State Sen. Hannah-Beth Jackson and Congressman Das Williams (D-Santa Barbara) announced on Jan. 23 that $2 million in state funding for water agencies that depend on the flow out of Lake Cachuma.
The money is allocated for construction, operation, and maintenance of an emergency pump recently installed by the Cachuma Operations and Maintenance Board. Should the lake’s level drop below the water conveyance system’s ability to be gravity fed, the emergency pump will kick in. Construction on the project cost an estimated $5 million, according to COMB Director Randy Ward.
“We don’t look at this as a short-term project,” Ward said. “This project could be utilized for multiple years. We hope it isn’t.”
Sen. Jackson said she and other local legislators have been searching for money to help fund the project for a while. Even with all the money allocated by the state and federal governments for drought emergency projects, water quality, and alternative water sources, Jackson said it was hard to find something that could fund the emergency pumping project.
“The Lake Cachuma Project didn’t fit into any of the state’s funding mechanisms. … The question was where was the money going to come from to help fund the pump,” Jackson said. “We were really scavenging around for the money. That’s why it took so long.”
The $2 million in funding is coming from two agencies—the California Department of Water Resources and the State Water Resources Control Board—and it will be split equally between the Goleta, Montecito, and Carpinteria Valley water districts and the city of Santa Barbara. Each entity gets $500,000 in grants to help pay for construction of the emergency pump and the costs associated with running it.
Jackson said the money was made possible by a line item in the 2014-2015 budget passed last July and the water control board’s emergency drinking water fund.
In addition to the recently announced funding Southern Santa Barbara County water agencies, COMB received a $1 million Integrated Regional Water Management Grant for emergency pump construction through the Department of Water Resources.
Ward said the funding will really help the water agencies and their customers, especially when water conservation— although it’s necessary—is cutting into agency revenue streams.
“Any extraordinary expenses are tough,” he said. “This takes the heat off the ratepayer.”
Although the emergency pump was ready for action in August 2014, COMB hasn’t had to use it yet. Ward said the lake is currently at 28 percent of capacity and is expecting to make use of the emergency system in late April or May. Of course, it all depends on the weather.
“Our estimates are conservative,” Comb said, adding that rain that fell in December and January didn’t impact Cachuma’s levels. “We’re crossing our fingers for February and March.”
This article appears in Jan 29 – Feb 5, 2015.