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A look at San Luis Obispo County rainfall totals, reservoir levels

December 27, 2025

Santa Margarita Lake

By KAREN VELIE

Following an atmospheric river storm that drenched San Luis Obispo County, rainfall totals are well above average in all areas of the county for this time of year, according to the SLO County website. Most areas of the county have received at least 50% above the average rainfall.

State and local reservoir levels remain healthy.

Climate scientists track rain from July 1 through June 31.

Rainfall totals from July 1 through Dec. 27, along with average yearly rainfall:

Arroyo Grande – 10.22 inches to date – average annual 14.09 inches

Atascadero – 9.42 inches to date – average annual 12.06 inches

Lopez Dam – 12.89 inches to date – average annual 18.48 inches

Los Osos – 9.22 inches to date – average annual 15.77 inches

Nipomo – 10.97 inches to date – average annual 12.62 inches

Oceano – 8.45 inches to date – average annual 12.26 inches

Paso Robles – 8.45 inches to date – average annual 14.08 inches

Rocky Butte – 16.31 inches to date – average annual 34.75 inches

San Luis Obispo – 10.36 inches to date – average annual 16.82 inches

San Simeon – 8.36 inches to date – average annual 15.12 inches

Santa Margarita – 12.43 inches to date – average annual 16.96 inches

Shandon – 8.52 inches to date – average annual 8.44 inches

Templeton – 7.88 inches to date – average annual 13.05 inches

Current Central Coast reservoir levels:

  • Santa Margarita Lake at 101.6%, SLO County
  • Lake Nacimiento at 34% (earlier count), SLO and Monterey counties
  • Lopez Lake at 81%, SLO County
  • Whale Rock Reservoir at 86% (earlier count), SLO County
  • Cachuma Lake at 98%, Santa Barbara County
  • Gibraltar Reservoir 101%, Santa Barbara County
  • Jameson Reservoir 100%, Santa Barbara County
  • San Antonio Lake at 50% (earlier count), Monterey County

 


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Why is it that when one visits the San Luis Obispo County water data site the last “annual” update for the Paso Robles Groundwater Basin Annual Report is from 2020? It seems that it would be helpful to know the levels of groundwater in the basins more recently than five years ago.


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They don’t want you to know just how thin the “ice” is beneath your feet… The water situatuion is far more precarious than any authority will ever let on publicly. Privately they’ll tell you how in the long run, unless rainfall drastically increases and data centers are regulated, we are screwed!


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