ESR Water Rights and CEQA Chronology
1949 |
Old Well installed |
 |
1950 |
Old Well Starts Pumping from Presumed Groundwater |
|
1950 - 1952 |
Irrigation System Installed |
|
1955 |
Hill Family Purchases El Sur Ranch |
|
1957 - 1958 |
Navy Well Installed |
|
1962 |
Irrigation System Installed (North/South Pastures) |
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1962 - 1964 |
Consultation with International Ag Services (crops/irrigation/nutrients) |
|
1971 |
El Sur Deed to DPR (Reserving Water Rights) |
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1972 |
DPR grants permit for drilling of 5 wells, including ESR New Well | |
1972 |
ESR commences drilling of wells approved under DPR
permit |
|
1976 |
DPR Denies Easement Rights necessary to exercise the reserved water rights |
|
1977 |
2nd Max Water Pumped (1611 ac-ft) |
|
1980 |
El Sur Files Easement Lawsuit vs. DPR |
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1982 |
Settlement Confirming El Sur Easement Rights and Well Use w/TDS Limitation on Well No. 2 |
|
1983 |
Well 2 Operated |
 |
1984 |
Max Water Pumped (1770 ac-ft) |
|
1990 |
July: DPR Diverts Big Sur River Big Sur River dries up in the stretch from site of DPR work downstream to approximately 2400 feet above ESR wells. Big Sur continues to flow past ESR into lagoon throughout the summer August: DPR Files SWRCB Complaint against El Sur Ranch asserting El Sur Ranch caused river to dry up August: ESR ceases all irrigation operations for 10 days. Water does not resurface in dewatered reach |
|
1992 |
April: SWRCB Staff Notifies El Sur of its Conclusion that El Sur is Pumping River Underflow and Permit to Appropriate is Required |
|
1992 |
July: El Sur Files Application for Permit to Continue Historic Irrigation Practices |
|
1993 |
SWRCB Notification of Acceptance |
|
1994 |
Protest Filing (DPR, DFG, CSFA) |
|
| 1994 - 2011 | El Sur Ranch limits pumping to no more than 3.5
acre-feet per acre, consistent with December 1994 proposal from Water Rights Division Chief Anton to allow the ranch to continue pumping water throughout the application process |
|
1995 |
SWRCB-Requested Biologic Survey Submitted by BioSystems Analysis (Funded by El Sur Ranch) |
|
1995 |
SWRCB Notices Meeting (DPR, DFG, ESR) to Define Type of Environmental Document Needed |
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1995 -1996 |
DPR Assists in Framing Hydrologic Studies (Jones & Stokes) |
|
1999 |
SWRCB-Requested Hydrology Study Submitted by Jones & Stokes (Funded by El Sur Ranch) |
|
2002 |
Notice of Preparation Published |
|
2002 - 2009 |
SWRCB undertakes CEQA evaluation and documentation |
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2004 - 2007 |
El Sur Ranch consults with DFG regarding scope of studies and undertakes studies, including during critically dry year conditions, and submits reports to SWRCB in support of application and in response to protests and agency comments |
|
2005 |
El Sur Ranch Amends Application to reduce proposed water use below historic use levels |
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2006 |
El Sur Ranch Amends Application to further limit, reduce and condition proposed water use |
|
| 2009 |
SWRCB Releases DEIR on amended application |
|
| 2010 | DFG withdraws protest to Clear Ridge Mutual Water
Company application to appropriate and SWRCB issues appropriative permit |
|
| 2010 | DFG installs second gauge on Big Sur River closer to
El Sur Ranch points of diversion |
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| 2010 | SWRCB sets June 16-17, 2011 hearing date for El Sur Ranch water right application |