LAKE NACIMIENTO
For more information on the LAKE NACIMIENTO WATER PROJECT, click here ~ Nacimiento Water Project and also here ~ Salinas Valley Water Project
Click here for current Lake Levels & Rainfall Details
Lake Nacimiento is an 18 mile 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 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.
Nacimiento Lake was first opened to the public in 1957. Minimum pool was originally at 670 feet elevation and later changed to 687.8 feet elevation which provides approximately 900 surface acres of water. This compares with a maximum pool (spillway elevation) of 800 feet, which provides for a maximum pool length of 18(+or-) miles, three-quarters of a mile pool width and a surface area of approximately 5,700 acres.
Recreational activities include boating, water skiing, jet skiing, tubing, and fishing. Lake Nacimiento is an excellent fishery, and is unique among California reservoirs in that it contains introduced white bass, which thrive in the lake and spawn in the river and inflowing creeks in Spring. There are also abundant quanties of Small and Large Mouth Bass, Blue Gill, Crappie, Catfish and even Carp.
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, which completed construction in 1961. The water authority uses the lake to recharge its groundwater. Lake Nacimiento has a capacity of 377,000 acre feet.
The lake is surrounded by several communities ~ all with their own unique ambiance and style.
Heritage Ranch- A wide ranging mix of high end estates, vacation villas and manufactured homes just minutes from Lake Nacimiento. 20 acre, 5+ acre, 1 acre and 1/4 acre homes are available with all of the amenities of Heritage Ranch, including equestrian center, pools, tennis courts, boat dock and launch facilities and miles and miles of hiking and riding trails! Heritage Ranch includes the communities of Riverview Estates, Lakeside Village Properties, Windmill Ranchos and Heritage Ranch itself.
Oak Shores-The community of Oak Shores boasts both lakefront and lake view homes ~ a very sought after commodity here at Lake Nacimiento. Oak Shores has boat launch facilities, public and private docks, community pool and homes ranging in price from the mid 200's to over a million dollars.
Running Deer, Tri Counties, Cal Shasta, Rancho Del Lago, South Shore and Christmas Cove are communities that defy description on just one page. Please feel free to email or call with any questions you might have about these areas.
