About This Project
The Olivenhain Dam and Reservoir are important investments for the future reliability of San Diego County’s water supply. Construction on the dam began in August 2000,and the first water flowed into the reservoir in August 2003. The Olivenhain Reservoir has a storage capacity of 24,000 acre-feet of water – enough water for a year for 50,000 families of four. Water stored in the reservoir will be reserved for emergency use throughout the county.
Olivenhain Dam and Reservoir
Project construction was a very exciting process. At 318 feet tall, Olivenhain Dam is the largest roller-compacted concrete dam of its kind in North America. The Olivenhain Dam was built in four main phases. This photographic tour will take you through the phases and provide an explanation of the work involved.
Photographs by John W. Alexanders, Melissa Jacobs, Tim Botsko, and the Olivenhain Dam construction team.
Olivenhain Dam Fact Sheet