Winter 2023 Storms - Santa Ynez River & Cachuma Reservoir
UPDATES for January, February, and March 2023:
March 23, 2023 - Reducing Releases
United States Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) advised SYRWCD that they believe Lake Cachuma has seen the peak inflow for the March 21, 2023 storm and inflows are beginning to decline. So, Bradbury Dam operators are ramping down the water release from 4,500 to 4,000 cfs. Reclamation and the Santa Barbara County Flood Control team are tracking another rain event for next week and will continue managing releases as they transition again from gate-holding to precautionary release.
March 21, 2023 - Additional Increase in Releases
Reclamation increased the releases at 4pm today to 4,500 cfs.
United States Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) advised SYRWCD that they increased the precautionary releases through the Spillway Gates at Bradbury Dam from to 4,500 cfs at 4:00 p.m. today. Reclamation will continue to monitor the latest incoming storm and coordinate the response with the Santa Barbara County Flood Control team to make any additional changes to the spillway discharge.
March 21, 2023 -Increased Releases Due Storm
Reclamation increased the releases at the Bradbury Dam Spillway Gates today to 3,500 cfs.
United States Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) advised SYRWCD that Reclamation adjusted the precautionary releases through the Spillway Gates at Bradbury Dam from 3,000 to 3,500 cfs today. They will continue to monitor the latest incoming storm and coordinate the response with the Santa Barbara County Flood Control team to make any additional changes to the spillway discharge.
March 20, 2023 - Preparing for another rain event
Reclamation will increase the releases at the Bradbury Dam Spillway Gates to 2,600 cfs.
United States Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) advised SYRWCD that with another rain event in the forecast for this week, Reclamation is returning to the precautionary release phase of the Winter Storm Operations with a slight increase to 2,600 cfs. Reclamation will continue to monitor this latest incoming storm and coordinate responses with the Santa Barbara County Flood Contol team to make any additional changes to the spillway discharge.
March 15, 2023 - Another Decreased Release
Reclamation will decrease the releases at the Bradbury Dam Spillway Gates to 2,000 cfs.
United States Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) advised SYRWCD that the peak inflow to Cachuma Reservoir on March 14th was observed at 9,500 cfs and is now receding. In response, Reclamation is ramping down the spillway release on March 15th from 5,000 cfs to 2,000 cfs with a target elevation of 751 ft at Cachuma Reservoir as they watch the development of future storms. Reclamation will continue to coordinate with the County of Santa Barbara staff and provide updates as the forecast changes.
March 14, 2023 -Decreased Releases
Reclamation decreased the releases at the Bradbury Dam Spillway Gates to 6,000 cfs.
United States Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) advised SYRWCD that in response to the recent National Weather Service forecasts showing less rain than anticipated in the Santa Ynez Watershed, Reclamation revised the estimated pre-release at the Bradbury Dam Spillway Gates required from 7,000 cfs to 6,000 cfs. Reclamation will continue to monitor conditions to determine if additional changes are required.
March 13, 2023 -Increased Releases Due to Incoming Storm
Reclamation increased the releases at the Bradbury Dam Spillway Gates today to 7,000 cfs.
United States Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) advised SYRWCD that in preparation for the incoming storm and to make space in the reservoir, Reclamation adjusted the precautionary releases through the Spillway Gates at Bradbury Dam to 7,000 cfs on March 13, 2023 at 4pm. They will continue to monitor the forecast and make additional changes to the precautionary releases as considered necessary before the storm arrives.
FLOOD WATCH ISSUED for Santa Barbara County effective March 9, 4pm through March 11, 4am
(per ReadySBC Alerts, 3/8/2023 at 5:50pm) A FLOOD WATCH has been issued for Santa Barbara County effective at 4 PM Thursday, March 9th through 4 AM Saturday, March 11th. Avoid low-lying and flood-prone areas, areas with standing water, and areas near creeks or streams. If you are in one of these areas be prepared to go to higher ground. Visit www.weather.gov/lox for more information.
Another rain system is expected to arrive in Santa Barbara County on Thursday, March 9, 2023. Rainfall is predicted to start Thursday evening and remain consistent through Saturday morning. There is a small potential for thunderstorms which could produce heavier rainfall. Current forecasts indicate this storm is likely to cause excessive runoff which may result in dangerous flooding of rivers, creeks, streams, and other low lying and flood prone areas.
Residents should take steps to prepare ahead of the storm. https://www.countyofsb.org/576/Storm-Readiness
March 8, 2023 -Increases in Releases Due to Weather Forecast
Reclamation is increasing the Spillway Gates releases at Bradbury Dam today from about 2,000 cfs to 3,000 cfs and intend to make another increase tomorrow.
United States Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) advised SYRWCD that based on credible and reasonable information they received this moring relative to the weather forecast and in an effort to minimize possibility of flooding damage to property along the Santa Ynez River, Reclamation is increasing the Spillway Gates releases at Bradbury Dam today from about 2,000 cfs to 3,000 cfs and intend to make another increase tomorrow.
As planned, Reclamation has been operating a controlled discharge of about 2,000 cfs since Sunday, February 26, to establish sufficient storage volume for the persistent runoff from the past storm as well as the rainfall received over the last few days. Current estimates have the approximate reservoir elevation of 751 ft.
Santa Barbara County Hydrology Real-time Information
Rainfall Table
Here is a LINK to Santa Barbara County's Real-Time Rainfall Table for specific locations.
Reservoir Levels Map
Here is a LINK to Santa Barbara County's Real-Time Reservoir Levels Map.
United States Bureau of Reclamation
Cachuma Daily Operations Table
Here is a LINK to Reclamation's Cachuma Daily Operations Table: a daily summary of storage, inflows, and quantity of water released per outlet location from Cachuma Reservoir.
Santa Barbara County Office of Emergency Management
Here is a LINK to January 2023 Storm updates, preparedness, and Recovery Resources.
Recovery Resources
The County is working to gather resources for community members impacted by the January 2023 winter storm event. In the coming days, this ReadySBC.org January Storm Recovery webpage will be a source of information, including links for wellness counseling support, housing assistance, information to aid in rebuilding, permitting, hazardous material clean-up, loss of business or employment, and other topics.
Register to Receive ReadySBC Alerts
If you haven't registered for emergency alerts, please do so at ReadySBC.org.
For updated and detailed information, please visit ReadySBC.org or call Santa Barbara County's Emergency Call Center at (833) 688-5551 or 211.
