Lake Nacimiento
Encyclopedia
Lake Nacimiento is an 18 miles (29 km) long lake
on the Nacimiento River
in northern San Luis Obispo County, California
. The lake contains many arms including Snake Creek and Dip Creek, nearer the dam, and the central Las Tablas and Franklin Creeks. Because of the dragon-like shape created by the positions of these arms, it is sometimes referred to as Dragon Lake. The lake can fill quickly in the winter from river surges resulting from downpours upstream in the Santa Lucia Range so the level is not usually allowed to capacity until May 1 of each year.
Lake Nacimiento is an excellent fishery, but eating the lake's fish should be done with extreme caution due to high mercury levels. An advisory on consuming certain fish species has been issued. The lake is unique among California reservoirs in that it contains, among other species, introduced white bass
, which thrive in the lake and spawn in the river and inflowing creeks in Spring. In fact, the world fly fishing
record for a white bass was broken in 1981 at Lake Nacimiento. The fish was caught by Cory Wells
, a member of the world famous musical group, Three Dog Night
. The record stood for over 27 years. Lake Nacimiento can also produce power from a turbine at the base of the dam.
Lake Nacimiento is also a haven for watersport enthusiasts. The lake provides ample room for waterskiing, wakeboarding, jetskiing, and other water-related activities.
The lake was originally designed for irrigation water and flood control as well as recreation. Nacimiento Dam, a 210-foot (64 m) earthfill dam
, forms the lake. The dam was built by the Monterey County Water Authority under Monterey County District Engineer Loran Bunte Jr , which completed construction in 1961. The water authority uses the lake to recharge its groundwater
. Even though the lake is entirely inside San Luis Obispo County, the waters are patrolled by the Monterey County Parks Department under a joint powers agreement with San Luis Obispo County. The Monterey County Parks Department’s primary jurisdiction is the lake waters, up to the high water mark and the resort area. The San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office does have a boat at the lake for access to the back county around the lake. Also, they have been know to write tickets on the water. Lake Nacimiento has a capacity of 377000 acre.ft. The lake is near the town of Paso Robles
. The lake is also the home of two residential housing developments, which lie on the lake's shore. The communities are named Heritage Ranch and Oak Shores. Except for the resort area near the dam, most of the property around the lake is private. Overnight camping on the lake, outside of the resort, is not allowed. Also, you are considered trespassing if you set up or venture on land above the high water mark.
Alcohol related violations are a significant problem that enforcement agencies have faced over the years. Every summer weekend, numerous people are arrested by Park Rangers and Sheriff Deputies, for boating under the influence of alcohol.
The lake was developed and paid for by Monterey County. However San Luis Obispo County retained the rights to 17,500 acre feet of water per year. This was not requested by San Luis Obispo County until the mid 2000's. In October 2007, construction started on a pipeline to bring water from the lake to Paso Robles, Templeton, Atascadero, and San Luis Obispo. During construction, 3 people were killed. One by being run over by a dump truck, 2 drowned when an excavator hit an unrelated water pipeline and it flooded a section of water project pipe under construction. The project went online in January 2011.
Lake
A lake is a body of relatively still fresh or salt water of considerable size, localized in a basin, that is surrounded by land. Lakes are inland and not part of the ocean and therefore are distinct from lagoons, and are larger and deeper than ponds. Lakes can be contrasted with rivers or streams,...
on the Nacimiento River
Nacimiento River
The Nacimiento River is a river in southern Monterey County and northern San Luis Obispo County, California. A large portion of the river's run is on military reservations...
in northern San Luis Obispo County, California
San Luis Obispo County, California
San Luis Obispo County is a county located along the Pacific Ocean in the Central Coast of the U.S. state of California, between Los Angeles and the San Francisco Bay Area. As of the 2010 census its population was 269,637, up from 246,681 at the 2000 census...
. The lake contains many arms including Snake Creek and Dip Creek, nearer the dam, and the central Las Tablas and Franklin Creeks. Because of the dragon-like shape created by the positions of these arms, it is sometimes referred to as Dragon Lake. The lake can fill quickly in the winter from river surges resulting from downpours upstream in the Santa Lucia Range so the level is not usually allowed to capacity until May 1 of each year.
Lake Nacimiento is an excellent fishery, but eating the lake's fish should be done with extreme caution due to high mercury levels. An advisory on consuming certain fish species has been issued. The lake is unique among California reservoirs in that it contains, among other species, introduced white bass
White bass
The white bass or sand bass The white bass or sand bass The white bass or sand bass (MoroneIt is the state fish of Oklahoma.- Range :White bass are distributed widely across the United States, particularly in the midwest. They are very abundant in Pennsylvania and the area around Lake Erie...
, which thrive in the lake and spawn in the river and inflowing creeks in Spring. In fact, the world fly fishing
Fly fishing
Fly fishing is an angling method in which an artificial 'fly' is used to catch fish. The fly is cast using a fly rod, reel, and specialized weighted line. Casting a nearly weightless fly or 'lure' requires casting techniques significantly different from other forms of casting...
record for a white bass was broken in 1981 at Lake Nacimiento. The fish was caught by Cory Wells
Cory Wells
Cory Wells is an American singer, best known as one of the three lead vocalists in the band Three Dog Night.-Life and career:...
, a member of the world famous musical group, Three Dog Night
Three Dog Night
Three Dog Night is an American rock band best known for their music from 1968 to 1975. During that time the band charted 21 Billboard top 40 hits in America, three of which reached Number One...
. The record stood for over 27 years. Lake Nacimiento can also produce power from a turbine at the base of the dam.
Lake Nacimiento is also a haven for watersport enthusiasts. The lake provides ample room for waterskiing, wakeboarding, jetskiing, and other water-related activities.
The lake was originally designed for irrigation water and flood control as well as recreation. Nacimiento Dam, a 210-foot (64 m) earthfill dam
Dam
A dam is a barrier that impounds water or underground streams. Dams generally serve the primary purpose of retaining water, while other structures such as floodgates or levees are used to manage or prevent water flow into specific land regions. Hydropower and pumped-storage hydroelectricity are...
, forms the lake. The dam was built by the Monterey County Water Authority under Monterey County District Engineer Loran Bunte Jr , which completed construction in 1961. The water authority uses the lake to recharge its groundwater
Groundwater
Groundwater is water located beneath the ground surface in soil pore spaces and in the fractures of rock formations. A unit of rock or an unconsolidated deposit is called an aquifer when it can yield a usable quantity of water. The depth at which soil pore spaces or fractures and voids in rock...
. Even though the lake is entirely inside San Luis Obispo County, the waters are patrolled by the Monterey County Parks Department under a joint powers agreement with San Luis Obispo County. The Monterey County Parks Department’s primary jurisdiction is the lake waters, up to the high water mark and the resort area. The San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office does have a boat at the lake for access to the back county around the lake. Also, they have been know to write tickets on the water. Lake Nacimiento has a capacity of 377000 acre.ft. The lake is near the town of Paso Robles
Paso Robles, California
Paso Robles is a city in San Luis Obispo County, California, United States. Paso Robles is the fastest growing city in San Luis Obispo County: Its population at the 2000 census was 24,297; in 2010 it recorded some 29,793 residentsLocated on the Salinas River north of San Luis Obispo, California,...
. The lake is also the home of two residential housing developments, which lie on the lake's shore. The communities are named Heritage Ranch and Oak Shores. Except for the resort area near the dam, most of the property around the lake is private. Overnight camping on the lake, outside of the resort, is not allowed. Also, you are considered trespassing if you set up or venture on land above the high water mark.
Alcohol related violations are a significant problem that enforcement agencies have faced over the years. Every summer weekend, numerous people are arrested by Park Rangers and Sheriff Deputies, for boating under the influence of alcohol.
The lake was developed and paid for by Monterey County. However San Luis Obispo County retained the rights to 17,500 acre feet of water per year. This was not requested by San Luis Obispo County until the mid 2000's. In October 2007, construction started on a pipeline to bring water from the lake to Paso Robles, Templeton, Atascadero, and San Luis Obispo. During construction, 3 people were killed. One by being run over by a dump truck, 2 drowned when an excavator hit an unrelated water pipeline and it flooded a section of water project pipe under construction. The project went online in January 2011.
External links
- Link to Lake Nacimiento Resort http://www.nacimientoresort.com/index.html
- Link to Health Advisory regarding fish consumption from Lake Nacimiento http://www.oehha.ca.gov/fish/so_cal/nacimiento.html
- Map of Lake Nacimiento http://www.slocounty.ca.gov/Assets/PH/Graphic+Files/Public+Health/Map+of+Lake+Nacimiento.jpg
- Cal Dept of water:Lake Nacimiento monthly water level
- Link to Lake Nacimiento Webcams http://www.lakenacimientolive.com/
- Link to San Luis Obispo County's Nacimiento Water Project page
- Charges filed in Nacimiento pipeline construction deaths
