This morning, the Monterey County Water Resources Agency reported the Nacimiento Reservoir stands at 69% capacity (approximately 262,000 acre-feet)[DS1] . Recent rains have helped with much-needed reservoir water storage, with room for more. On Saturday, Jan. 7, the reservoir was at 42% capacity.

The agency confirmed the reservoir continues to release a minimum year-round flow in accordance with regulatory requirements of 60 cubic feet per second (CFS). CFS is the flow rate or discharge equal to one cubic foot per second, or approximately 7.48 gallons per second.

The United States Geological Survey has dispatched technicians to repair a gauge that malfunctioned at 1:47 pm yesterday at the reservoir, which resulted in false readings of the reservoir elevation. The gauge malfunction is not an emergency and does not affect any other system operations or releases.

Around the clock visual observations and gauges in other locations continue to function accurately and verify that the Nacimiento Reservoir levels are within safe limits.

According to the Monterey County Emergency Operations Center, public lands around Nacimiento Reservoir will be closed temporarily as a precaution due to the current storm system.

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 ABOUT NACIMIENTO RESERVOIR

Nacimiento Reservoir was originally designed to provide flood control, water conservation and recreation. Nacimiento Dam, a 210-foot earth fill dam, forms the reservoir. The Monterey County Water Resources Agency completed construction of the dam in 1957. The agency operates the reservoir to provide multiple benefits including flood control, groundwater recharge, water supply and recreation opportunities.

When the reservoir is full (elevation 800 feet) it has a maximum storage capacity of 377,900-acre-feet, is 18 miles long, and has about 165 miles of shoreline.

The Nacimiento Dam Operation Policy describes the regulations, requirements and other considerations that inform reservoir operations.

Nacimiento Dam Operation Policy                     Dam and Reservoir Daily Data