Press Release
December 12, 2024

Construction Begins on Lake Perris Emergency Release Facility

The California Department of Water Resources (DWR) announced the start of construction on the Lake Perris Emergency Release Facility project in Riverside County on December 9, 2024. The project aims to protect downstream communities and secure water supply by building new infrastructure to safely redirect water during emergency situations, such as a major earthquake.

The planned improvements will include new levees, bridges, and a local drainage system located downstream of Perris Dam. These updates will allow water to be diverted from Lake Perris through the levees into a drainage channel, ultimately directing it to the Perris Valley Channel.

Additional infrastructure improvements will involve upgraded roadside landscaping and the relocation of utilities, ensuring the protection of both the community and key facilities such as a local school, Interstate 215, and a water treatment plant.

“As earthquakes and extreme weather events are a constant threat to our infrastructure, DWR continues to modernize our facilities to be resilient and protect the local community and California’s water supply,” said David Sarkisian, State Water Project Dam Safety Services Manager. “The project’s improvements downstream of Lake Perris will provide additional protection for the community through the construction of drainage infrastructure.”

The project has been the subject of more than 100 meetings with local communities, utility companies, county and city representatives, and fairgrounds since 2013. While construction takes place, access to the southeast side of the Lake Perris State Recreation Area and the Lake Perris Fairgrounds will remain open. Some localized noise and increased activity at the site are expected during the construction process.

The Lake Perris Emergency Release Facility is expected to be completed by 2027 as part of the Perris Dam Modernization Program. The first phase, the Perris Dam Remediation Project, was completed in 2018 and reinforced the dam's foundation. The Outlet Tower Improvements Project, set to finish in 2029, will enhance the facility’s water release capabilities during both normal and emergency situations. Together, these projects aim to enhance public safety and ensure a reliable water supply for the community.

Built in 1974, Lake Perris is the southernmost reservoir in the State Water Project (SWP), attracting over one million visitors annually. The SWP, spanning more than 700 miles, delivers water to 27 million Californians and 750,000 acres of farmland.