Bradbury Dam Scheduled to Make Downstream Releases 

Santa Barbara County, California

The Santa Ynez River Water Conservation District would like the Public to be aware that water will soon be released into the Santa Ynez River from Lake Cachuma’s Bradbury Dam.  The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation will release water from Bradbury Dam starting at approximately 8:00 a.m. on August 31, 2020.  The release is being called for by the Santa Ynez River Water Conservation District to provide water to recharge the groundwater basins along the Santa Ynez River downstream of the Dam.  These groundwater basins provide an essential source of water for the cities, towns and farming interests along the Santa Ynez River and on the Lompoc Plain.

Initially released at about 180 cubic feet per second (360 acre-feet per day), the water will move downstream to provide recharge as far as the Lompoc Valley.  It will be confined to the “low flow” channel of the river.  The release is expected to continue for about three months.  The flow may impede traffic on low river crossings and caution is always advised near moving water.  

The release is consistent with State water rights orders as well as agreements among users who store water in Lake Cachuma.  About 16,000 acre-feet of water is expected to be released.  This release will not impact water deliveries to the South Coast and has been coordinated with the Cachuma Operations and Maintenance Board (COMB).  Although the Lake will be lower, facilities at Cachuma County Park, including the boat ramps, will remain in full operation.