With no forecasted significant rain ahead, Santa Barbara County officials have been told to consider declaring Cachuma Lake a disaster area.
The lake is 93% empty and close to a minimum pool area, which officials say is a point where water becomes unfit to drink.
The long-range water plan has several options, and county supervisors say it could include more outside water purchases, more conservation, and possibly a larger desalination plant than the one Santa Barbara will bring online next year.
As for the current conservation level of 30% to 40% by most residents, one supervisor said she thinks the crisis may call for conservation levels of 75%.