Skip to Content

Nearly closed off Santa Barbara harbor entrance cleared of winter sand build up

The Santa Barbara Harbor Patrol assisted a sailboat during a sand build up at the entrance Sunday.
John Palminteri/KEYT
The Santa Barbara Harbor Patrol assisted a sailboat during a sand build up at the entrance Sunday.

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. - It will be easier for boats to go in and out of the Santa Barbara harbor this weekend after a winter sand build up at the entrance has been cleared out.

On January 10, harbor officials say there was so much of a surge since December's storms and other factors, the entrance was loaded with sand from the breakwater wall - sandspit area to West Beach.

Dredging is essential in winter and spring due to currents and storms and it's an annually funded process to keep the "federal channel" open.

The current project ended Thursday.

Sand taken from the harbor entrance is send through a pipe to a beach spot east of Stearns wharf and currents take it all down the coast to Montecito, Carpinteria and Ventura.

According to the Santa Barbara Harbor Commission the current project lasted for about ten days. Work was stopped briefly during the recent Tsunami weather issue.

The harbor has both recreational and commercial vessels along with the 87-foot U.S. Coast Guard cutter Blackfin patrol boat, that would be confined if the entrance was blocked by sand.

Last weekend, the Santa Barbara Harbor Patrol was assisting boats at low tide as needed to get in and out of the channel, and Sunday one sailboat was stuck and needed towing help.

Article Topic Follows: Outdoors

Jump to comments ↓

Author Profile Photo

John Palminteri

John Palminteri is senior reporter for KEYT News Channel 3-12. To learn more about John, click here.

BE PART OF THE CONVERSATION

News Channel 3-12 is committed to providing a forum for civil and constructive conversation.

Please keep your comments respectful and relevant. You can review our Community Guidelines by clicking here

If you would like to share a story idea, please submit it here.

Skip to content