The City of Santa Barbara Water Commission voted to recommend that City Council adopt the 2025 annual water supply management report after a presentation from staff summarizing water‑year 2025 results and a three‑year supply outlook.

Water resources analyst Jasmine Showers walked commissioners through the city’s story map presentation, saying the report fulfills the city’s reporting obligations for participation in the State Water Project and documents supplies, groundwater basin conditions and projected water use. “The water supply update provides an overview of the city's water supplies following the conclusion of last water year,” Showers said.

Showers reported the 2025 water year (Oct. 1, 2024–Sept. 30, 2025) was drier than recent years: Gibraltar received roughly 46% of its long‑term average precipitation, Lake Cachuma about 45% and Santa Barbara about 56%. In contrast, early readings for water year 2026 (October–November) were near or above a full water‑year total at some gauges. Staff said the city received a 50% State Water Project allocation in 2025 (about 1,650 acre‑feet), holds more than 4,300 acre‑feet in San Luis Reservoir and expects carryover conversion in January.

Showers outlined supply shares for the city in 2025: Kachuma (Lake Cachuma) provided about 26% of supplies, Gibraltar provided roughly 38%, Mission Tunnel about 10% and desalination and recycled water made up other portions. The city ended the water year with a carryover balance of more than 13,500 acre‑feet at Cachuma and Gibraltar storage at about 21% capacity. For planning, staff said Kachuma is conservatively projected to supply the majority of demand through 2028 and that desalination will be assumed to run at ~80% capacity in future years (with a reduced production estimate of about 2,140 acre‑feet for the immediate next year because of planned maintenance).

Staff said there was no groundwater pumping in water year 2025 and that groundwater basins are not in overdraft per the city’s conjunctive management element and the 2025 USGS study update; the city has an ASR permit application pending for the San Roque well. Staff recommended the commission find the basins not in overdraft and forward the report for council adoption.

A commissioner moved to approve staff’s recommendation and a roll call vote recorded four votes in favor with one absence, resulting in a 4–0 recommendation to council. The item will proceed through the council process for formal adoption.

The commission had no public speakers on the item and staff noted additional report topics (capital projects and conservation status) are available in the full AWSMR report for review.