Project Description:

This project involved widening the base and raising the height of the San Vicente Dam 123 feet, to a total height of 343 feet, expanding the reservoir capacity to 190,000 acre-feet.

The project was a key piece of the San Diego County Water Authority's comprehensive Emergency Storage Project (ESP), designed to ensure that water is available to the San Diego region in the event of an interruption in imported water deliveries.

O'Connor's involvement at the preliminary stage of design was an effective cost control tool. For example, the SDCWA identified in the preliminary budgets that on-site mining and moving costs were very high. Consequently, they sought alternative solutions and decided to mine the wet side of the dam. This cut down on cost significantly and was also less of on an environmental impact.

As construction and design has progressed for this project, OCMI has begun work on the replacement of a new bypass pipeline to replace the existing between the first aqueduct to the San Vicente Dam Raise. Due to the expansion of the reservoir, the current pipeline is not capable of transporting the increased water supply, therefore the pipeline must be replaced to maintain the water delivery system. A new access road will be developed to get to the terminal structure. During construction, the existing bypass pipeline will remain operational.