REGION — Residents upstream and downstream of Lake Hodges Dam fear increased wildfire and flooding threats if the city of San Diego moves forward with plans to lower the spillway to 280 feet.
The city, which owns the dam between Escondido and Rancho Santa Fe, recently unveiled its state-approved plans to lower the spillway from 315 to 280 feet by removing a significant portion of the existing concrete structure.
The project would take about seven years to complete and cost between $30 million and $50 million…