NO planned Downstream Releases for 2026

The Santa Ynez River Water Conservation District is currently not planning for Water Rights Releases downstream of Lake Cachuma during 2026. Accumulated Dewatered Storage levels can be seen in the graph below.

Last year, there was greater than 100,000-acre feet of spill from the Cachuma Project, and, at this time, the District does not anticipate there being a need for downstream water rights releases within the next 12 months.  Such is consistent with historical practices (e.g. 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2024, and 2025), WR 73-37, as amended by WR 89-18 and WR 2019-0148, and the 2002 Settlement Agreement.  However, air-surface temperatures to date have been unusually high throughout the Santa Ynez Valley River Basin, and the need for a water rights release may be reevaluated as the District continues to monitor conditions.

Please keep in mind this is a Preliminary Schedule, subject to change, not yet finalized.