Lake Ramona

Hours: Open daily, sunrise to sunset

Size: 106 surface acres at 6,000 acre feet of water stored. The capacity of the lake is 12,000 acre feet. Lake levels will fluctuate with the amount of water stored. There is no local runoff into the lake, all water is imported through the San Diego County Water Authority and paid for by the District

Location: 2 miles Northwest of Lake Poway, 3 miles from Espola Road in Poway through the Blue Sky Ecological Reserve

Fee: None. A valid California fishing license is required

Fish: Small 1-2 lb bass. No fish are stocked Limits: State of California limits apply to all species

Restrictions: No boating or float tubes. Do not violate private property owner rights to access the lake.

History: Lake Ramona is a reservoir built by Ramona Municipal Water District during the 1980’s to impound as much as 12,000 acre feet of water behind an earthen dam. In comparison, Lake Sutherland holds 29,680 acre feet and El Capitan Reservoir 112,800 acre feet of water.

Planning for the lake, located in Highland Valley north of Mt. Woodson, began in 1979. The project was approved by voters in a special mail ballot on June 2, 1981.

The lake was intended to provide a dependable and uninterruptible future source of water that would help the district reduce its operating costs. Agriculture was expected to use 94% of the stored water. Work began on the dam before plans to fill the lake or use its water for domestic customers were developed. The project was dedicated on August 27, 1988.

The lake was originally financed by issuance of public debt and acquisition of a loan from the federal Bureau of Reclamation.

Water from Lake Ramona is used exclusively in the untreated system serving Highland Valley from Archie Moore Road to Bandy Canyon. Customers are primarily commercial growers who irrigate tree crops such as avocados and citrus. Having the lake available for storage allows the district to purchase water at a discount during the winter off-season rates offered by the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California.

In an emergency the water in the lake may be available to serve domestic customers. Use would depend on Health Department approval and under strict guidelines.

Use of the lake’s untreated water as a source for a treatment plant has been recommended to the district as the most economical way to address the treated water needs of the district. The district’s ability to utilize the lake to provide reliability to the treated water system may involve a vote of the public through an election.

If you would like a copy of the rules and regulations of Lake Ramona click on the following link: Lake Ramona Rules