Water Right Applications
Applications to the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB)
On January 25, 2021 SSJWD submitted two water right Applications to the SWRCB for the purpose of capturing stormwater for groundwater recharge. Revised applications were submitted in July 2024.
In summary, Salinas River watershed unallocated flood flows that normally would pass through Lake Nacimiento and Santa Margarita Lake during high flow events would be diverted and discharged into creek beds. The creek beds will act as groundwater “recharge facilities” to the underlying Paso Robles Subbasin. The recharged water would later be recovered for agricultural use in the Subbasin.
The concepts that formed the basis for the proposed Project are listed in the GSP as one of the basin wide management actions (Section 9.3) and also as a project (Section 9.5). The benefits of recharging the Paso Robles Subbasin with unallocated flood flows from this Project would be shared by all groundwater users within the Subbasin. SSJWD envisions that the remaining member GSAs will recognize the benefits of the proposed project and participate as stakeholders in developing the Project to completion.
Santa Margarita Lake
Water Right Application A033189 is to divert 14,000 acre-feet per year (AFY) of unallocated Salinas River water from Santa Margarita Lake via a proposed pipeline to Huer Huero Creek for groundwater recharge and underground storage. Surface water diverted would be infiltrated to storage in the underlying Paso Robles Subbbasin using the Huer Huero Creek streambed. Water stored underground would be extracted by overlying wells within the Subbasin for agricultural irrigation use within a 12-month period.
Lake Nacimiento
Water right Application A033190 is to divert 14,000 acre-feet per year (AFY) of unallocated Salinas River water from Lake Nacimiento to the Nacimiento Pipeline to two proposed pipelines (Wellsona Road Pipeline and Creston Road Pipeline). Water diverted to the proposed pipelines would be conveyed to the Estrella River and Huer Huero Creek for groundwater recharge and underground storage for agricultural irrigation use and stock watering within a 12-month period.