Cachuma Lake has reached full capacity and is spilling as all vessel launching is temporarily closed due to the recent holiday storm.
As of Sunday, December 28, Cachuma Lake’s reservoir capacity was at 98%, or 751.63 feet. The Jameson Reservoir and Gibraltar Reservoir are also at max capacity.
Officials note that Cachuma Lake is considered full and subject to spilling at an elevation 750 ft. On Friday, December 26, officials began releasing water from the reservoir. The spillway outflow peaked on Friday and has lessened on Sunday. Realtime data can be seen here.
An atmospheric river brought heavy amounts of rain to the Central Coast from Tuesday to Friday. Cachuma Lake received approximately 11 inches of rain this past week and Santa Barbara received just over 6 inches of rain.
As of Sunday, Cachuma Lake received 11.89 inches of rain for the month so far, totaling 22.11 inches of rain for the year. About half of the rain total for the year came from December alone.
The Cachuma Lake Recreation Area stated on Friday that the lake is currently closed to all vessel launching while ranger staff work to clear debris and ensure safe conditions.
A reopening date has not yet been determined and boat rentals remain closed at this time. However, the lake’s restaurant, Hook’d Bar and Grill, remains open.
Hook’d Bar and Grill posted the below photo and message on social media on Friday following the storm, “A little aftermath 🌧️ a bit messy out here but the lake is full 🙌🏼
Come check it out, we are open!”
Another Storm Scheduled for This Week
The National Weather Service (NWS) reports mostly clear skies are expected through Tuesday with a warming trend. A 3 day Santa Ana wind event will start Sunday and peak on Monday with strong and gusty winds likely. The winds will not be as strong Sunday and Tuesday.
Clouds will increase and a chance of rain will develop Wednesday with the new year likely starting off with quite a bit of rain.
NWS is estimating 0.5 to 1.5 inches for coasts/valleys and 1.5 to 2.5 inches for foothills with somewhat less expected across the interior areas from Wednesday to Thursdays.
A trough swings in from the west on Friday and Saturday that is expected to bring 0.25 to 1 inch with favored mountain areas across San Luis Obispo County up to 1.5 inches. Although, NWS states all totals are subject to change.
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Seen a few of these big fills going back to the early 90’s, and everytime the lake fills they shut it down to launching for a few weeks. It’s annoying for lots of us who know how to handle launching and boating around some debris without an issue. They’re protecting those who have no clue. I get it.
Exactly–you just pump up your little zodiac and drag it down the ramp.
How often do you launch your “boat” amongst debris like this? Never.
Wrong again. It’s silly how you two clowns are such angry trollers. This is nothing compared to some past rises at Cachuma in terms of rise and debris. Nothing. March Miracle ‘91 is a good example, which set the bar. It was great getting out on the water once the storms passed. There was tons of debris. Way more than this. The News Press ran a photo of my and another fellow fisherman’s boat out on the water. It’s in their archives if you don’t believe me. But why wouldn’t you just believe what people say? Sheer anger, that’s why.
Look Kooks, lots of us that fish a lot have launched in heavier debris than this plenty of times, for decades here at Cachuma and all the other lakes around here. It’s not a big deal if you know what you’re doing. It takes experience and common sense.
So, you’re saying it’s a big deal for you?
You remind me of a guy at SBHS back then who lied about everything. Heck, he’d even lie about where he went to lunch after we saw him going somewhere else. Like, why lie so much?
So, tell us again. How/when/where are the “plenty” times you launched a boat into the midst of debris? You’re a pro at it from what you say, but I know the launch ramps aren’t littered with debris like this AND open to boaters “plenty of times.”
Bro, just quit. You know this isn’t a common occurrence around here.
Further, were it, as you say, “plenty,” why the hell would you be launching into a mess like this every time it happens?
It’s ok to be honest and say you did it once, but give the bashing of other boaters who aren’t stupid enough to risk their boats to fish a local lake in December a rest.
Every 5 years or so one lake or all of them rise up and get loaded with debris. I guess you didn’t know that. It doesn’t always make the news. Multiply by 4 decades of launching my boats in the lakes – Naci to Castaic and everything in between.
Not bragging. You asked. I answered. Not bashing anyone except jokers here that know who they are.
“Every 5 years or so one lake or all of them rise up and get loaded with debris. I guess you didn’t know that. ” Yes – there is a 5 year cycle that debris only loads up on docks every 60 months based on moon phases, tides, and other Ptolemy predictions. I think there was a study about it at UCSB last week and they got the Pulitzer prize.
It’s what sick republicans do. They make things up to feel self important while simultaneously putting others down. Gaslighting 101.
“clowns are such angry trollers … sheer anger … Kooks”
Projection as always.
BASIC – I have a newspapers.com subscription which has archives for all of the SB News Press articles. I’ll look the article up for March of 91 and share here with the platform (if there really is a story with a picture of you that was published).
How funny would it be to see some dope running a 6hp outboard at WOT prop strike ten or fifteen big logs.
Tell me you have never trailered a boat without telling me you have never trailered a boat.
Repulgicans are always scared of “they”. “They” is the boogieman. Perpetual repuglican victimhood.
You’re almost as full of yourself as your diapers are full of BS.
Weird that was deleted…. I simply pointed out how you admitted to lying. I’ll try again.
BASIC – if the lake shuts down the launch ramp “everytime” there is debris like this, how is it that you have launched in more debris than this “plenty of times?” You haven’t. You know it, we all know it.
If the ramps are closed “everytime,” then you’re full of it. And of course they’re closed when there are hazards to safe boating. No smart person would allow people like you to put themselves and others at risk for some muddy, December fishing.
You’re washed up.
Sorry all that’s wrong again. It’s ok. You don’t get it.
No, fishing can be very good in this dirty water, but you have to know what you’re doing. I’m not talking about funky planter trout like you’re after with powerbait and marshmallows, but rather the fish that eat them. If you have to ask…
It’s not wrong at all, you liar. YOU SAID – “every time” the ramps close when there is debris. Then YOU SAID you have launched at these closed ramps “plenty of times” when the debris is even larger. You’re not launching when the ramps are closed. Maybe you did once in the early 90s, but not “every 5 years” or whatever nonsense you’re making up.
Nice deflection to those monster bass you don’t know how to catch. And no, I never “asked.” I don’t touch bait in freshwater. That’s for kids.
BASIC MO: Lie, then deflect, then make up new thing someone said to avoid owning up to being caught. Man up, bro.
Nope. Never said I launched at a closed ramp. I said plenty of us have launched when the lake has a lot of debris in it. When it’s closed it’s closed. Very simple. Have you ever been up there launching a boat? I guess your anger is just simply blinding you. I’m not sure if I should call you a liar or a madman.
BASIC – No, I never said you said that. I said you said, “everytime [sic] the lake fills they shut it down to launching.”
So, if “every time” it fills like this and creates debris (it does not ever fill without creating debris, that’s simple and common knowledge) they close it, that means there’s no way (especially now with you saying you never launch when it’s closed) you launch “plenty of times” when there is debris heavier than this. Well, except one time maybe back in the early 90s when cops still allowed kids to ride in open beds of trucks….
Yes, I HAVE launched up there many times since my youth, pontoons, kayaks, skiffs at Cachuma, ski boats at the Dragon and bass boats at Castaic and Casitas. I also know that when there is debris like this (or heavier) NO ONE is launching.
Look, you’re only digging yourself deeper. I’m calling you out because you love to make it sound like you’re smarter/better than others and you are almost ALWAYS lying and being caught. If you were just a regular, nice person, I wouldn’t be bothered. But…. since you’re who you are, I LOVE catching you in a lie. Not mad at all, just enjoy calling out arrogant liars.
You’re done. Everyone knows your full of it and you just confirmed that once again.
Enjoy the rain.
Personally, I don’t fish, so don’t know about and don’t care about fishing. However, I do know boats. So my advice is that you take your little toy boat, put it in the lake and run it around through the debris at full speed. You know what you’re doing, have fun!
” I’m not talking about funky planter trout like you’re after with powerbait and marshmallows, but rather the fish that eat them.” -Said NO physician ever.
Basic has been launching his boat for 4 decades at Cachuma after storms, even though he claims the ramp is closed after storms.