The recent storm boosted the level of Canyon Lake to 1381.90 feet, causing the water to flow over the dam. It was a welcome sight for Canyon Lake residents.
The spillway elevation is 1381.76 feet above sea level. When the lake level exceeds that amount, water gushes over the spillway into the San Jacinto River channel and flows to Lake Elsinore.
The Canyon Lake Reservoir is a critical part of the Elsinore Valley Municipal Water District (EVMWD) water supply system. The reservoir can hold as much as 12,000 acre-feet, or 3.9 billion gallons of water, which plays a critical role in meeting regional drinking water needs during periods of peak demand.
Canyon Lake is a recreational lake, leased to about 4,800 members of the Canyon Lake Property Owners Association (CLPOA). The recreational amenities offered by the Canyon Lake Reservoir increase the property values inside Canyon Lake and offer residents water activities year-round.
EVMWD owns all of the water and land rights within the footprint of the Canyon Lake Reservoir. The CLPOA manages the use of the lake for recreation.
The construction of the dam began in 1927 and was completed in 1929. While the dam’s original concrete structure remains in place, the configuration was altered in 1996 when Elsinore Valley Municipal Water District spent more than $9 million to improve its safety by widening and refurbishing the dam to withstand a 100-year flood.
