Santa Barbara County beach nourishment operations

Due to emergency storm response and beach nourishment operations, Santa Barbara County (CA) will close the eastern end of Goleta Beach Park and Goleta Pier beginning February 20, 2024.

“Site preparation is expected to begin on 2/13, and operations will start on 2/20. There may be intermittently closed areas of the Park during site preparation between 2/13 – 2/20, but the Park will remain open for weekends of 2/10 – 11 and 2/17 – 19,” the County said in the update.

The County also added that when full operations begin on February 20, 2024, the east end of the Park and Goleta Pier will be closed to public access. Work will continue until the storm response is complete and could occur 10 hours a day, Mon-Sat.

The operations involve sediment from the Goleta Slough watersheds only. The flood-control channels surrounding the airport, Old Town Goleta, and parts of the Eastern Goleta Valley have accumulated excess sediment due to storms.

The channels and basins are designed to capture sediment and floodwaters to protect the community; however, the sediment must be removed to regain flood control protection.