Waldron bill extending Lake Wohlford Dam replacement funding signed into law

SACRAMENTO – Assembly Republican Leader Marie Waldron, R-Escondido announced that her bill to extend the deadline for the City of Escondido to make use of grant funding for the replacement of Lake Wohlford Dam has been signed into law. Assembly Bill 692 provides an additional five years for the City of Escondido to take advantage of $14,900,000 in state funding to replace the Lake Wohlford Dam, which does not meet modern seismic safety standards.

“As California faces increasingly severe droughts, it’s critical that we maximize our local water storage capacity,” Waldron said. “The funding AB 692 keeps available will help Escondido meet the water needs of area residents while ensuring the safety of Lake Wohlford Dam.”

In the wake of a 2007 Federal Energy Regulatory Commission study that found a portion of the Lake Wohlford Dam may not withstand a magnitude 7.5 earthquake, the capacity of the lake was reduced by nearly 50%. In 2012, the City of Escondido was awarded a $14,900,000 grant to fund seismic upgrades that would restore the dam’s full 6,500 acre foot capacity. However, delays in the design stage of the project meant the city would not have been able to make use of the grant funding before the award’s original deadline of June 30, 2023.

With the extension of the grant funding, Escondido will be able to replace the outdated dam, provide an additional 3,000 acre feet of water storage, and ensure the safety of downstream residents in the event of a major earthquake.