Salinas River Flowing “Live Stream”
Author: Public Works
Date: 2/5/2021 1:56 PM
On Friday, January 29, 2021 at 9:44 a.m., the County of San Luis Obispo Department of Public Works confirmed the Salinas River was flowing a “Live Stream” from the Salinas Reservoir Dam (Santa Margarita Lake) to the Nacimiento River junction, north of the San Luis Obispo County line.
The Salinas Reservoir serves as a primary water supply source for the City of San Luis Obispo. Under the provisions of the 1973 “Live Stream” ruling by the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB), because the rain has created a natural “Live Stream” water flow in the Salinas River, water can now be stored in the Salinas Reservoir. According to Supervising Water Systems Worker, Chris Summers, “Within a 72-hour period, I witnessed over 7¾ inches of rainfall at the Salinas Dam contributing to the Live Stream event.”
When the “Live Stream” no longer exists, the County will resume releasing water from the reservoir to the Salinas River, which is common practice under the 1973 SWRCB “Live Stream” ruling. The water currently flowing in the river is due to rainfall and not releases from the reservoir.
For questions regarding the Salinas River “Live Stream”, please contact Public Works Utilities Division Program Manager, Laura Holder at (805) 781-5135.
