Piru Creek

Beginning at 4pm on 01/01/2026, United Water Conservation District (United) will increase the rate of water from the Santa Felicia Dam to 200 cubic feet per second. This triggers our whitewater boating access notification as required under our Federal Energy Regulatory Commission License for the facility. Whitewater access will be available by reservation only on Saturdays and Sundays between 9am and 3pm. Potential boaters should be aware United has no control over conditions downstream and extreme caution should be exercised. The conditions on lower Piru Creek are poor due to excessive vegetation and multiple obstacles. In addition, the creek crosses private property where the owner does not allow boaters to go ashore to navigate around obstacles. To make a reservation, please email Senior Park Ranger Bernard Riedel Jr., bernardr@unitedwater.org, with your request and contact information at least 24 hours prior to your requested put-in date. Due to the increased water flow to Lake Piru from the rainstorms, it is possible the Santa Felicia Dam will spill soon. If this occurs, whitewater boating will be suspended due to the danger posed by water and storm debris coming down the spillway. Bernard Riedel Jr. | Senior Park Ranger United Water Conservation District Lake Piru Recreation Area

Beginning on September 15, 2025, United Water Conservation District (United) anticipates releasing 400 cubic feet per second (cfs) from the Santa Felicia Dam. At this time, United anticipates the rate of water release will remain above 200 cfs through November; however, please check the Lake Piru Recreation Area website (www.explorelakepiru.com) for updates. Per the Santa Felicia Whitewater Boating Access Plan, whitewater recreational opportunities are available, and escorted access will be provided by reservation on Saturdays and Sundays between 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Interested boaters should be aware United has no control over conditions downstream and extreme caution should be exercised. There is overgrown vegetation, debris and/or obstacles in the water, and a large portion of the creek is on private property where the owner does not allow boaters to go ashore. Boaters will be required to sign a liability waiver. To make a reservation, please email me at bernardr@unitedwater.org with your request and contact information at least 24 hours prior to your requested put-in date. All vehicles in the parking area will be required to leave by 4:00 p.m. on the day of their launch and United does not provide transportation for boaters back to their vehicles. Bernard Riedel Jr. Senior Park Ranger Lake Piru Recreation Area

United Water Conservation district has announced Fall 2024 water releases into Piru Creek.

On September 6, 2024, United anticipates releasing 300 cubic feet per second (cfs) from the Santa Felicia Dam and continuing for two to three weeks. Per the Santa Felicia Whitewater Boating Access Plan, whitewater recreational opportunities are available and escorted access will be provided by reservation on Saturdays and Sundays between 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Interested boaters should be aware that United has no control over conditions in lower Piru Creek downstream of the dam and advises that boaters exercise extreme caution as conditions are likely poor due to overgrown vegetation. Much of the creek flows through private property and the owner does not want boaters to go ashore.

To make a reservation, please email me at bernardr@unitedwater.org with your request and contact information at least 24 hours prior to your requested put-in date.  All vehicles in the parking area will be required to leave by 4:00 pm on the day of their launch. Boaters will also be required to sign a liability waiver.

If flows recede and whitewater recreational opportunities are no longer available sooner than anticipated, an update will be provided on the Lake Piru Recreation Area website, www.explorelakepiru.com. Please email me should you have any questions.

Sincerely,

Bernard Riedel Jr.
Senior Park Ranger
Lake Piru Recreation Area

Beginning on 06/28/2024, the District will be releasing 220 cubic feet a second from the Santa Felicia Dam and this will continue until at least 07/01/2024. This triggers our whitewater boating access notification as required under our Federal Energy Regulatory Commission License for the facility. Whitewater access will be available by reservation only on Saturday's and Sunday's between 9am and 3pm. Potential boaters should be aware the District has no control over conditions downstream and extreme caution should be exercised. The conditions on lower Piru Creek are poor due to excessive vegetation and the creek crosses private property where the owner does not allow boaters to go ashore. To make a reservation, please email Senior Park Ranger Bernard Riedel Jr., bernardr@unitedwater.org, with your request and contact information at least 24 hours prior to your requested put-in date.

Thank you,

Eva Ibarra | Administrative Assistant
United Water Conservation District
1701 N. Lombard St. Suite 200
Oxnard, CA 93030
Main: (805) 525-4431 • Direct: (805) 691-2549

United Water has announced that they do not expect to release any water into Piru Creek in fall of 2022.

August 2, 2022
Dear Interested Members of the Whitewater Boating Community:

Article 408 of United Water Conservation District’s (United) license issued by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) for the Santa Felicia Project (P-2153) requires that, by August 15 of each year, United provide notification of proposed annual fall conservation water releases to interested members of the whitewater boating community.
At this time, United does not anticipate conducting a fall water conservation release in 2022. As a result, whitewater recreational opportunities associated with fall conservation releases will not be provided in 2022. An update will be provided to the whitewater boating community in the event that a conservation release is scheduled at a later date.
Should you have any questions, comments or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me at claytons@unitedwater.org.

Sincerely;
Clayton W. Strahan
Chief Park Ranger

United Water Conservation District – Lake Piru Recreation Area