Drought Drains Lakeside’s Lindo Lake

In Lakeside there’s been recent thunder and lightning, flash-flood warnings, and ominous skies, but not a drop of rain in sight. It’s a sad scene at Lindo Park. The upper lake is almost completely dried up from drought and evaporation.

Lindo Lake was once San Diego's only natural lake, filled every year by the runoff of Quail Canyon Creek until it was dammed up to create Lake Jennings.

According to a recent news release posted by SD County Parks, part of the lake will be allowed to dry up; only “the west side” will be kept full. The community of Lakeside is hoping for an early rainy season to fill up the upper lake. The lower lake, however, is kept filled by two water pumps.

In 1887, the El Cajon Valley Land Company built a Hotel del Coronado-styled inn and developed a recreation area around the lake. Folks would come to enjoy duck-hunting, boating, and picnicking.

According to the Lakeside Historical Society website, “Droughts in the 1940s found the lake bed almost dry,” and since that time, city departments have sought methods of keeping the lake full.

Watch a video depicting the current state of Lindo Lake.