The Santa Barbara Flood Control District commissioned a study to determine the best
use for sediment that is cleared out of debris basins located in the foothills and creeks in Montecito. Until the debris basins were built, the sand and small rocks flowed down the creeks to nourish the beaches of Montecito. For the past few decades, the Montecito beaches have been starved of this nourishment as this valuable sediment from debris basins was transported to landfills or to beaches in Carpinteria or Goleta. This has contributed to the erosion of the Miramar and Butterfly beaches.
In September 2026, the Santa Barbara Flood Control District released a 185- page draft study to evaluate future placement of sediment from debris basins. That study that can be downloaded at this link:
BeachSMART Alternatives and Feasibility Study
A slide deck with the key points can be downloaded as well:
Here is the web site:
BeachSMART web site
Here are the notes from a meeting held with representatives of the County on October
12th:
Notes from October 12th meeting
The Flood Control District has asked for a response from the Miramar Beach
Community.
Please add your name to a letter drafted by the Miramar Beach Preservation
Committee.