Montecito Prepares for Winter: Agencies and Residents Come Together

With winter approaching and a strong El Niño developing, Montecito residents packed Montecito Union School on September 14th for a community-wide conversation about creek conditions, flood protection, and storm preparedness.

The meeting, organized in coordination with First District Supervisor Roy Lee, the Montecito Association, and local agencies, grew out of concerns raised by residents about conditions along Montecito’s creeks. What began as a discussion focused largely on San Leandro Creek expanded into a broader community meeting, bringing together representatives from County Flood Control, Public Works, Montecito Fire, Santa Barbara County Fire, the Sheriff’s Office, CHP, Caltrans, the Office of Emergency Management and the National Weather Service, along with representatives of local, state and federal elected officials.

El Niño: Prepare, Don’t Panic

Todd Hall of the National Weather Service’s Los Angeles/Oxnard office began by clarifying an important point: El Niño itself is not a storm, but a climate pattern that can influence winter weather.

While a very strong El Niño is expected, Hall cautioned against assuming that means Montecito will experience a catastrophic or exceptionally wet winter. Historical data is limited, and past strong El Niño years in Santa Barbara have produced varying rainfall totals.

His message to residents was simple: “Prepare, don’t panic.”

Regardless of the forecast, residents should take the same precautions they would before any winter: clearing gutters and drainage paths, trimming trees, checking their properties for erosion or drainage problems and staying informed as storms approach.

Preparing Montecito’s Creeks

County Flood Control representatives outlined the Annual Maintenance Program, which begins with inspections of channels, debris basins, culverts and other infrastructure each spring. Work is then prioritized, permitted, and generally completed before the rainy season.

Officials emphasized that maintenance is intended to preserve the natural capacity of Montecito’s creeks, not enlarge or engineer them. Many of the community’s natural creeks remain undersized for extreme rainfall, meaning routine maintenance alone cannot eliminate flooding risk.

That longer-term challenge is the focus of the Montecito Master Plan, which identified potential improvements that could ultimately reduce flood risk for approximately 850 parcels and improve 54 all-weather crossings. The estimated construction cost exceeds $1 billion, making funding a significant hurdle.

Phase Two is now underway and will include additional surveys, hydraulic and sediment modeling, utility and property research, and development of preliminary designs. Completion is expected in June 2027. 

Visit www.countyofsb.org/pw-montecito-flood-control-master-plan

Flood Control also provided an update on the long-planned Buena Vista debris basin project. The project was approved for a phase Hazard Mitigation Grant Program grant. Phase 1 was completed in May 2024, and FEMA was requested to authorize Phase 2 construction funding. FEMA failed to act on the request and construction funding is now in jeopardy due to timing requirements. While uncertainty remains over federal funding, officials stressed that the project remains a priority and that other funding sources will be pursued if necessary.

Residents Raise Concerns

During a lively Q&A, residents asked about creek clearing, debris basins, bridges, utility infrastructure, evacuation routes, interagency communication, and lessons learned from the 2018 Debris Flow.

Caltrans representative, Joe Erwin, discussed recent work beneath Highway 101 bridges, including removal of accumulated rock and debris and reestablishment of low-flow channels at San Ysidro and Oak creeks. Residents also pressed agencies on how responsibilities are divided among local, county, state and private entities, particularly when infrastructure crosses multiple jurisdictions.

Officials repeatedly encouraged residents who see blocked culverts, downed trees, or other potential problems to report them through County Public Works’ service-request system, noting that those living near the creeks often see changing conditions before agencies do. 

Service Request Form: Visit https://tinyurl.com/SBC-FloodControl-Survey-2026 or email at [email protected], call at (805) 568-3440

Get Ready Now

Perhaps the most important message of the evening was one of personal preparedness.

Residents were strongly encouraged to register for ReadySBC alerts(visit ReadySBC.org), know at least two ways out of their neighborhoods, prepare emergency supplies, monitor weather forecasts, and check on neighbors who may need additional assistance. 

Montecito Fire also reminded residents to preset AM 1610 in their vehicles. The station provides preparedness information year-round and can broadcast emergency information when other communication systems are disrupted.

The evening concluded with residents having an opportunity to speak directly with agency representatives about specific creeks, properties and neighborhood concerns.

For the Montecito Association, the meeting demonstrated exactly why these community conversations matter: residents know their neighborhoods, agencies bring expertise and resources, and bringing everyone together before an emergency helps build a more informed and prepared Montecito.

Winter may be unpredictable. Preparation doesn’t have to be. 

To receive our weekly newsletters with timely public safety information, community updates, upcoming events and the latest on issues affecting Montecito, we invite you to join the Montecito Association and stay connected to your community. 

Visit www.MontecitoAssociation.org