Preserving the traditions & conserving the land

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)

1962 - 1964

Consultation with International Ag Services (crops/irrigation/nutrients)

1971

El Sur Deed to DPR (Reserving Water Rights)

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

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

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

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

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

2010 SWRCB sets June 16-17, 2011 hearing date for El Sur Ranch water right application

 

ESR Water Rights Application Facts-at-a-Glance »

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