State Water Rights Hearings

In 1949, the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) issued permits to Reclamation under Decision 886 to divert, store, and use flood flow waters from the Santa Ynez River. Water appropriation permits are issued under State water law and can only be changed through a separate decision-making process by the SWRCB. 

Decision 886 reserved jurisdiction by the SWRCB which issued orders in 1973, 1988, and 1989 requiring Reclamation to release water  downstream to replenish the riparian groundwater basins and to protect vested downstream rights. 

WR 89-18 extended the continuing jurisdiction until December 31, 1994 with the objective of convening hearings in 1994 to address outstanding issues related to Reclamation's permits. 

The SWRCB issued WR 94-5 in December 1994, which extended the hearing until the year 2000 in order to allow time for vegetation, hydrology, and fish studies to be completed along the river. 

Future SWRCB actions on Reclamation's permits may or may not modify the current appropriations and uses of water diverted from the river. The timing and nature of the SWRCB's actions cannot be predicted at this time. Renewal of the Cachuma Project Master Contract may or may not modify the operation of the Project, possibly necessitating revisions to Reclamation's permits. Reclamation and the Member Units have negotiated a contract that specifically acknowledges associated water rights orders. The renewal Master Contract will accommodate any future actions by the SWRCB that would modify current operations, Project deliveries, and/or current downstream release programs under WR 89-18 and WR 94-5. Future actions by the SWRCB will occur through a separate process including public hearings and environmental review.