Bradbury dam
Bradbury
Situated in the picturesque city of Cachuma Village in Santa Barbara, California, Bradbury (also known as Cachuma) stands as a Federal-owned structure designated for irrigation purposes. Constructed in 1953, this earth-type dam on the Santa Ynez River boasts a staggering height of 279 feet and a storage capacity of 206,900 acre-feet. Managed by the Bureau of Reclamation, Bradbury plays a crucial role in supplying water for irrigation and other essential needs in the region.
Over the years, Bradbury has undergone modifications to enhance its structural integrity, including updates to its foundation, hydraulic systems, and seismic features in 2000. With a spillway width of 200 feet and a maximum discharge capacity of 159,500 cubic feet per second, the dam is equipped to handle high hazard potential situations. Despite its very high risk assessment rating, the dam's condition assessment remains unavailable, underscoring the importance of continued monitoring and maintenance to ensure its long-term safety and reliability.
With its stunning location and vital role in water resource management, Bradbury exemplifies the intersection of engineering excellence and environmental stewardship. As water resource and climate enthusiasts, understanding the intricacies of this iconic structure sheds light on the critical importance of sustainable water management practices in safeguarding our natural resources for future generations.
Dam data reference
Condition Assessment
- Satisfactory
- No existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. Acceptable performance is expected under all loading conditions (static, hydrologic, seismic) in accordance with the minimum applicable state or federal regulatory criteria or tolerable risk guidelines.
- Fair
- No existing dam safety deficiencies are recognized for normal operating conditions. Rare or extreme hydrologic and/or seismic events may result in a dam safety deficiency. Risk may be in the range to take further action.
- Poor
- A dam safety deficiency is recognized for normal operating conditions which may realistically occur. Remedial action is necessary. POOR may also be used when uncertainties exist as to critical analysis parameters which identify a potential dam safety deficiency.
- Unsatisfactory
- A dam safety deficiency is recognized that requires immediate or emergency remedial action for problem resolution.
- Not Rated
- The dam has not been inspected, is not under state or federal jurisdiction, or has been inspected but, for whatever reason, has not been rated.
Hazard Potential Classification
- High
- Dams assigned the high hazard potential classification are those where failure or mis-operation will probably cause loss of human life.
- Significant
- Dams assigned the significant hazard potential classification are those dams where failure or mis-operation results in no probable loss of human life but can cause economic loss, environmental damage, disruption of lifeline facilities, or impact other concerns. Significant hazard potential classification dams are often located in predominantly rural or agricultural areas but could be in areas with population and significant infrastructure.
- Low
- Dams assigned the low hazard potential classification are those where failure or mis-operation results in no probable loss of human life and low economic and/or environmental losses. Losses are principally limited to the owner's property.
- Undetermined
- Dams for which a downstream hazard potential has not been designated or is not provided.
Plan around the weather
Same NOAA / yr.no feed Snoflo's iOS app uses. Watch the precipitation column on the meteogram -- rain on the basin upstream typically lifts inflow 24-72 hours later.
Next 5 days, hour by hour
Temperature line with weather symbols on top, snow + rain accumulation as columns, humidity as a dotted line.
5-day forecast table
Every 3 hours, broken out across temperature, snow, rain, humidity, and wind. Each cell is colour-coded relative to the column min/max.
| Time | Condition | Temp (°F) | Snow (in) | Rain (in) | Humidity (%) | Wind (mps) | Wind dir |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loading detailed forecast… | |||||||
15-day temperature & precipitation
Daily temperatures, snow, and rain projected over the next two weeks.
Nearby streamflow gauges
USGS streamgauges around Bradbury -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Hilton Cyn C 0.25 Mi Bl Bradbury Dam Nr Santa Ynez | 7 cfs | → |
| Santa Ynez R Nr Santa Ynez Ca | 12 cfs | → |
| Hilton Cyn C Nr Santa Ynez Ca | 0 cfs | → |
| Santa Cruz C Nr Santa Ynez Ca | 8 cfs | → |
| Santa Ynez R Bl Los Laurls Cyn Nr Snta Ynez Ca | 5 cfs | → |
| Alamo Pintado C Nr Solvang Ca | · | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Bradbury.
Track Bradbury in the Snoflo app
Save this dam as a favorite and get the local NOAA / yr.no forecast plus regional flow context wherever you are.
About Bradbury
Where does the data for Bradbury come from?
Structural and regulatory data come from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' National Inventory of Dams (NID). Weather forecast comes from NOAA / yr.no -- the same feed Snoflo's iOS app uses.
How often is the report updated?
NID structural data refreshes annually as the Corps publishes updated assessments. The weather forecast refreshes throughout the day.
What does the High hazard rating mean?
The Corps of Engineers' hazard potential classification grades probable consequences if the dam fails: High = probable loss of human life; Significant = no probable loss of human life but possible economic loss / environmental damage; Low = no probable loss of human life, only minor economic / environmental losses. See the Dam Data Reference card above for the full definitions.
What's "% of normal"?
The current storage value compared to the historical average storage on this calendar day. 100% = right on average; values above 100% mean above-normal storage (wet year); values below mean below-normal (dry year or drought).
Can I get alerts when storage crosses a threshold?
Yes -- alerts are managed in the Snoflo iOS app. Favorite this dam, set a threshold, and you'll get a push the moment conditions cross.
Other water bodies near here
Snoflo-tracked reservoirs and dams within driving distance of Bradbury.