There are no concession services at the City Reservoirs, no sale of State fishing licenses, bait, food or drinks. Parons must bring own bait, and refreshments, and obtain State fishing license in advance. Reservoirs accept cash only, no credit or ATM cards.

Reservoir staff is selling daily permits and renting rowboats and fishing boats with 5 or 8 hp motors on certain days only (please check each lake schedule below).

Dogs must be on a leash at all times and kept at least 50 feet away from the water. They are not permitted on private or rental boats.

Lake hours are one-half hour before sunrise to sunset on open days only.

There is no swimming allowed at any of the San Diego City Reservoirs.

NOTICE: Due to increased security measures, vessels may be inspected as a requirement for entry into the reservoirs.

Current Operating Schedules:

For general City Reservoir information not found on these pages, please call our office (Monday through Friday) at 619-668-2050 or email ssmith@sandiego.gov.

All City Lakes are closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas Day and New Year's Day. Miramar and Murray will be open for walking, picnicking, etc., but no fishing or boating, and parking lots will be closed.

All City Lakes, except Barrett, are open for regularly scheduled activities on Memorial Day, Fourth of July, and Labor Day. El Capitan will follow their normal Sunday schedule for these Monday holidays.

All other holidays, City Lakes that are normally open on that day of the week, will be open. Lakes that are normally closed on that day of the week will be closed.

Barrett is closed to fishing until May 1, 2010, when it will reopen on a Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday schedule. Reservations will go on sale through Ticketmaster on Tuesday, April 13 at 7:00 p.m.

Waterfowl hunting is offered on a Wednesday and Saturday schedule October through January.

All persons (age 8 and older) entering reservoir property are required to pay daily use fees, including launch and per person fees, see Permits & Fees (daily).

El Capitan is now open on its winter schedule (Nov - Apr) as follows:

Lake hours are one-half hour before sunrise to sunset.

Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Monday - fishing and general boating only (no water contact).

Sunday - fishing and general boating plus water contact (waterskiing, wakeboarding, jetskiing, towing inflatables).

Rental boats are available on Saturday and Sunday and certain holidays only.

Paddleboards are not permitted at any time.

Tuesday and Wednesday - closed.

Kayaks are permitted Thursday through Monday. The $2.00 kayak launch permit fee does NOT apply at El Capitan. Each person pays the $8.00 (adult) or $2.50 (youth) user fee, but there is no additional fee for the kayak.

Hodges is open for fishing and boating on a Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday schedule from one-half hour before sunrise to sunset. Boat rentals are available on Saturdays and Sundays only. Private boats, kayaks, and float tubes are allowed all three days.

Permits on Wednesdays must be purchased from the electronic pay station or the iron ranger pay station. Please bring exact change for the iron ranger. For permit prices please see Permits & Fees (daily).

For information on trails please check the San Dieguito River Park's web site at sdrp.org

Lower Otay is open for fishing and general boating on Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday only, from one-half hour before sunrise to sunset.

All permits on Wednesdays must be purchased from the Iron Ranger Pay Stations or the electronic pay station. Please bring exact change for the iron ranger. For permit prices please see Permits & Fees (daily).

Boat rentals are available on Saturdays and Sundays only.

Private boats, float tubes, and kayaks are permitted Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday.

Miramar's launch ramp is fully open now.

Miramar is open to fishing and private boats, kayaks and float tubes seven days a week from 5:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. The picnic area, and perimeter road are open seven days a week, however, vehicles are only allowed on the road Saturday through Tuesday. Patrons can walk completely around the lake, a distance of 4.92 miles. Gates to the dam close at sunset, same as the main gates/parking lot.

Miramar is no longer renting boats of any kind.

Permits must be purchased from the iron ranger pay stations or the electronic pay station (please bring exact change for the iron ranger). For permit prices please see Permits & Fees (daily).

Murray is open for shore fishing and private boats, kayaks and float tubes seven days a week from 5:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. The picnic area and perimeter road are open seven days a week.

Murray is no longer be renting boats of any kind.

Permits must be purchased from the iron ranger pay stations around the lake or the electronic pay station by the closed concession building (please bring exact change for the iron ranger). For permit prices please see Permits & Fees (daily).

San Vicente is now closed to all public access and recreation for construction on the San Diego County Water Authority's San Vicente Dam Raise Project.

It is expected to be closed for 6-9 years and reopen between 2014 and 2017.

For questions about the project, please call the toll-free project information line at 877-426-2010. or check the San Diego County Water Authority's web site at www.sdcwa.org and click on San Vicente Dam Raise.

Sutherland Reservoir is closed to all fishing and boating until March 6, 2010, when it will reopen on a Saturday and Sunday schedule.

Turkey hunting is offered on a Wednesday and Saturday schedule for the spring and fall seasons. All reservations for the spring hunting season are sold out.

Upper Otay is open for fishing on Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday only from one-half hour before sunrise to sunset. Patrons can purchase permits from the Iron Ranger pay station (please bring exact change). Upper Otay is a catch and release only fishery. Bait is not permitted, only artificial lures with barbless hooks. Boats are not permitted on Upper Otay, only shore fishing, waders and float tubes.

Hunting

Waterfowl hunting is allowed at Barrett only and the season runs from mid-October through January. Please call the Lakes office at 619-668-2050 for more information.

Turkey hunting is allowed at Sutherland only and the spring season runs from the end of March to the beginning of May. The fall season is mid-November to the end of November.

To be added to the mailing list for the 2009-2010 waterfowl season or the 2010 turkey season, call 619-668-2050, or email ssmith@sandiego.gov and include your physical mailing address or email address and which hunting list you want to be included in.

Boat Reservations

Fish Stocking

2,000 lbs of Nebraska trout

Next plant week of Mar 15 - 2,336 lbs

Trout from DFG 1,300 lbs

Special Events

For more details on special events at the City Reservoirs, or if you would like to have an event at one of the City Reservoirs, please call (619) 668-2050 or email ssmith@sandiego.gov for more information on fees and regulations and to request an application form. All participants at events on weekends held at Lake Miramar must park off site and be shuttled in. At Murray for weekend events there is a limit of 50 parking spaces for event parking in the new lot just outside the main gate.

Club Bass Fishing Tournaments

To hold a night tournament, a tournament on a closed day, or any other type of on-water event at a City Reservoir, please download our application form (PDF: 27K) .

Form should be returned to ssmith@sandiego.gov or faxed to 619-443-7681.