Cachuma Project Hearings and Compliance

Between 2000 and 2012, the State Water Resources Control Board held a public hearing to review the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation's (Reclamation or USBR) water right permits to determine whether any modifications in permit terms or conditions were necessary to protect public trust values and downstream water rights on the Santa Ynez River below Bradbury Dam (Cachuma Reservoir). The initial hearing days (2000-2003) were split into two phases to allow additional time for Reclamation to submit CEQA documentation. The final hearing days (2012) were held to receive evidence relevant to the admission of the Final Environmental Impact Report (FEIR) into the administrative record.

A final order was adopted, amending Reclamation's permit terms, on September 17, 2019, Order WR 2019-0148 (2019 Order). Reclamation petitioned for reconsideration of certain order terms, which the Board denied in a subsequent order on June 18, 2024, Order WR 2024-0007 (2024 Order). Compliance with the Board's orders requires periodic submittals from Reclamation as well as formal comment opportunities for the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) and the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) and oversight by Board staff, which is ongoing.

Documents referenced below are available on request by emailing Wr_Hearing.Unit@waterboards.ca.gov

Quick Links: Compliance Actions | Board Orders

Evidentiary Hearings:

CEQA Compliance - Environmental Impact Reports:

Compliance Actions

December 13, 2024 – CDFW submitted comments on Reclamation's term 20 plan addendum
September 18, 2024 –Reclamation term 20 plan addendum submitted pursuant to 2024 Order
December 29, 2023 - Reclamation term 27 Draft Report for Water Year 2022 submitted pursuant to 2019 Order
January 12, 2023 - Reclamation gave email notice that the Cachuma project was in Flood Operations and its Emergency Action Plan had been activated
November 17, 2022 - Reclamation submitted a letter giving notice that it had maintained target flows for the month of October 2022 and submitted a revised term 18 plan to NMFS and CDFW
October 26, 2022 - Reclamation submitted a letter giving notice of interruption of flows to the upper release point and lower release point on August 2, 2022 due to power failure and interruption of flows to the lower release point on September 11, 2022 due to mechanical failure
October 17, 2022 - Reclamation final term 27 report for Water Year 2021 submitted pursuant to 2019 Order
July 14, 2021 - Reclamation sent a letter giving notice of potential violation of term 15(a) of Order WR-2019-0148
March 31, 2021 - Reclamation final term 27 report for Water Year 2020 submitted pursuant to 2019 Order
December 31, 2020 - Reclamation draft term 27 report for Water Year 2020 submitted pursuant to 2019 Order
August 7, 2020 - Reclamation extended term 18 plan submitted pursuant to 2019 Order
March 17, 2020 - Reclamation term 20 plan submitted pursuant to 2019 Order
March 6, 2020 - Comment letters submitted on term 20 draft plan
- CDFW
- NMFS
January 23, 2020 - Reclamation draft term 20 plan submitted pursuant to 2019 Order
December 17, 2019 - Reclamation term 18 plan submitted pursuant to 2019 Order

Board Orders

June 18, 2024 - Order Denying Petition for Reconsideration
June 7, 2024 - Consideration of Draft Order placed onAgendafor June 18, 2024 Board Meeting
- Revised Draft Order
- Revised Draft Order - Comparison to March 8, 2024 Draft Order
May 2, 2024 - Comment letters received on the Draft Order:
- United States Bureau of Reclamation
- Santa Ynez River Water Conservation District Improvement District No. 1
- Cachuma Conservation Release Board
- NMFS
- Santa Barbara Flyfishers
March 22, 2024 - Notice of Extension of the Comment Period for the Draft Order
March 8, 2024 - Notice of Opportunity for Comment and Draft Order denying the Petition for Reconsideration of Order WR 2019-0148
October 16, 2019 - The United States Bureau of Reclamation filed a Petition for Reconsideration of the Order for the Cachuma project
June 14, 2024 - Service List updated June 14, 2024
June 7, 2024 - Service List updated June 7, 2024
March 22, 2024 - Service List updated March 22, 2024
March 15, 2024 - Service List updated March 15, 2024
March 8, 2024 - Service List updated March 8, 2024
October 25, 2019 - < a href="/waterrights/water_issues/programs/hearings/cachuma/docs/cachuma_email102519.pdf">Hearing Team Email - Cachuma Project Hearing Final Order WRO 2019-0148
September 25, 2019 - Hearing Team Email - Petition for Reconsideration Period
September 16, 2019 - Comment letters received on the Draft Resolution:
- Cachuma Conservation Release Board
- CDFW
- Santa Ynez River Water Conservation District and the Santa Ynez Water Conservation District, Improvement District No. 1
- United States Bureau of Reclamation
September 11, 2019 – Revised Agenda for September 17-18, 2019 Board Meeting
September 6, 2019 - Proposed Resolution certifying the final environmental impact report for the Cachuma project.
- Press Release on Board's Cachuma Action 9.17.19
- Fact Sheet on Board's Cachuma Action 9.17.19
- Draft Resolution
September 6, 2019 - Proposed Order amending the United States Bureau of Reclamation's water right Permits 11308 and 11310 (Applications 11331 and 11332) for the Cachuma project to protect public trust values and downstream water rights on the Santa Ynez River below Bradbury Dam (Cachuma Reservoir ) and act on a petition to change the place and purpose of use of those permits.
- Draft Order – Clean Version – September 6, 2019
- Draft Order - Comparison Version from March 27, 2019
June 10, 2019 - Email to hearing parties transmitting Service List updated June 10, 2019
May 29, 2019 - Public comments regarding Cachuma Project Revised Draft Order
- Cachuma Conservation Release Board
- CDFW
- California Trout, Inc.
- City of Lompoc
- City of Santa Barbara
- NMFS (NOAA)
- Russell Ruiz
- Santa Ynez River Water Conservation District
- Santa Ynez River Water Conservation District, Improvement District No. 1
- United States Bureau of Reclamation
- United States Forest Service
April 29, 2019 - Response to Local Interests' request for an extension of time for the consideration of the final order on the Cachuma Project
April 24, 2019 - Local Interests request that the meeting date for the State Water Resource Control Board's consideration of the Cachuma Project final order be extended at least 30 days.
April 12, 2019 - Response to requests for extension of time to comment on the Revised draft order
April 5, 2019 – Request by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation for extension of time to comment on the Revised draft order
April 4, 2019 – Request by the Local Interests for extension of time to comment on the Revised draft order
March 27, 2019 – Revised Draft Order Amending Permits 11308 and 11310 (Applications 11331 and 11332)
- Cover letter
- Attachment A - Revised draft order amending the terms and conditions of the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation's water right permits for the Cachuma Project (Permits 11308 and 11310 (Applications 11331 and 11332))
- Attachment B – Revised Draft Order with substantial changes shown in track changes
- Attachment C – Supplemental Response to Comments
- Attachment D – Possible Drought Off-Ramp Alternatives
March 26, 2019 - Service List dated March 26, 2019 corrected for typographical errors
February 28, 2019 – Email to hearing parties transmitting Service List updated February 26, 2019
February 22, 2019 – Email to hearing parties transmitting the March 5, 2019 Notice of Closed Session Meeting
August 23, 2018 – Cachuma Project Hearing – Updated Service List
August 16, 2018 – Notice of Meeting in Closed Session
August 7, 2018 – Notice of Meeting in Closed Session
March 9, 2018 - Cachuma Project Hearing - Updated Service List
December 9, 2016 - Public comments regarding Cachuma Project Draft Order
- Cachuma Conservation Release Board
- California Farm Bureau Federation/Santa Barbara County Farm Bureau
- California Trout, Inc.
- City of Lompoc
- Department of Fish & Wildlife
- NMFS (NOAA)
- Santa Ynez Water Conservation District
- Santa Ynez River Water Conservation District, Improvement District No. 1
- U.S. Department of Interior-Bureau of Reclamation
October 12, 2016 - Letter regarding extension of the written comment deadline on the draft order and draft amended Permits 11308 and 11310
October 10, 2016 - Submitted requests for an extension of time to comment on the draft order
- Cachuma Conservation Release Board
- City of Lompoc
- Santa Barbara County Farm Bureau
- Santa Ynez Water Conservation District and Improvement District No. 1 of the Santa Ynez Water Conservation District
- United States Bureau of Reclamation
September 7, 2016 - Press Release: State Water Board Releases Draft Order Amending the Bureau of Reclamation's Water Rights for the Cachuma Project on the Santa Ynez River in Santa Barbara County
September 7, 2016 - COVER LETTER for< a href="/waterrights/water_issues/programs/hearings/cachuma/docs/cachumadraftorder_090716.pdf">DRAFT ORDER Amending Permits 11308 and 11310 (Applications 11331 AND 11332)
September 7, 2016 - Cachuma Project Evidentiary Hearings Service List (updated 09/07/2016)
August 18, 2016 -cCachuma Project Evidentiary Hearings Service List (updated 08/17/2016)
August 12, 2016 – Notice of Meeting in Closed Session

Evidentiary Hearings

FEIR Hearing (2012)

April 20, 2012 - Cachuma Hearing Transcripts: March 29, 2012 | March 29, 2012 (corrected) | March 30, 2012
April 5, 2012 – Hearing Officer's Ruling regarding the admittance of the FEIR into the administrative record.
FEIR Hearing – List of Supplemental Exhibits (Rebuttal and Sur-Rebuttal)
March 26, 2012 - In response to today's deadline in the Hearing Officer's March 14, 2012 letter, the Santa Ynez River Water Conservation District, Improvement District No. 1 & Santa Ynez River Water Conservation District and the Cachuma Conservation Release Board submitted outlines of proposed surrebuttal testimony and statements of qualifications. In addition, the United States Bureau of Reclamation submitted a comment letter.
March 19, 2012 - Revised rebuttal testimony outlines submitted by the NMFS and California Trout.
The March 14, 2012 letter is the Hearing officer's ruling on the motion filed by the Santa Ynez River Water Conservation District, Improvement District No. 1, the Cachuma Conservation Release Board, and the Santa Ynez River Water Conservation District to strike the outlines of rebuttal testimony submitted by California Trout and the NMFS, as well as deadlines to submit revised rebuttal, and surrebuttal testimony.
March 7, 2012 - Responses by California Trout and the NMFS to the Motion to Strike rebuttal testimony filed by Santa Ynez River Water Conservation District, the Cachuma Conservation Release Board, and the Santa Ynez River Water Conservation District, Improvement District No. 1
March 2, 2012 - Motion to Strike filed by Santa Ynez River Water Conservation District Improvement District No. 1; the Cachuma Conservation Release Board; and the Santa Ynez River Water Conservation District
February 28, 2012 - Letters Responding to Notice of Public Hearing
- The Environmental Defense Center, on behalf of California Trout ("CalTrout")
- City of Lompoc
- City of Solvang
- Santa Ynez River Water Conservation District Improvement District No. 1 ("I.D. No.1"); the Cachuma Conservation Release Board ("CCRB"); and the Santa Ynez River Water Conservation District ("Santa Ynez Parent District")
- United State Department of Interior (U.S. Bureau of Reclamation)
- NOAA's NMFS (NMFS)
  - NMFS Rebuttal Witness: Alagona – Outline and Qualifications
  - NMFS Rebuttal Witness: Brumback – Outline and Qualifications
  - NMFS Rebuttal Witness: Ruvelas – Outline and Qualifications
  - NMFS Rebuttal Witness: Capelli – Outline and Qualifications
January 31, 2012 - Curriculum Vitae for the two State Water Board witnesses:
- Dr. Daryl Koutnik, Managing Principal, Biology Group
- Joe Gibson, Principal
January 23, 2012 - Notice of Public Hearing - The State Water Board will hold a hearing to determine whether the Final Environmental Impact Report for the Consideration of Modifications to U.S. Bureau of Reclamation's (Reclamation) Water Right Permits 11308 and 11310 to Protect Public Trust Values and Downstream Water Rights on the Santa Ynez River below Bradbury Dam (Final EIR) should be entered into the administrative record for Phase 2 of the Cachuma hearing.
January 20, 2012 - Submitted Letter by SYRWCD, I.D. No. 1 and CCRB, supplementing 01/13.2012 letter.
January 13, 2012 – Submitted Letter by SYRWCD, I.D. No. 1 and CCRB addressing certain issues raised in the EDC and DFG comments.
January 10, 2012 - Submitted Comments regarding the inclusion of the FEIR in the Cachuma Project administrative hearing record.
December 8, 2011 - Final Environmental Impact Report (FEIR).

Phase 2 Hearing (2003)

March 14, 2014 – Revised Cachuma Project Phase 2 Hearing Final Service List
E-mail from the State Water Board to the Cachuma Project Phase 2 Final Service List Members regarding updating the Service List.
- 03/13/14 – Email | Attachment
February 18, 2014 - Revised Cachuma Project Phase 2 Hearing Final Service List
E-mails from the State Water Board to the Cachuma Project Phase 2 Final Service List Members regarding updating the Service list.
- 01/23/14 – Email | Attachment
- 01/07/14 – Email | Attachment
- 01/06/14 – Email | Attachment
- 12/12/13 – Email | Attachment
April 23, 2013 - State Water Board Email to parties providing notification of State Water Board's receipt of a report titled "A History of Steelhead and Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) in the Santa Ynez River Watershed, Santa Barbara County, California", December 2012.
February 7, 2013 – State Water Board Email providing parties with copy of Letter to Reclamation and Goleta Water District (Goleta) regarding Goleta's November 6, 2012 letter to Reclamation pertaining to status of Dos Pueblos Golf Links Project.
Cachuma Project Member Units' July 21, 2006, Response to CalTrout's July 11, 2006, Final Opposition to Cachuma Project Member Units' June 7, 2006, Motion to Disqualify Dr. Wolff from serving as presiding officer.
Division's December 19, 2005, Final Response to Cachuma Project Member Units' November 28, 2005, Request for Information pertaining to two new Cachuma Project operational alternatives to be included in the DEIR.
October 21, 2004, Executed Supplemental Statement of Responsibilities between the State Water Board's Division of Water Rights and the USBR, for preparation of the environmental impact report for possible modifications of the Cachuma Project water right permits.
April 16, 2004, State Water Board's Ruling on (1) motions filed on behalf of the Cachuma Project Member Units and the Santa Ynez River Water Conservation District (SYRWCD) to strike Appendices 1-4 of CalTrout's closing brief, Appendix 1 of the Department of Fish and Game's (DFG) closing brief, and Appendix B of NOAA Fisheries' closing brief, and to dismiss NOAA Fisheries as a party to the hearing; and (2) the City of Lompoc's motion to strike the appendices and specified references to the appendices contained in the parties' closing briefs.
March 15, 2004 - Submitted reply briefs to oppositions to City of Lompoc's motion to strike
March 8, 2004 - Submitted opposition briefs to submitted motions and reply briefs to submitted opposition briefs
- NMFS (NOAA)
- Cachuma Member Units
- California Department of Fish and Game
- California Trout, Inc.
- Santa Ynez River Water Conservation District
March 3, 2004, State Water Board Letter regarding the City of Lompoc's Motion to Strike.
Reply briefs submitted in response to Motion to Strike; Motion for Dismissal of Party:
- California Trout, Inc.
- California Department of Fish and Game
- NMFS (NOAA)
- United States Bureau of Reclamation
February 24, 2004, State Water Board Letter regarding the Cachuma Member Units - Motion to Strike; Motion for Dismissal of Party, and SYRWCD's joinder Motion.
Motion to Strike; Motion for Dismissal of Party submitted by
- Cachuma Member Units (dated 2/18/04)
- Santa Ynez River Water Conservation District (dated 2/20/04)
- City of Lompoc (dated 2/27/04)
PHASE-2 HEARING - CLOSING BRIEFS submitted by
- California Department of Fish and Game
- California Trout, Inc.
- Cachuma Conservation Release Board & Santa Ynez River Water Conservation District, Improvement District No. 1 (aka: Cachuma Member Units)
- City of Lompoc
- Santa Ynez River Water Conservation District
- NMFSs (NOAA)
- United States Bureau of Reclamation
- County of Santa Barbara
February 11, 2004, State Water Board Letter responding to California Trout, Inc's. inquiry regarding the submittal of reply briefs.
PHASE-2 HEARING - REVISED SERVICE LIST (rev 1/5/04)
PHASE-2 HEARING - Reporter's Transcripts
- October 21, 2003
- October 22, 2003
- October 23, 2003
- November 12, 2003
- November 13, 2003
PHASE-2 HEARING - LIST OF EXHIBITS
PHASE-2 HEARING - Submitted Policy Statements
- Santa Barbara Urban Creeks Council
- San Lucas Ranch
- Carpenteria Valley Association
- Citizens for Goleta Valley
- The River Committee
October 8, 2003, State Water Board Letter addressing issue regarding the acceptance of written policy statements for Phase 2 hearing.
September 26, 2003, State Water Board Letter addressing a number of procedural issues concerning participation in Phase 2 of the Cachuma Project Hearing, and including the Hearing Officer's ruling on California Trouts, Inc.'s Motion for Protective Order Restricting Discovery and Related Discovery Motions.
PHASE-2 HEARING - Revised NOTICES OF INTENT TO APPEAR submitted by
- Department of Interior - USBR
- City of Lompoc
- Santa Ynez River Water Conservation District
- Cachuma Conservation Release Board
- California Trout, Inc
- NOAA Fisheries
- California Department of Fish and Game
- City of Solvang
- Santa Ynez River Water Conservation District - Improvement District #1
August 13, 2003, Notice of Field Orientation Tour and Supplemental Notice of Phase 2 of Public Hearing - A public hearing will be held to consider modifications of the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation water rights Permits 11308 and 11310 (Application 11331 and 11332) to protect public trust values and downstream water rights on the Santa Ynez River below Bradbury Dam (Cachuma Reservoir), and to consider change petitions for Permits 11308 and 11310.
May 29, 2003, State Water Board Ruling on NOAA Fisheries - request and on issues concerning the scope of the hearing.
May 13, 2003, PHASE 2 PRE-HEARING CONFERENCE - Reporter's Transcript
April 14, 2003, Notice of Pre-Hearing Conference - prior to Phase 2 of the Cachuma Project Hearing

Phase 1 Hearing (2000)

PHASE-1 HEARING - CLOSING BRIEFS submitted by
PHASE-1 HEARING - LIST OF EXHIBITS
PHASE-1 HEARING - Reporter's Transcript: [November 6, 2000, Transcript]
PHASE-1 HEARING - October 13, 2000, Service List to Exchange Evidence
PHASE-1 HEARING - NOTICES OF INTENT TO APPEAR submitted by:
September 25, 2000, Notice of Public Hearing
August 9, 2000, Pre-Notice letter

CEQA Compliance – Environmental Impact Reports

FEIR (2011)

January 10, 2012 - Submitted Comments regarding the inclusion of the FEIR in the Cachuma Project administrative hearing record
- Parties Supporting Inclusion
- Parties Objecting to inclusion
December 8, 2011 – Notice of Availability for Final Environmental Impact Report – Consideration of Modification to the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation's Water Right Permits 11308 and 11310 (Applications 11331 and 11332) to Protect Public Trust Values and Downstream Water Rights on the Santa Ynez River below Bradbury Dam (Cachuma Reservoir),December 2011.

2nd Revised DEIR (2011)

August 29, 2011 - Goleta Water District Letter responding to comments made by EDC
August 2, 2011 - City of Santa Barbara Letter responding to comments made by EDC
July 29, 2011 - State Water Board's Emailed Update regarding status of 2nd Revised DEIR
May 31, 2011 - Additional Comments on the 2nd Revised DEIR
May 17, 2011 - Division Email to parties providing list of parties who submitted comments on the 2nd Revised DEIR or requested timed extension to submit comments…also provides updated service list.
May 16, 2011 - Comments on the 2nd Revised DEIR
April 1, 2011 - Notice of Availability for 2nd Revised Draft Environmental Impact – Consideration of Modification to the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation's Water Right Permits 11308 and 11310 (Applications 11331 and 11332) to Protect Public Trust Values and Downstream Water Rights on the Santa Ynez River below Bradbury Dam (Cachuma Reservoir), April 2011.
- 2nd Revised Environmental Impact Report (April 2011)

Revised DEIR (2007)

Submitted Letters Regarding Schedule to Complete the Final Environmental Impact Report for the Cachuma Project Hearing
- City of Lompoc
- Santa Ynez River Water Conservation District
- NOAA's NMFS (NMFS)
  - NOAA's NMFS (10/26/10 - Letter of Clarification)
- California Department of Fish and Game
- Cachuma Conservation Release Board ("CCRB") and the Santa Ynez River Water Conservation District, Improvement District No.1 ("ID No.1") (collectively the "Cachuma Member Units")
- Environmental Defense Center ("EDC") on behalf of our client California Trout, Inc. ("CaITrout")
May 27, 2010 - Division of Water Rights Letter - Regarding schedule for completion of FEIR and Hearing.
October 1, 2007 – Comments on the Revised DEIR (July 2007)
July 31, 2007 – Notice of Availability and Revised Draft Environmental Impact Report (16.15 MB) – Consideration of Modification to the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation's Water Right Permits 11308 and 11310 (Applications 11331 and 11332) to Protect Public Trust Values and Downstream Water Rights on the Santa Ynez River below Bradbury Dam (Cachuma Reservoir), July 2007.
Division's March 19, 2007 Response to Environmental Defense Fund's (EDF) January 17, 2007, Letter and Cachuma Member Unit's January 26, 2007, Response to EDF's letter regarding the State Water Board's preparation of the revised DEIR - Consideration of Modifications to the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation's Water Right Permits 11308 and 11310 (Applications 11331 and 11332) To Protect Public Trust Values and Downstream Water Rights on the Santa Ynez River below Bradbury Dam (Cachuma Reservoir).

DEIR (2003)

August 8, 2003, Cover Letter for Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR) dated August 2003 - Consideration of Modifications to the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation's Water Right Permits 11308 and 11310 (Applications 11331 and 11332) To Protect Public Trust Values and Downstream Water Rights on the Santa Ynez River below Bradbury Dam (Cachuma Reservoir):
- Appendix A
- Appendix B
- Appendix C
- Appendix D
- Appendix E:
COMMENTS on the Draft EIR submitted by