Drought-related Forms & Information
Application for Exception to Water Use Restrictions An exception allows a customer to be relieved of a particular regulation that would otherwise create undue hardship, and may be granted only under certain circumstances. Click here for the Application for Exception. Customers may submit an exception…
Stage II Water Shortage Emergency Information
The District Board of Directors declared a Stage II Water Shortage Emergency on September 9, 2014. The District set a 25% district-wide reduction in water usage to help extend available water supplies. The declaration is consistent with the requirements of the District’s adopted Drought Preparedness and Water Shortage Contingency Plan and statewide emergency conservation regulations recently adopted…
Statewide Emergency Conservation Regulations in Effect
On March 17, 2015, the State Water Resources Control Board adopted emergency regulations to encourage water conservation statewide in response to the historic drought. On April 1, 2015, Governor Brown issued an Executive Order on actions necessary to address California’s severe drought conditions. The Executive Order…
Drought and Water Shortage Update
On March 11, 2014, the Goleta Water District (District) declared a Stage 1 Water Shortage and called for a voluntary 20% water use reduction. Since that time, customers have reduced their water use by 8%. Due to persistent drought conditions, a Stage 2 Water Shortage Declaration is scheduled for consideration by the District Board of Directors on September 9, and will call for more stringent, mandatory…
Protecting Steelhead and Water Supplies
The United States Bureau of Reclamation (USBR) built the Bradbury Dam and associated facilities along the Santa Ynez River in the 1950s creating what we know now as Lake Cachuma. Today, the Federal Project provides approximately 85% of the water supplies for more than 250,000 residents and 12,000 acres of agriculture along the South Coast of Santa Barbara County. Since 1993 the five Cachuma Member…
Drought Preparedness and Water Shortage Contingency Plan
Droughts occur with unpredictable frequency, intensity, and duration. Developing and maintaining a safe and reliable water supply portfolio to serve its customers is a Goleta Water District (GWD or District) priority, including preparing for drought and water shortages. During a drought or other water shortage, the Goleta Water District Board of Directors will consider drought severity indicators and…
Lake Cachuma Project Update
Lake Cachuma, which serves as the primary water supply for over 200,000 people in southern Santa Barbara County, is currently at less than 36% of capacity due to three consecutive years of drought. Projections speculate water levels could drop below the current intake level within this year. The Emergency Pumping System Project at Lake Cachuma is necessary to maintain flow to South Coast and will…
District Wins Goleta Valley Beautiful Award for San Ricardo Well Project
The District received a Goleta Valley Beautiful (GVB) Award in the category of Neighborhood Enhancement for the San Ricardo Well Site. The 40th Annual Awards and Benefit event was held on Sunday, May 4th, 2014 at the Rancho La Patera Stow House. Goleta Valley Beautiful is a nonprofit environmental, educational and community service organization with an emphasis on urban forestry for public areas. It…
Conservation is Critical to Extending Water Supplies During Drought
On January 17, 2014 California Governor Jerry Brown declared a state of emergency caused by drought, and asked all Californians to reduce their water use by 20%. The County of Santa Barbara joined the State, declaring a drought emergency the following week, echoing the Governor’s call for a 20% reduction in water use. Here at the Goleta Water District, we are taking the current drought conditions…
Prudent Supply Planning for a Dry Day
California is known for its cycles of drought and Santa Barbara County is no exception. Lake Cachuma, the primary source of water in the region, spilled as recently as 2011 while, just two years later, 2013 was one of the driest years on record across the state. Accordingly, on Friday, January 17, 2014 California Governor Brown issued a state Drought Declaration followed shortly after the County…
