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A Water War is Underway in Santa Barbara County’s Carrot Country

/in , , /by /Santa Barbara Independentby Melinda Burns

The Cuyama Valley, the driest region in Santa Barbara County, is awash in discontent. The world’s largest carrot producers, newly subject to restrictions on over-pumping, are suing all other landowners over water rights, and legal fees are mounting. The Cuyama groundwater basin, which covers 380 square miles east of Santa Maria, overlapping with Kern, San Luis Obispo, and Ventura counties, is on the list of the state’s 21 basins in “critical overdraft.”

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Santa Barbara County Rainfall More Than 200% of Average to Date

/in , , /by /Lompoc Recordby Mike Hodgson

The rain brought into Santa Barbara County by an atmospheric river Tuesday turned out to be less that forecast, but it still totaled between about 1.4 and 2 inches in most areas, although there were some notable exceptions.

Damage was also less as a result, with only minor localized mud flows, flooded streets and a couple of downed trees reported as of Wednesday morning.

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Santa Barbara County Sees Third Year in a Row of Drought

/in , , /by /The Independentby Jean Yamamura

Santa Barbara County supervisors had the bad news confirmed that the drought is on and not about to end, but water agency manager Matt Young also brought some promising ideas to the mix.

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Santa Barbara County Preparing for Next Drought

/in , , /by /KEYT (Santa Barbara)by Scott Sheahen

California is nearing the end of the rainy season. Most of California’s rainfall tends to be between November to April. And so far this year has fallen below average. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, most of the Central Coast is around 50% of the rainfall we’d normally expect. The highest rain total is near Cachuma Dam at 60%. While the lowest is near Santa Barbara Airport at 46%. San Luis Obispo is in the middle at 54%.

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County to Conduct Groundwater Survey Flights

/in , , /by /Santa Barbara News-Pressby Gerry Fall

Residents of the Santa Ynez and Lompoc Valleys may see an unusual sight in the skies this November, and it won’t be a UFO.

It will be a low-flying helicopter carrying a large hexagonal frame. This unique equipment is part of a project to map aquifers and improve the understanding of groundwater in the area. The project is being conducted by Santa Barbara County and the Santa Ynez River Water Conservation District in cooperation with the local water agencies that comprise the three Groundwater Sustainability Agencies in the Santa Ynez River Valley Groundwater Basin.

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Montecito Water District Poised to be Drought Proof

/in , , /by /Santa Barbara News-Pressby Christian Whittle

The Montecito Water District is set to be drought-proof by the summer, the district announced Monday.

The progress is due to desalination and new rates, which the district’s board of directors received a status report on as well as a water supply agreement with the city of Santa Barbara during its regular monthly meeting Tuesday.

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