Cachuma Lake water supply holding up despite prolonged drought and weak winters

The rainy years have not returned to Santa Barbara County but fortunately the current water supply management plan has held up as the area awaits a wet weather pattern, whenever that occurs.

The Santa Barbara County water data as the month of September ends shows a Lake Cachuma level at about 32 percent. The lake had a release recently for downstream users which takes place annually. The release ended earlier this month.

The water helped farmers and other users in Solvang, Buellton, and Lompoc.

The county says in order for the area to get out of the drought it would likely take two strong years of rain, and Cachuma would have to be full. Additionally underground supplies would also have to be reliable.

There is a difference between solving water supply challenges and the end of the drought.

Cachuma is the largest water supply but there’s also an on going concern for the levels at other reservoirs including Jameson Lake, Gibraltar Dam and the Twitchell reservoir.

The wettest months of the year are generally January to March.

Because the fourth quarter of the year has cooler temperatures, the evaporation level of the lake is expected to be reduced.

For more information go to: http://www.countyofsb.org/pwd/wateragency.sbc