San Diego is backing away from plans to rebuild the Lake Hodges Dam, thanks to ballooning cost estimates and the county water authority announcing it’s no longer willing to pay half the cost. The state declared the dam unsafe two years ago, demanded the water level be lowered because of flood risk and ordered San Diego to accelerate efforts to rebuild the 106-year-old dam. The city was on track to begin the rebuild by the end of 2029 — until a recent analysis determined the estimated costs had climbed from $275 million to somewhere between $474 million and $697 million. That new 386-page analysis, which was conducted by an outside consultant, has prompted the cash-strapped county water authority to withdraw its support for the rebuild.

Other dam and reservoir news:

• Marin Independent Journal (San Rafael, Calif.): Comment period extended again for Nicasio Reservoir expansion