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Articles Tagged With ‘Lopez Lake’




Body of man who drowned recovered at Lopez Lake

Written on 23 Mar, 2026 in Daily Briefs, Featured | 6 comments

By KAREN VELIE The San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Dive Team on Monday recovered the body of a 25-year-old man who drowned at Lopez Lake on Sunday afternoon. The victim has been identified as Sergio MendiolaGarcia, 25, of Santa Maria.... (Continue reading)

Did language barrier, late reporting hamper Lopez Lake water rescue?

Written on 23 Mar, 2026 in Featured, Uncovered SLO | 10 comments

By KAREN VELIE A search to recover the body of a 25-year-old man who is suspected of drowning Sunday at Lopez Lake continues on Monday with the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff taking the lead in the case. Shortly after... (Continue reading)

Order to release more water from Lopez Lake vacated, SLO County wins appeal

Written on 4 Dec, 2025 in Featured, Uncovered SLO | 11 comments

By KAREN VELIE The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals on Wednesday vacated a court order to release more water from Lopez Lake to support steelhead trout migration because of the rulings possible impacts on the California red-legged frog and tidewater... (Continue reading)

SLO County battles order to release Lopez Lake water for fish

Written on 4 Feb, 2025 in Featured, Uncovered SLO | 18 comments

By KAREN VELIE San Luis Obispo County is appealing a court order to release more water from Lopez Lake to support fish migration because of the rulings impact on the county’s water supply. U.S. District Judge Sherilyn Peace Garnett in... (Continue reading)

Lopez Lake overflows for first time in 25 years

Written on 23 Mar, 2023 in Daily Briefs, Featured | 3 comments

By JOSH FRIEDMAN Lopez Lake reached 100% capacity Thursday morning, and water began flowing down the lake’s spillway for the first time in 25 years, according to the San Luis Obispo County Office of Emergency Services. Earlier this week, officials... (Continue reading)

Mans drowns at Lopez Lake after boat capsizes

Written on 23 Jun, 2017 in Daily Briefs, Featured | No comments

A 47-year-old Southern California man failed to make it to shore after his boat capsized at Lopez Lake on Thursday afternoon. The man drowned and was later found dead in the lake. Around 2:15 p.m., three people were sailing on... (Continue reading)

State of California identifies Lopez Dam as “high-hazard”

Written on 14 Jun, 2017 in Daily Briefs, Featured | 13 comments

San Luis Obispo County’s Lopez Dam near Arroyo Grande is a “high-hazard” reservoir, according to an recent assessment conducted by the state of California. Earlier this year, the Oroville Dam’s primary spillway suffered damage and began to erode. Then the... (Continue reading)

Fishermen upset as water flows out of Lopez Lake

Written on 18 Jan, 2017 in Daily Briefs, Featured | 20 comments

About 3 million gallons of water are released daily from Lopez Lake in order to satisfy legal mandates, including environmental laws and groundwater requirements. The dumping of water is upsetting fishermen, who despite the recent rain, still do not have... (Continue reading)

Firefighter injured in new blaze near Lake Nacimiento

Written on 1 Sep, 2016 in Daily Briefs, Featured | One comment

A firefighter suffered burns and was airlifted to a hospital Wednesday while battling a new blaze that broke out near Lake Nacimiento. The firefighter’s condition is currently unclear. [KCOY] At 1:25 p.m., firefighters responded to a fire burning east of... (Continue reading)

Lopez Lake water level at all-time low

Written on 26 Jul, 2016 in Daily Briefs, Featured | 7 comments

The amount of water in Lopez Lake has reached an all-time low. Officials have responded by closing the boat launch ramp at the lake. [KSBY] Lopez Lake is currently at 26.4 percent capacity, according to San Luis Obispo County water... (Continue reading)