Community News · Santa Barbara County
The California Fish & Game Commission voted to advance two tribally led petitions creating new marine protected areas off Santa Barbara County: a 9.18-square-mile zone near Point Sal in North County and a 9.05-square-mile Mishopshno area off Carpinteria in South County. The Point Sal petition passed unanimously, while the Carpinteria petition received a 4-2 vote with two commissioners dissenting over tribal take exemptions. Shore-based recreational hook-and-line fishing would remain permitted in both zones, but all other take activities would be prohibited for non-tribal users. The proposals now enter a regulatory process including three public hearings and environmental review before final adoption.
Public Safety · Santa Barbara County
Climate scientists at UC Santa Barbara say NOAA forecasts a 75% chance the 2026 El Niño will be the strongest since at least 1950, with tropical Pacific surface temperatures already 4°C above average. Experts warn Southern California could face stronger storms, coastal flooding, erosion, and potential atmospheric rivers this winter, with wet conditions predicted to peak February through April. Downtown Santa Barbara's Mission Creek estuary and the Goleta Slough near the airport are identified as areas at heightened flood risk. Residents are urged to review neighborhood flood history, clear gutters and drainages, obtain sandbags if prone to flooding, and consult county Office of Public Works storm-preparation resources.
Public Safety · Santa Barbara County
Santa Barbara County residents in Goleta, Santa Barbara, Montecito, and Carpinteria rely on a single transmission corridor known as the Goleta Load Pocket, roughly 40 miles of which crosses fire-prone terrain near Los Padres National Forest. The corridor's vulnerability was demonstrated during the December 2017 Thomas Fire (85,000+ customers lost power) and a January 2025 Southern California Edison shutoff affecting ~9,000 customers. A property-tax exclusion for qualifying solar energy systems, in place since 1980, will expire January 1, 2027 after AB 2389 failed to extend it during the Assembly's budget process in May. Homeowners considering solar and battery installations face a practical completion deadline earlier than year-end due to permitting and installation timelines.
