Senator John Laird announced that governor Newsom signed senate bill 1253 yesterday, which will expand recreational access at Santa Margarita lake.
Santa Margarita lake currently allows fishing, boating, canoeing, and kayaking, but swimming and other activities involving direct contact with the water are prohibited. This is due to the reservoir’s status as a drinking water source. However, “advances in water treatment and monitoring now make it possible to safely allow those activities,” according to senator Laird’s release.
The legislation will protect the reservoir’s drinking water, but will allow swimming, paddle-boarding, windsurfing, and other activities. The bill will go into effect January 1st, 2027.
San Luis Obispo county will be required to report on recreational use and water quality impacts, and the bill sunsets January 1, 2032.
