Escondido will explore prospects for expanding the capacity of the Lake Wohlford reservoir in conjunction with a seismic upgrade of its dam.
The City Council yesterday unanimously approved a contract of up to $129,800 with GEI Consultants to investigate the feasibility of expanding the city-owned lake, a water source for Escondido, Vista, parts of San Marcos, Oceanside, Carlsbad and the unincorporated county.
The Carlsbad consulting company previously was hired for engineering services in a project to upgrade the construction of Lake Wohlford Dam, considered at risk of failure in a major earthquake.
That work could present an opportunity to raise the dam and increase the amount of water that can be stored, said Lori Vereker, the city's utilities director.
The new study is aimed at identifying some of the engineering issues that would be associated with alternatives for such a project.
If the initial investigation does not seem promising, the city can bail out of the contract about a third of the way through. If it decides to proceed, the contractor will continue with an analysis of potential costs, expansion alternatives and other design issues.
Depending on the outcome, the council would have to vote again on whether to actually proceed with an expansion.
City attorney Jeffrey R. Epp said the project might qualify for financing under a state water bond, an issue being pursued by the city's legislative advocate in Sacramento.
Jeff Ristine: (760) 737-7578; jeff.ristine@uniontrib.com
