Dear Cambrians,

The Cambria Community Services District (CCSD) has received an update from the County of San Luis Obispo regarding our Water Reclamation Facility (WRF) Coastal Development Permit (CDP) application. The County has completed its review of the submitted materials and responses to the information hold and has confirmed that the project is accepted for processing, and will now receive its environmental determination pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). The official acceptance letter is provided below. During the environmental determination, the CCSD may need to provide additional information, and the County will notify us by letter if additional information is needed or of the results of the environmental determination. The application is subject to a discretionary review process. A discretionary permit requires the review and approval of the Planning Commission or the Board of Supervisors. A discretionary permit may be approved, approved with conditions, or denied. An application for a discretionary permit does not guarantee approval, whether a project complies with all applicable standards, or has been recommended for approval. All decisions on discretionary permits can be appealed to the Board of Supervisors, who will then make the final decision on the project. 

This achievement represents the culmination of years of dedicated effort by CCSD staff, our consulting team, and the Board of Directors, who have remained steadfast in navigating a complex and evolving regulatory process. The County’s acceptance acknowledges that the District has successfully met all outstanding technical and informational requirements necessary to proceed to the next stage of review.

The WRF remains a cornerstone of Cambria’s long-term water resilience strategy, designed to enhance drought reliability, protect our limited groundwater resources, and provide environmental safeguards for future generations. Moving into the environmental review process is a significant step forward in ensuring this vital infrastructure project achieves the transparency, accountability, and scientific rigor our community expects and deserves.

On behalf of the entire District, I want to thank our residents for their continued patience and support. The progress we have made reflects the professionalism and persistence of our staff and the leadership of the CCSD Board. Together, we are moving closer to securing a sustainable water future for Cambria.

We will continue to keep the community informed as the County completes its environmental review process and the project advances toward public hearings.

Sincerely,

Matthew McElhenie

The Cambria Community Services District (CCSD) has submitted all remaining items previously requested under the “information hold” for our Coastal Development Permit (CDP) application. With this submission, the information response phase for the current scope of the project is now complete, pending any further clarifying questions from the reviewing agencies.

Our submittal includes the following key documents:

• A grading and drainage exhibit for the Zero Liquid Discharge (ZLD) facility, including the brine container pad
• A Sedimentation and Erosion Control Plan
• A plan for removal of the pond liner and restoration of the Environmentally Sensitive Habitat Area (ESHA)
• A consolidated table summarizing total site disturbance and earthwork across initial facilities, proposed improvements, and offsite work areas
• Supporting documentation for policy consistency

Next, agency staff will review our materials for consistency with applicable policies and determine any remaining procedural steps. These may include a Planning Commission hearing, public notice, and scheduling.

We remain available to respond to any agency questions and will continue to keep the community updated as the application progresses.

We are pleased to share some exciting news regarding our ongoing efforts to enhance the sustainability and resilience of our water resources. After considerable planning, collaboration, and dedication, we have successfully submitted the Coastal Development Permit (CDP) application for the Water Reclamation Facility and the San Simeon Creek Instream Flows Assessment to include Van Gordan Creek to the County of San Luis Obispo (see link in sidebar).

This marks a major milestone in our mission to secure Cambria's reliable and sustainable water supply. The Water Reclamation Facility is a key component of our long-term water management strategy. This project is essential in ensuring that our community remains resilient to water challenges, including droughts and climate change.

This journey is long from over. We expect an information hold while we update our Adaptive Management Plan (AMP) with our consultants. However, in consultation with the County planners, they agreed that submitting the application was the correct choice while they worked with us through the permitting process. In September, we will bring forward a scope change that will allow our consultant (SWCA) to begin working on several updates, including the AMP, EIR Addendum, Compliance memo, and Policy Consistency Analysis.

We recognize that this success would not have been possible without the support and input of our community. We sincerely thank everyone who participated in public meetings, provided feedback, and worked alongside us to make this a reality. Your engagement has been invaluable, and we are committed to keeping you informed as we move forward with the permitting phases. The Coastal Development Permit submission is only the beginning of the next chapter in this project. We will continue to work closely with local and state agencies to ensure compliance with all regulatory requirements while advancing this critical project.

As always, we welcome your questions, comments, and ongoing participation. Together, we can build a more sustainable future for Cambria. Thank you for your continued support.