Lake Cachuma water release scheduled for Monday

Even with a dry winter, a large water release has been scheduled to take place Monday at Lake Cachuma.

The county says when the Bradbury Dam was built in the late 1950’s, an agreement was made with downstream water users to have future water releases from the lakes when wells were dry.

The next release will begin July 15, and continue with an easy, low flow until October.

The lake is about half full now, but it has enough water for this release and all the users on the south end of the supply line such as Santa Barbara and Goleta.

The water will benefit water districts and the cities of Solvang, Buellton and Lompoc.

“When we are done with the release we will be a little under 50 percent but the lake is designed to carry through the multiple years of dry seasons,” said Water Resources Deputy Director Tom Fayram.

The staff at Lake Cachuma says currently there’s plenty of water for boating, kayaking, and fishing at the lake.