Water History of Santa Barbara County California Drainage Regions California Drainage Regions with Inter-Region Transfer Water History of Santa Barbara County Water History of Santa Barbara County Water History of Santa Barbara County Water History of Santa Barbara County Water History of Santa Barbara County Water History of Santa Barbara County Water History of Santa Barbara County Water History of Santa Barbara County Santa Barbara County Avg Annual Precip Water History of Santa Barbara County
148 Water History of Santa Barbara County
148 Water History of Santa Barbara County Water History of Santa Barbara County Water History of Santa Barbara County Water History of Santa Barbara County Water History of Santa Barbara County Groundwater Basin Profile (Idealized)
Before Irrigation from Deep Wells
After 40 Years of Irrigating from Deep Wells Cachuma Project History Cachuma Project History 1782 Santa Barbara Presidio 1786 SB Mission 1806 Diversion from Mission Creek for irrigation & grinding grain. Mission dam and reservoir were not sufficient. Additional supplies were needed. 1887 Seven 200ft deep wells 1888 City Engineer made first of many surveys Concluded water was going to waste from the Santa Ynez River Cold Spring Tunnel drilled Not feasible to extend thru mtn Cachuma Project History 1896 - City proposed dam at Juncal site and a tunnel 1902-1913 various proposal for dams on Upper Santa Ynez 1912 Mission Tunnel completed From “Western Construction”, 1918 1918-1920 Gibraltar Dam constructed Lippincott warned of siltation
1928 - Juncal site sold to Montecito 1930 - Gin Chow case confirmed reighs to surplus SYR water 1930 - Juncal Dam completed by Montecito, uses Doulton Tunnel Cachuma Project History
1938 - Bd/Supv authorized water supply studies for South Coast 1939 Report Findings: Groundwater levels “dropping at an alarming rate” Sufficient supply was not available from the coastal area Gibraltar inadequate for future needs Additional supply would have to come from SY River Recommendations: Raise Gibraltar Dam (done in 1949) New dam at Tequepis site on SY River
1940-1941 - Bd/Supv contracted with Bureau of Reclamation and USGS to prepare a County-wide water plan Cachuma Project History
1944 - USBR Report proposed eventual construction of 7 dams:
3 Dams on the Santa Ynez River: Camuesa (upstream of Gibraltar) Tequepis or Cachuma Santa Rosa
1 Dam on Salsipuedes Creek
2 Dams on the Cuyama River: Vaquero (now Twitchell) Cuyama Debris Reservoir
1 Dam on Sisquoc River at the Round Corral site Cachuma Project History Cachuma Project History 1944 – 1945: SBCWA & water districts formed to contract with U.S.
1946 – Dam at Camuesa site rejected
1946 – USBR proposed Cachuma with 275,000 ac-ft storage City and water districts rejected Too large and too expensive
1947 - USBR presented alternatives for Cachuma and Tequepis Dams various capacities with/without provisions for future enlargement 210,000 ac-ft Cachuma selected Water districts and City approved Dec 8 Water Agency approved Severity of drought spurred action Cachuma given priority Cachuma Project History
1948 Cachuma Project authorized. 206 ft high earthfill Dam 210,000 af capacity Tecolote Tunnel South Coast Conduit. 1948 Water rationing in Santa Barbara 1949 Election on Cachuma Project 1949-52 Congress appropriated funds Cachuma Project History Bradbury Dam construction began in 1950 Earth fill structure 206 feet above the stream bed 6,700,000 cu/yds of fill Crest length 2,975 ft Concrete spillway 4 - 50’ x 30’ radial gates Auto open 3 ft for every ft reservoir rises 6,700,000 cu/yds of fill 7 ft horseshoe tunnel contains the outlet works Cachuma Project History
Tecolote Tunnel construction began in 1950. Very difficult. 9000 gal/minute Inflows with temperatures up to 117° F. Dangerous accumulations of methane gas and long reaches of rock swelled and squeezed beam supports. Setbacks hospitalized mine workers, delayed the project, increased costs, and forced a change in contractors. Completed in January 1955 Tunnel infiltration Project yield Dried mountain springs & wells Cachuma Project History
The South Coast Conduit started in 1950. 26 mile pipeline 10 mile 48 inch Goleta reach first to be finished 16 mile Carpinteria section including 36, 30, and 27 inch pipeline terminates at the Carpinteria Reservoir Regulating Reservoirs Lauro Ortega Carpinteria Glenn Anne Dam & Reservoir
The SCC was completed in 1956. Cachuma Project History Cachuma Project History Cachuma Project History
1952 January Floods Would have filled Cachuma Led to SBCFC&WCD 1953 - Dam, Tunnel, and South Coast Conduit completed
1953-58 Period of anxiety waiting Ridicule by project opponents Monument to “New Deal” on dry river If Gibraltar doesn’t fill, how can we expect to fill Cachuma? April 1958 – Cachuma filled and spilled 1971 - Dam renamed for Bradbury Cachuma Project History
Design Cachuma Yield : 33,000 ac-ft/yr (1948 calc based on 1908-1947 records)
Known: Infl = Inflow into Lake Time Period: One Month Rain = Precipitation on Lake Reservoir Size & Shape Variable: Yld = Annual Yield (by month) Evap = Evaporation Rate Rel = Required Releases Calculate: Evap = Evaporation Loss Stor(begin) = Beginning Storage Spil = Spills Sstor(min) = Target Min Storage Stor(end) = Ending Storage Change in Storage = Inflow - Outflow
Stor(end) = Stor(begin) + Infl + Rain – Evap – Rel – Spil - Yld Cachuma Project History
Recalculation of Cachuma Yield 1974-1975 by USBR Cachuma Project History
Design Cachuma Yield (1948 calc based on 1908-1947 records): 33,000 ac-ft/yr
Revised Cachuma Yield (1975 calc based on 1908-1974 records): 34,300,000 m3/yr = 27,800 ac-ft/yr New critical period 1946-1952 Gibraltar Pass Through
1983 City agreed to strengthen Gibraltar Dam for max prob earthquake
1985 City also wanted to raise 20 dam to increase storage to offset loss by siltation Employed consultants
1987 Consultants made presentations to City Council Problems with Least Bell’s Vireo (endangered species)
Consultants not consider operational changes A small reservoir upstream of a large reservoir can be very inefficient
SBCWA had prepared a Santa Ynez River Operations computer model Ran the SYR model to see if Gib yield could be taken from Cachuma Results showed concept appeared promising Sent a memo to city engineer
SYR Hydrology Committee studied concept in depth Committee included representatives from all interested parties Concept deemed feasible City employed consultants to prepare documents
1989 Resulted in the “ 1989 Upper Santa Ynez River Operations Agreement” City preserved yield & saved cost of raising the dam
SYR Model Schematic Gibraltar Dredging
1979 Federal “Clean Lakes” grant for dredging Gibraltar $1,150,000 + City matched = $2,300,000 ($7,600,000 in 2017 dollars)
Research pgm on dredging contaminated sediments
Disposal site north side of lake
Used pneumatic pumps (Pneuma system) 40% to 50% solids
713 ac-ft dredged Cost $5,000 to $7,000/ac-ft in 2017 dollars
1983 “City in June 1983 entered into a contract to purchase the equipment for a continuing dredging operation.” Cachuma Operations
“Safe Yield” operation vs Overdraft ops Calced amount to safely take in a critical drought Just reach minimum pool at end of critical period
But what if in 6th year of a drought of a 7 yr critical period? Continue taking Safe Yield? If not, what do you take? Different strokes for different folks Agencies with various supplies might want full yield Single source Agencies might want conservative draft
1987-1992 drought: Cachuma managers met monthly Agreed to begin shortages when storage = 100,000 ac-ft Agreed shortages seemed prudent at that time Not sufficient for recent drought Cachuma Operations
“Safe Yield” operation vs Overdraft ops Calced amount to safely take in a critical drought Just reach minimum pool at end of critical period
But what if in 6th year of a drought of a 7 yr critical period? Continue taking Safe Yield? If not, what do you take? Different strokes for different folks Agencies with various supplies might want full yield Single source Agencies might want conservative draft
1987-1992 drought: Cachuma managers met monthly Agreed to begin shortages when storage = 100,000 ac-ft Agreed shortages seemed prudent at that time Not sufficient for recent drought Cachuma Operations 1989 Cachuma operation monthly spreadsheet
Reduction Level M&I Draft SY Ag Draft M&I Delivery Factors SY Ag Delivery Factors Assumed Entitlement Delv Schedule Minimum Storage MaxMonthShortage EvapDepth[in] Evap [ft/mon] May 15 Elev 5/15 Credits 5/15 C.O.Storage Requested Delv Rain On Lake Inflow DwnstrmRelease C.O.Storage Use Bishop Ranch Evaporation Lake Diversions DELIVRABL YIELD EndMonthStorage EndMonthArea Cachuma Operations very Factor 0% Projected Cachuma 1990-91 & 91-92 Storage very Factor 0% 20 60,000 ft] - 50,000
40,000
30,000
20,000
10,000 Projected Cachuma Storage [ac 0 0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350 400
Days in Cachuma Water Year from May 15 Cachuma Operations very Factor 50% Projected Cachuma 1990-91 & 91-92 Storage very Factor 50% 20 60,000 ft] - 50,000
40,000
30,000
20,000
10,000 Projected Cachuma Storage [ac 0 0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350 400
Days in Cachuma Water Year from May 15 Cachuma Operations
1996 Cachuma operation studies (not published) Backwards look at 87-92 drought operations Used SYR Model to test droughts as if they occurred at various times in period of record Results not perfect in any regard Cachuma Operations
Reservoir Surcharging
1969 Floating Debris Removal
Excavating Lake while Low
Stilling Basin Cachuma Operations
1969 Santa Ynez River Floods - Warnings not believed or heeded - Needed better origination, dissemination, & reaction
Santa Ynez River Flood Warning System - Realtime hydrologic data - Rain - Lake levels - Cachuma gate info - Stream gage data
1976 Santa Ynez River Flood Forecast Model Flood warnings Modified Cachuma Ops for Flood Mitigation Water History of Santa Barbara County
“Cap” Twitchell was the Bradbury of the north County. Vaquero Dam & Reservoir were part of the Santa Maria Project, which included Corps of Engineers levees on the SM River. 1954 – Authorized by Congress 1956-58 – Dam constructed 1957 – Renamed for Twitchell
Purpose to replenish critically depleted GW basin and provide flood control. 1962 – Outlet gates closed for first time. Water History of Santa Barbara County
History of State Water Project in Santa Barbara County
1960 Burns-Porter Act authorizes Calif State Water Project (SWP) November election narrowly approved
1961 SBCWA employed Bob Edmonston to determine need for SW in SB County
1962 SBCFCWCD Act amended to permit it to contract for SW (Concerns about Water Agency Cachuma Project interest free loan)
1963 SBCFCWCD SWP Contract signed for 57,700 af 45(e) allowed deferred construction of Coastal Branch Phase 2 Payments required
1969 Coastal Aqueduct Phase 1 constructed
1975 Edmonston resigned Felt harassed by no growth interests
1975 Full time WA manager hired, administered SWC and did many studies Citizens Advisory Committee appointed by Bd/Supv History of State Water Project in Santa Barbara County
1979 Bond election to build Coastal Branch 2 defeated WA manager resigned FCD & WA staffs consolidated
1980s Pressure from no-growth interests to dump the SWC SWC costs paid by countywide property tax
Purveyors wanted to keep SWC GW basins were in overdraft, quality a problem, reservoir yields decreasing
FCD polled Purveyors to see who wanted how much entitllement Willingness to assume costs from FCD History of State Water Project in Santa Barbara County
CuyamaCommServ.Dist. 1,000 2.2% SBCFC&WCD 250 0.5% GoletaWD 4,500 9.9% Water Supply Retention Agreements (WSRA) SantaBarbara,City 3,000 6.6% entered into for 45,486 afy of SWC CarpinteriaCWD 2,700 5.9% MontecitoWD 2,185 4.8% - Control of SWC transferred from Bd/Supv to SantaYnezRWCD,ID#1 2,000 4.4% Purveyors (3 to 2 vote) LaCumbre 1,000 2.2% BuelltonCSD 578 1.3% SWC Costs assumed by WSRA contractors on a SummerlandCWD 300 0.7% MorehartLandCo. 200 0.4% staged basis SantaBarbaraResrch 50 0.1% Lompoc,City 4,000 8.8% ParkWaterCo. 600 1.3% MissionHillsCSD 500 1.1% SantaMaria,City 11,300 24.8% VandenbergAFB 8,000 17.6% SouthernCalifWater 3,000 6.6% Guadalupe,City 300 0.7% CasmaliaCSD 23 0.1% 45,486 100.0% History of State Water Project in Santa Barbara County
1981 FCD asked DWR to reduce SB SWP entitlement by 12,214 af - This was done by Amendment #9 to the SWC
1982 Alternatives Study of for supplemental water began DWR and FCD Cooperative Study Bd/Dir authorized a Technical Committee to help guide study Members were Water District & City Water Managers Public meetings to receive input on alternatives and receive suggestions All suggestions received serious impartial evaluation
1985 SWP Alternative Study published Found that water use exceeded supply Deficit was met by overdrafting groundwater basins Identified Coastal Branch Phase 2 as best for north county Water from an Enlarged Cachuma best for south county
1986 Santa Maria requested FCD/DWR to prepare the Preliminary Design and EIR for the Extension of the Coastal Branch
1986 Some purveyors expressed interest in reacquiring some of the 12,214 af of relinquished entitlement History of State Water Project in Santa Barbara County
1989-91 DWR prepared EIRs for Coastal Br Phase 2 and Enlarged Cachuma
1990 Water right for Enlarged Cachuma couldn't be obtained in a timely manner Therefore the Enlarged Cachuma project feasibility was doubtful DWR was proceeding with Phase 2 without capacity to serve the south county - South county purveyors decided to go for Coastal Br Extension - Extension EIR done on a crash basis
1991 Elections held by cities and water districts on issue of bonds to pay local costs of Phase 2 incl Water Treatment Plant Bonds approved except if Lompoc area
1991 Central Coast Water Authority (CCWA) formed to: - Sell bonds - Construct aqueduct and treatment plant - Operate and manage completed project
1994 Construction of Coastal Br, SY Extension, and Treatment Plant started
1997 Construction of Coastal BR completed and water deliveries started History of State Water Project in Santa Barbara County
1985 SWP Alternative Study published Identified Coastal Branch Phase 2 as best for north county Enlarged Cachuma for south county
1989-91 DWR prepared EIRs for Phase 2 and Enlarged Cachuma
1990 Water right for Enlarged Cachuma couldn't be obtained in a timely manner South county purveyors decided to go for Coastal Br Extension Extension EIR done on a crash basis
1991 Elections held by cities and water districts on issue of bonds to pay local costs of Phase 2 Bonds approved except if Lompoc area Drought was probably a factor in the election
1992 CCWA formed to manage and construct aqueduct and treatment plant
1994 Construction of Coastal BR started
1997 Construction of Coastal BR completed and water deliveries started 101 miles
42 miles Water History of Santa Barbara County
Coastal Aqueduct was first water conveyance facility connecting the Central Coast Hydrologic Region with the rest of California
Allows water purchases and transfers Water History of Santa Barbara County
1989-90 DWR Prepared EIRs for bith Enlarged Cachuma and Coastal Aqueduct
1990 Santa Maria gave notice to proceed with Aqueduct Became apparent water rights for Cachuma could not be obtained in a timely manner South Coast and SY joined Santa Maria Prepared EIR for Aqueduct Extension +
1991 election: 11 of 14 SB Co purveyors approved construction of Coastal Aqueduct
1991 CCWA (Central Coast Water Authority)
1997 Coastal Aqueduct completed Water delivered to Cachuma
Coastal Aqueduct was first water conveyance facility connecting the Central Coast Hydrologic Region with the rest of California Coastal Aqueduct Allows water purchases and transfers