It is located in the Cuyamaca Mountains, approximately 4.3 miles (6.9 km) north of Lakeside off California State Route 67.

The reservoir is formed by impounding the waters of San Vicente Creek, and the Colorado River via the First San Diego Aqueduct branch of the Colorado River Aqueduct from Lake Havasu.

[2] It is the largest reservoir in the city of San Diego, with a storage capacity of 249,358.0 acre-feet (0.3075786 km3) (https://www.sandiego.gov/water/recreation/levels) In 2009, construction began of a $568 million project to increase the size of San Vicente Reservoir twofold.

San Diego County Water Authority officials are hoping to receive funding from Proposition 18 (the $11.1 billion bond to upgrade the Californian water supply), but will continue the upgrade without these funds if the Proposition is unsuccessful.

[3] The reservoir is a popular place for fishing, boating, waterskiing and wakeboarding.