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The extreme winter storm that hit locally on January 9, 2023 was a federally declared disaster. While significant impacts made headlines around Santa Barbara County and the State, heavy rains caused devastation in remote areas that went largely unseen. Few were aware that debris flows in the backcountry severed the water pipeline from Jameson Lake.
Record-setting precipitation rerouted a creek, eroded large swaths of earth, and exposed the main pipeline which was then hit by debris and rocks, rupturing the pipe in several areas. Simultaneously, mudslides covered roads and plugged culverts, making access extremely difficult.
Montecito Water District provides potable water to approximately 13,000 people throughout Montecito, Summerland, and parts of Carpinteria. Emergency work to restore connection to this primary water source began immediately, while the District relied on other water supplies to meet customer needs. Repairing approximately 600 feet of 18-inch steel pipeline in a hard-to-reach area took about six months and cost more than 5 million dollars. The District paid all expenses up front, spending approximately 25% of the District’s annual revenue, nearly the full amount typically budgeted for capital projects in a year.
“The District applied for federal disaster funding and the project was approved,” said Adam Kanold, Engineering Manager and Assistant General Manager for Montecito Water District. “All the paperwork was on time, in order, and we kept hearing that everything was moving—but unlike past experiences the checks just weren’t coming in. Going into September 2025 the District was still waiting for money spent on repairs two years prior.”
While the District waited for repayment, all planned capital improvement projects were put on hold. Much of the District’s infrastructure is nearly 100 years old, and projects are carefully prioritized through its Asset Management Plan based on considerations such as risk of failure. The ongoing wait for repayment threatened to stretch into a third year, seriously jeopardizing cash flow and further delaying important projects. These escalating concerns prompted an urgent request for assistance to Assemblymember Gregg Hart in late summer, 2025.
Hart’s office responded immediately and successfully facilitated communications with CalOES to expedite the reimbursement process. Payments due to the District were received just days before the October 1, 2025 federal government shut down. Significant delayed projects are already resuming, with previously scheduled pipeline replacements now beginning November 3rd.
“Repair of Montecito’s Juncal Pipeline was a sizeable and critical project, and for us there is no greater priority than ensuring reliable potable water for our customers,” said Tobe Plough, Vice President of the Montecito Water District’s Board of Directors. “Our Water District’s experience through the Thomas Fire Disaster and the January 2023 Storm demonstrates that recovery efforts take heavy lifting and serious collaboration with our State and Federal officeholders. The delay in receiving reimbursement for this repair set our capital improvement activities back two years, as this urgent repair constituted 25% of our annual budget. Our community has been through a lot of challenges, and we are deeply appreciative of the assistance from Assemblymember Hart’s office. These long-awaited disaster funds are essential to repairing and maintaining a highly reliable water supply for the local community as well as building greater operational resilience.”
Montecito Water District’s mission is to provide an adequate and reliable supply of high-quality water to the residents of Montecito and Summerland, at the most reasonable cost. In carrying out this mission, the District places particular emphasis on providing outstanding customer service, conducting its operations in an environmentally sensitive manner, and working cooperatively with other agencies. For additional information visit http://www.montecitowater.com, like Montecito Water District on Facebook, and follow on twitter @MontecitoWater.
