This page was last modified on October 12, 2008
Chronological History of Lake Cuyamaca

1888 Satellite View of Lake Cuyamaca

	Dam built.
	Second oldest dam in California.

1887-88

	Water impounded.
	4-million gallon capacity.

1891

	Warm water fishery is initiated.
	First stocking (bass, crappie, bluegill, perch, catfish.)

1914

	Lake drained for San Diego water needs.
	Several years of insufficient rainfall.

1915

	Rainbow trout fishery is initiated.
	Little or no water in lake.

1916

	Hatfield hired to make rain in San Diego County.
	Hatfield floods county but fills lake to spillway level.

1924-25

Cabins and campground are built on the South shore.

1925

Helix Water District acquires lake.

1929 Lake Cuyamaca Circa 1931

	Lake reverts back to being a warm water fishery.
	Bass, crappie, bluegill, etc., are again planted.
	Trout fishery all but disappears.

World War 2

Lake level dwindles due to war effort water needs.

1947

	Lake basin emptied ... whole lake operation dies.
	For the next 20 years, any water accumulated is drained as general practice.

1962

State legislature creates the Lake Cuyamaca Recreation and Park District.

1967

	LCR&PD makes a deal with Helix Water District to allocate 1000 acre feet of Cuyamaca water to form a permanent lake.
	LCR&PD gets grants from the Wildlife Conservation Board.
	LCR&PD builds a dike on East end to form a deeper, more manageable lake.
	Department of Fish and Game stocks bass, red-ear, sunfish, and "cats."

1968

Lake reopens.

1974

	Lake Cuyamaca Park and Recreation District enters into a cooperative trout stocking agreement with Dept. of Fish and Game.
	20,000 lbs. from Whitewater (purchased yearly.)
	20,000 lbs. from DFG (money comes from fishing license fees.)

1982

	Helix Water District drains the lake to bring the outlet tower up to earthquake standards.
	The "District" takes this opportunity to build the two finger jetties and improve fish habitat.

1983

Lake filled and restocked again ... back in business!

1995

Sturgeon are introduced to the lake population.

1996

Smallmouth bass are introduced to the lake population.

1999

Handicapped fishing facilities open permitting easier access to prime fishing areas for all of our visitors.

2000

Season duck blind holders donate 10 Canadian Geese to the lake to establish a resident population.

2003

The first interactive GPS Fishing Guide for any San Diego area lake is added to the web site.