80th Anniversary Timeline

1940s – Water District Formed to Battle Severe Drought

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In the midst of WWII, Goleta Valley was battling a brutal drought that was drying up the entire South Coast…

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1950s – Cachuma Project Rescues Water-Short Goleta Valley

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Goleta residents joined other County citizens voting to approve the Cachuma project by a 3-to-1 margin…

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1950s and 1960s – Vast Water Infrastructure System Constructed in the Goleta Valley

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Most of the basic water infrastructure in the Goleta Valley was built in the 1950s and ‘60s…

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1970s –The Goleta Groundwater Basin

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The Goleta Groundwater Basin plays a critical role in the District’s water supply portfolio, especially during periods of drought…

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1980s – Water Conservation Leader

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Ongoing water shortages led Goleta Water District to become a national leader in water conservation…

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1990s and 2000s – Drought and New Water Supplies

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Even the most innovative conservation programs could not balance water supply and demand during the epic drought that struck in the late 1980s and early 1990s…

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2010s and 2020s… and Beyond – Continued Investment In Water Supplies

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Today, the District has invested in, developed, and maintains a diverse water supply portfolio that meets the water supply needs of the Goleta Valley now and into the future…

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