State Water Project and Subcontractors Advisory Committee

The purpose of the Committee is to monitor, advise, and make recommendations to the District Board (and the respective governing bodies of the Subcontractor agencies) concerning the District’s existing (or related) State Water agreements, or proposed modifications to such agreements.


State Water Project History

1963: San Luis Obispo County Flood Control and Water Conservation District (District) enters into agreement with the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) for up to 25,000 acre-feet per year of State water allocation.

1992-1993: 4,830 acre-feet of State water subscribed by eleven District subcontractors.

1994-1998: Design and construction of the SWP Coastal Branch pipeline and CCWA’s Polonio Pass Water Treatment Plant. District contracts with the Central Coast Water Authority (CCWA) for water treatment plant and pipeline operation and maintenance.

1997: State water deliveries to the central coast began.

Committee Members

  • Avila Beach Community Services District
  • Avila Valley Mutual Water Company
  • California Men's Colony
  • City of Morro Bay
  • City of Pismo Beach 
  • County Operations Center
  • County Service Area 16 (Shandon) 
  • Cuesta College
  • Oceano Community Services District
  • San Luis Coastal Unified School District
  • San Luis Obispo County Flood Control & Water Conservation District
  • San Miguelito Mutual Water Company
(Click for downloadable map)

Current SWP Allocation – Click the link for DWR's Website

Meeting Calendar – Agendas and Minutes

2026 Meeting Calendar – PDF Calendar 

Bylaws – State Water Subcontractors Advisory Committee

Water Delivery Contracts

SubcontractorWater Service AmountDrought BufferTotal Reserved

Chorro Valley Turnout

~$1,100 per AF

City of Morro Bay

1,3132,2903,603

CA Men's Colony

400400800

County Ops Center

425425850

Cuesta College

200200400
 

Lopez Turnout

~$1,000 per AF

City of Pismo Beach

1,2401,2402,480

Oceano CSD

7507501500

San Miguelito MWC

275275550

Avila Beach CSD

100100200

Avila Valley MWC

206080

San Luis Coastal USD

7714
 

CSA 16 Shandon

1000100
 
TOTAL4,8305,74710,577

Unsubscribed SWP Supply

25,000 Acre-Feet (AF) Table A
-4,830 AF (Water Supply Agreements)
-5,747 AF (Drought Buffer Agreements)
= 14,423 AF Unsubscribed SWP Supply

14,423 AF Unsubscribed SWP Supply
− 5,000 AF Reliability Reserve
= 9,423 AF Available for Future Water Management Opportunities*

Unsubscribed SWP Supply may be utilized for a variety of water management purposes, including:

- to help improve water supply reliability during droughts and dry years;
- to provide additional water when State Water Project deliveries are reduced;
- to support future water supply, storage, or transfer opportunities;
- to help reduce State Water Project costs paid by local taxpayers and ratepayers; and
- for other authorized water management purposes.


*The 5,000 AF Reliability Reserve is maintained to support long-term water supply reliability, drought preparedness, and emergency response needs. Availability of the remaining unsubscribed supply is subject to District policies, contractual obligations, operational constraints, and future Board actions.

Relations with the Central Coast Water Authority

  • Exploring options to maximize use of facilities and allocations via a Water Management Tools Study.
  • Protecting the contractual rights of existing sub-contractor pipeline capacity is critical while exploring options for future use.
  • Any new sub-contractor would need to 'Buy In' through negotiations - in addition to addressing other operational issues.

SWP Contracts

The District's participation in the State Water Project is governed by a long-term contract with the California Department of Water Resources (DWR), as well as water supply agreements with participating local agencies and water users.

The District currently maintains 11 Water Supply Agreements and associated Drought Buffer Agreements with participating agencies and water users.

Key agreements are provided below for reference.

State Water Project Contract with DWR

Subcontracts

For more information please contact Wes Thomson via email or call (805) 781-5252.

Related Forms & Documents