News Release Archive

Reclamation to Release Additional Water from Bradbury Dam

Media Contact: Jeffrey McCracken, 916-978-5100, 07/20/2007 19:57
William Buyer, 805-568-3428, wboyer@co.santa-barbara.ca.us

For Release: July 20, 2007

The Bureau of Reclamation will release additional water from Bradbury Dam (Lake Cachuma) starting at 8 a.m., Monday, July 23, 2007.  The increased flow may impede traffic on low-river crossings; caution is urged near moving water at all times.  Released at about 250 cubic feet per second (cfs), or about 500 acre-feet per day, the water will move slowly downstream and is expected to reach the Lompoc area in about 10 days.  The water will be confined to the river's low-flow channel.  When the water reaches the Lompoc area, the releases will eventually be ramped down to as low as 20 cfs and will continue into the fall.

The release is being made at the request of the Santa Ynez River Water Conservation District to provide water for replenishment of the ground-water basins along the Santa Ynez River downstream of the dam and in the Lompoc Plain. These ground-water basins provide an essential source of water for cities and farming downstream of the dam.  The release is consistent with State water rights orders as well as other agreements among all users who store water in Lake Cachuma.  These arrangements provide the basis for reliable water supplies, even in periods of below-average rainfall such as the region is now experiencing.

Lake volume is estimated to decrease from about 152,000 acre-feet, or 81 percent of capacity, in mid-July to about 125,000 acre-feet, or 66 percent of capacity by mid-November, the start of the winter rain season.  The decline in reservoir level is the result of continued diversions to the south coast, evaporation, fishery releases, and downstream water rights releases.  The reservoir holds 188,030 acre-feet when full.

The County park at Lake Cachuma will remain in full operation.  Boat launch facilities are constructed so that all recreational activities can continue.  As a reminder, please note that swimming is not allowed in the lake.  Please use caution in and around the river downstream of the dam.

For additional information, please contact:

1. Cachuma County Park at 805-686-5054 (TDD 805-686-5055)
2. Santa Barbara County Water Agency at 805-568-3000
3. Reclamation's South-Central California Area Office, Mr. Antonio Buelna, Operations Manager, abuelna@mp.usbr.gov, or call 559-487-5117 ( TDD 559-487-5933).

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The Bureau of Reclamation is a federal agency under the U.S. Department of the Interior and is the nation's largest wholesale water supplier and second largest producer of hydroelectric power. Our facilities also provide substantial flood control, recreation opportunities, and environmental benefits. Visit our website at https://www.usbr.gov and follow us on Twitter @USBR; Facebook @bureau.of.reclamation; LinkedIn @Bureau of Reclamation; Instagram @bureau_of_reclamation; and YouTube @reclamation.