes at a glance

The board voted on the consent calendar (items 8a–8, not specified in the record). Board member O'Hare moved to approve and Board member San Antonio seconded; the motion "carried unanimously," with all five members recorded as voting yes.