We know about the big impacts from the Thomas fire, and Santa Barbara County flooding.
More than a dozen people died, numerous others were injured, and more than 1400 homes, and other structures were destroyed, or damaged. But, even if you weren’t in the fire or flood zones, there’s an impact which could still be coming to you. Some water districts on the Central and South Coasts which rely on water supplies from places like Lake Cachuma, and Lake Casitas are concerned about debris from recent brush fires contaminating the waterways.
Lauren Hansen, who's a board member with the Goleta Water District, says her agency is very concerned about Lake Cachuma. She says it’s a problem which could last for the next few years with rain washing debris into the lake. The district has taken steps to insure the water is clean, but the contamination concern is an issue.
A Congressman who represents much of the Central and South Coasts is co-author of a new bill intended to help water districts in our region, and around the country cope with situations like the one that’s occurred in our region.
Democratic Congressman Salud Carbajal of Santa Barbara says the Environmental Protection Agency would administer new grants. A key element of the proposal that interests many local water officials is preserving or improving water quality, an issue in the region in the wake of the Thomas, Sherpa, and Whittier brush fires.
The money could also be used for water conservation projects to rebuild or relocated threatened facilities, and to implement advance water reuse and recycling efforts. The congressman says it would even be available to help water, and wastewater treatment
Carbajal says he’s hopeful for the legislation’s prospects, because it has bipartisan support.
The congressman met with representatives from a dozen water agencies on Santa Barbara on Monday to get their thoughts on the legislation. The proposal calls for a cost sharing plan with the federal government covering up to 75% of the cost of the project, and the local agency the rest.
