Savage Dam, Gravity dam in San Diego County, United States

Savage Dam is a concrete gravity dam that crosses the Otay River and forms the Lower Otay Reservoir for the San Diego region. The structure holds back water to supply drinking water and irrigation needs for the surrounding communities.

The original Otay Dam failed in 1916 during heavy rainfall and caused significant damage downstream. A new dam was rebuilt at the same location to restore the water storage system for the region.

The name honours H. N. Savage, who directed construction of the 1918 replacement. The dam stores water from the third pipeline of the San Diego Aqueduct as a backup supply for the metropolitan area. Its predecessor, the Otay Dam, had been built in 1897 by the Southern California Mountain Water Company.

The site is accessible via trails that run along the reservoir and offer views of the water storage area. Visitors should check local conditions since access may vary depending on maintenance work or safety protocols.

Charles Hatfield, a rainmaker hired by San Diego to end a drought, was blamed for the heavy rains that burst the original Otay Dam in 1916. The flood sent a 40-foot wall of water downstream and killed 11 Japanese American farmers. The rebuilt dam was named for H. N. Savage, who directed its construction.