Featured NEWS

Access to Miramar Reservoir has been saved 

A goose spreads its wings on the surface of the water at Miramar Reservoir. (photo by Frank Lussier)

Access to Miramar Reservoir has been saved

 By John Gregory

The San Diego City Council spared public access for recreational purposes to Miramar Reservoir as it voted 7-2 to approve modifications to the Fiscal Year 2026 budget on June 10. San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria’s original budget included the reduction of public access to Miramar Reservoir for recreational use from seven days a week to two days a week – Saturdays and Sundays. But the reductions to access were removed when the final version of the budget was approved by City Council members.

District 6 San Diego City Councilmember Marni von Wilpert expressed her happiness that regular public access to the reservoir was restored in the budget.

“I am ecstatic that the City Council supported my efforts to keep Lake Miramar open. While we faced difficult choices and painful service cuts, I was especially proud to secure funding to keep our lakes open – vital public spaces that serve countless residents and visitors. Input from residents and lake advocacy groups was vital during City Council budget discussions and I want to thank everyone who shared their voice during this process,” von Wilpert stated. “We must continue the fight to ensure our lakes stay open for community use for years to come.”

Miramar Reservoir is more than 64 years old and has been open for recreational use for decades. Scripps Ranch locals and visitors alike consider this area a vital open space for recreation.

Details about how the reduction of access to the reservoir would have saved a substantial amount of funds for the City were not entirely clear at first, nor were plans regarding how the reduction to public access would have been handled. But Jennifer McBride, supervising public information officer for the City of San Diego Communications Department, gathered the following details to shed some light on the subject.

The reservoirs would have been closed to all public access on closed days, according to the information provided by McBride. Parking lots would not have been accessible on closed days. Restrooms at the recreation stations would have been locked on all closed days. Port-a-potties would have remained unlocked on closed days to protect water quality.

San Diego’s reservoirs are operated within the City’s Public Utilities Department. Its reservoir recreation program has a budget of $3,110,927 funded through the general fund. The proposed measures to reduce access to several of the City’s reservoirs were incorporated in the Mayor’s proposed budget to achieve a 20 percent cut ($622,185) to the recreation budget. The former proposed reductions to access to both Miramar and Murray reservoirs from seven days a week to two in the FY26 budget would have provided a $414,176 savings. 

Other programs saved in the final budget included the restoration of Monday hours to local City libraries, as well as restoration of hours for community recreation centers. The new budget goes into effect July 1. 

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