SANTA FELICIA DAM
CONSTRUCTED:
1955
CREST WIDTH and LENGTH:
30 feet and 1275 feet
SPILLWAY:
450 feet
RESERVOIR STORAGE:
82,000 acre-feet
(Lake Piru)
HYDROELECTRIC GENERATION:
Built: 1987, Total Capacity: 1,420 kW
ABOUT THE DAM
Lake Piru and Santa Felicia Dam
The Santa Felicia Dam is an integral part of UWCD’s operations and a key facility in United’s mission to manage and protect the water resources of the Santa Clara Valley and the coastal Oxnard Plain in Ventura County. Santa Felicia Dam and Lake Piru Reservoir were constructed across Piru Creek in 1954 and 1955. The construction was locally funded without State or Federal subsidies, loan or grants. The dam was designed to recharge downstream groundwater basins that had been depleted due to substantial over pumping and to combat seawater intrusion in the groundwater aquifers near the Pacific Ocean.
To accomplish this, runoff from the Piru Creek Watershed is stored in Lake Piru in winter and spring, when downstream groundwater basins are at their fullest. Using the stored water, UWCD utilizes conservation releases from Santa Felicia Dam each year when the downstream groundwater basins are at their seasonal lows. The water is released into Lower Piru Creek and continues to flow to the Santa Clara River, where it is joined by runoff from the Sespe and Santa Paula Creek watersheds.
The conservation releases are designed to maximize the amount of water that reaches the Freeman Diversion at Saticoy, located downstream on the Santa Clara River. The recharge basins at Saticoy boasts an amazing percolation rate, replenishing groundwater basins with water that eventually is made available to municipalities, industry and farms.
THE SANTA FELICIA PROJECT –
HYDROELECTRIC GENERATION
A hydroelectric powerhouse was added to the Santa Felicia Dam in 1987, giving United the ability to generate power from water releases. With the addition of hydroelectric power generation, United was issued a license for the Santa Felicia Project by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). The Santa Felicia Dam is also under the jurisdiction of the California Department of Water Resources, Division of Safety of Dams (DSOD). Under these agencies, the District has responsibilities under regulatory requirements associated with the safety of the dam and public safety, water quality, management of biological and land resources, and recreational opportunities and facilities. The power that is generated at the site is conveyed by transmission lines owned and operated by the Southern California Edison Company.
The dam is a zoned earthfill embankment that impounds the Lake Piru Reservoir. When it was originally constructed, the reservoir had a storage capacity of 100,000 acre-feet, however, sedimentation has since reduced its storage capacity by approximately 20%, to 80,524 acre-feet. Lake Piru Reservoir is a popular destination that offers a variety of recreational activities, including boating, water skiing, fishing and swimming in designated areas.
Lake Piru and Santa Felicia Dam
Lake Piru
LATEST UPDATES
Studies commissioned by United identified seismic deficiencies of the outlet works and insufficient spillway capacity to pass an inflow design flood. Since 2019, United has developed the design of the Santa Felicia Dam Safety Improvement Project, which consists of two main components: Outlet Works Improvements and Spillway Improvements. The Outlet Works component has reached final design, while the spillway improvements are at the 90% design. The estimated $314 million cost to address these dam deficiencies far exceeds United’s financial resources. Because the Santa Felicia Safety Improvement project is essentially a public safety project, it requires support from all Ventura County residents, especially those communities that would be most impacted by a potential dam failure. Maintaining the dam operation is critical for United to continue fulfilling its mission to manage, protect, conserve and enhance the water resources within its service area.
RECREATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES
Lake Piru is a popular recreation area for people from miles around. The lake is ideal for water sports, such as swimming, sailing, water skiing, and fishing. The District’s relaxing campgrounds offer water and electrical hook-ups for recreational vehicles at reasonable rates. Recreational users also appreciate the full- service marina and snack bar.
For more details please contact the Lake Piru Recreation Area at (805) 521-1500.
RELATED DOCUMENTS
Management, monitoring, and study plans that were developed in accordance with the requirements of the FERC license for the Santa Felicia Dam Project can be found below.
The plans were developed in consultation with the appropriate federal and/or state resource agency or agencies (including, but not limited to, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. National Forest Service, National Marine Fisheries Service, California Department of Fish and Wildlife, California State Water Resources Control Board, California State Parks, California Department of Food and Agriculture, and Ventura County Agricultural Commissioner) and have been approved, and in some cases modified, by FERC. Additional plans have been drafted and are under review. Plan documents can be accessed after they are finalized and approved by FERC.
A list of FERC approved compliance plans is below. For a complete history of the Santa Felicia Project, including reports, studies, plans, and annual reporting, please visit the FERC eLibrary and search for Santa Felicia Project, FERC License No. P-2153: