Even though Santa Barbara is now weathering the hottest drought on record, Santa Barbara County flood-control workers are beginning creek cleanup efforts in anticipation of possible El Niño floods. Rattling City Hall’s cage has been Leo Martinez, a former city councilmember who owns property abutting Sycamore Creek. City public works officials state the creek can’t handle a 100-year flood but is better able now to handle flows of greater volume since three bridges have been rebuilt, creating greater height and width for any torrential waters to flow.
