The Area

Lake Nacimiento Information

Lake Nacimiento was formed by the damming of the Nacimiento River. When full it has 165 miles of shoreline and is 17.3 miles long. The shoreline of the lake is shown here at a maximum water level (800′ above sea level). It is normally at its highest level in March and April. It remains close to this level through July, being drawn down gradually to an average elevation of 748′ by November. It then fills again with the winter rains. A very dry year may alter this sequence.

The Narrows, over 6 miles long when the lake is full, is a popular Sunday afternoon area for those who enjoy the lake.

FUN ON LAKE NACIMIENTO

Fishing is popular year round and includes large mouth and small mouth bass, crappie, catfish, bluegill and white bass. White bass are not found in any other California lake.

Water skiing and jet skiing are particularly popular on Lake Nacimiento because of the many protected coves and general lack of high winds. Sailing and kayaking can also be enjoyed.

All boats require a permit for lake use, which can be obtained at the Oak Shores launch ramp.

LAKE WATER PROJECTS

Click here to read more about the Lake Water Projects.

The two water projects have began construction and we here at Oak Shores Realty will do our best to keep you updated in the coming months.

San Luis Obispo County has began construction on the pipeline project that will draw over 15,000 acre feet a year from Lake Naci. (This will be a drop in the bucket compared to the normal releases that Monterey County takes annually.)

Monterey County Water Resources recently had it’s ground breaking ceremony for the Lake Nacimiento Water Spillway project that will actually start construction in April. They have just awarded the contract to Granite Construction.

Regarding reservoir levels, the county is required by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) and the State’s Department of Water Resources, Division of Safety of Dams (DSOD) to maintain a maximum reservoir (lake) level of 770 feet during the first construction season (summer 2008) and 764 feet during the second in 2009 (the maximum reservoir elevation at the Spillway is 800 feet). This is dependent upon the amount of rainfall and inflow received by the reservoir. They estimate the construction schedule to cover two construction seasons from April 1, 2008 to September 30th, 2008, then the same period in 2009, with final completion by Sept 30th, 2009. They will be finalizing a final construction schedule with the contractor in the coming weeks, which will hopefully shorten the seasons and provide some cost-savings.

Their goal is to maximize reservoir elevations during construction while in compliance with the regulatory agencies and in consideration of workers’ safety while completing modifications in the Spillway Chute structure itself. This will maximize recreational benefits and water conservation goals. As noted, we will be providing project updates throughout the construction. If you wish to track daily reservoir levels for both Nacimiento & San Antonio, please visit my webpage at www.oakshoresrealty.com and click on Lake Levels.

They plan to conduct public outreach to those who live adjacent to the lake via their website, our web site and other mediums, once they finalize the construction schedule.

ARCHIVE OF LAKE NEWS ARTICLES

“Native American Rain Dance Will Give Thanks at Oak Shores”

“The Great Bison Breakout”

“Landowner’s Diligence Pays Off”

“Water Project Assessments Cut”

“Suits Delay Water Project”

“85% of Ballots Approve It”

“Seawater Project Leaps Forward”

“Aliens From Space Attack Nacimiento Dam – Not!”

“Water Plan Faces Two More Suits”

“Water Issues Divide Residents of Two Counties”

“Nonprofit Suing To Keep Water in Lake Nacimiento”

“Ag Cheers Water Plan”

“County Pushes New Water Plan”

COMMUNITIES SURROUNDING LAKE NACIMIENTO

Oak Shores is a gated private community of over 320 acres divided into more than 800 residential lots on the North Shore of Lake Nacimiento about 35 minutes from Paso Robles.

Oak Shores Estates is a new development on the North Shore with 345 lots planned and is accessed through Oak Shores.

Christmas Cove is located on the North Shore of the lake just west of Oak Shores about 55 minutes from Paso Robles. Ownership is taken as a share of a corporation rather than individual fee title.

North Shore Boat and Ski is a boat club about 35 minutes from Paso Robles on the North Shore of Lake Nacimiento just east of Oak Shores Estates.

Bee Rock is an area on the North Shore of the lake just east of North Shore Boat and Ski. It is accessed by taking Bee Rock Road off of Interlake Road. There is a ski club and acreage parcels are available in the Bee Rock area.

Heritage Ranch is a planned and gated community about 20 minutes from Paso Robles located on the South Shore of Lake Nacimiento of approximately 9,250 total acres with 13 subdivisions of various types and totaling more than 1,700 residential units.

Running Deer Ranch, located on the South Shore of Lake Nacimiento, is a gated private community of about 2,000 acres divided into 128 parcels. Access is from Chimney Rock Road through a locked gate about 21 miles west of Paso Robles. The electric gate can only be opened by owners with a code that changes periodically.

The history of this community dates back to 1977 when the owner of the parcel near the Running Deer launch ramp granted easement to the corporation formed for this reason. The current San Luis Obispo County running Deer Ranch Company, Inc. is a non-profit corporation and exists to preserve the recreational easement of “The Point” property. It also maintains the roads from Aluffo Road to the boat ramp. Running Deer Ranch along with other South Shores communities comprise the South Nacimiento Road Association which maintains Running Deer Road from the main gate to the Gage Irving and Gage Irving Road past Towne Creek along Allen Road.

The corporation’s Board of Directors is elected annually during the Memorial Day weekend membership meeting. Membership dues, which include a road maintenance fee, are paid annually and periodic newsletters go out to members. While using the lake members are allowed to tie up and maintain boats and docking facilities and temporarily park vehicles and boat trailers at “The Point”.

Tri-Counties Ski Club is a boat club on the South Shore with group ownership without individual fee title.

Cal-Shasta, located on the South Shore of Lake Nacimiento, is a boat club with ownership shares of a corporation.

Ranchos Del Lago has 21 lakefront parcels on the South Shore just across from Christmas Cove. It has paved road access and a concrete launch ramp.

South Shore Village is located on the South Shore near “the Narrows” area of Lake Nacimiento and has various acreage parcels.