About Us

Background

The Cachuma Operation and Maintenance Board (COMB) is a joint powers agency, and was organized and formed by the Member Units in 1956, pursuant to an agreement with the Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) transferring the responsibility to the Cachuma Member Units to directly operate, repair, and maintain all Project facilities, except Bradbury Dam (which is operated by Reclamation).  The Member Units include: City of Santa Barbara, Goleta Water District; Montecito Water District; Carpinteria Valley Water District; and the Santa Ynez River Water Conservation District - Improvement District #1.  The Member Units pay all costs associated with the operation of COMB. 

COMB is responsible for diversion of water to the South Coast through the Tecolote Tunnel, and operation and maintenance of flow control valves, meters, and instrumentation at control stations and turnouts along the South Coast Conduit and at four regulating reservoirs. (See Project Facilities under Cachuma Project).  COMB coordinates closely with Reclamation dam tenders and Member Units' staff to ensure that water supplies meet daily demands.  COMB staff reads meters and accounts for Project water deliveries on a monthly basis, and performs repairs and preventative maintenance on Project facilities and equipment.  COMB safeguards Project lands and rights-of-ways on the South Coast.  COMB issues monthly Project water production and use reports, operations reports, and financial and investment reports which track O&M expenditures.

Board of Directors

COMB's Board of Director's is made up of elected representatives from each of its Member Units.  The COMB Board meets on the fourth Monday immediately following the meeting of the Cachuma Conservation Release Board at 2:00 p.m. at the COMB office.  The current Directors are listed below:

• Larry Mills, President - Goleta Water District

• Dan Secord, Vice President - City of Santa Barbara

• Matt Loudon - Director, Santa Ynez River Water Conservation District,   ID#1

•  Robert Lieberknecht, Director - Carpinteria Valley Water District

•  Jan Abel, Director - Montecito Water District

The Board employs a general manager to manage approximately 14 people who carry out a variety of functions.  These include meter repair, operation and maintenance of water supplies, landscaping of dams and reservoirs, and administrative support.

Senior Resources Scientist