Santa Ynez River Fisheries Studies

State Water Resources Control Board

The SWRCB issued permits to Reclamation in 1958 under Decision 886 to divert, store, and use flood waters from the SYR. Decision 886 reserved jurisdiction by the Board to determine the amounts, timing, and rates of releases of water past Bradbury Dam required for downstream water rights. Subsequent Orders which extended reserved jurisdiction were adopted in 1973, 1978, 1988, and 1994.

Order 89-18 also defined a new accounting, monitoring, and operating procedure for Lake Cachuma and Bradbury Dam, requiring Reclamation to release water downstream to replenish the riparian groundwater basins and to protect vested downstream rights (89-18 Releases). Water from WR 89-18 releases is held by a temporary dam at 'V' Street in Lompoc in order to promote groundwater recharge.

The latest Board Order, WR 94-5, adopted in December 1994,

(1) continues Board jurisdiction until long-term permit conditions are set to protect downstream water right holders,

(2) requires a Board hearing by the Permittee by February 1, 2000,

(3) requires submittal of various reports by determination of any additional environmental documentation to determine flows for downstream water rights and public trust resources by March 1, 2000, and

(5) requires "Fish Account" releases in accordance with the 1995 MOU, and any extensions or modifications thereof.