The lake was originally designed for irrigation water and flood control as well as recreation . '' ' Nacimiento Dam ' '' , a 210-foot ( 64 m ) earthfill dam , forms the lake . The dam was built by the Monterey County Water Authority under Monterey County District Engineer Loran Bunte Jr , which completed construction in 1956 . The water authority uses the lake to recharge its groundwater . Even though the lake is entirely inside San Luis Obispo County , the waters are patrolled by the Monterey County Parks Department under a joint powers agreement with San Luis Obispo County . The Monterey County Parks Department ’s primary jurisdiction is the lake waters , up to the high water mark and the resort area . The San Luis Obispo County Sheriff ’s Office does have a boat at the lake for access to the back country around the lake . Also , they have been known to write tickets on the water . Lake Nacimiento has a capacity of . The lake is near the city of Paso Robles . The lake is also the home of two residential housing developments , which lie on the lake 's shore ; Heritage Ranch and Oak Shores . There are several smaller ( 10-40 house ) private subdivisions on the south west side of the lake . These houses were affected by the Chimney Fire in August 2016 . Except for the resort area near the dam , most of the property around the lake is private . Overnight camping on the lake , outside of the resort , is not allowed . Also , you are considered trespassing if you set up or venture on land above the high water mark
Chimney Fire
Chimney Fire
Lake Nacimiento