By the County of Santa Barbara
On February 9, 2023, the Santa Barbara County Community Services Department, Parks Division, will partially reopen Goleta Beach County Park to the public.
Parking, BBQ grills, beach access, and restrooms will be open from sunrise to sunset in the area between the park entrance and pier. The parking lot at the far east end and the pier will remain closed due to damage sustained during the January 2023 storms. While some repairs are underway and assessments of the pier are ongoing, it is anticipated to be several weeks before the east parking lot and pier can reopen safely.
The park’s west end will remain closed due to ongoing emergency beach operations. Work in this area will continue Monday through Saturday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Park visitors should be aware of large trucks entering and exiting the park and keep away from the operation area. The material in this area is unstable, and walking through the work site could lead to an injury.
Work that began on Jan. 11, 2023 is expected to last until the end of March, 2023.
On Monday, Jan. 9, 2023, Santa Barbara County proclaimed a local emergency due to the January 2023 Storm impacts. Goleta Beach Park is an active emergency response site under this declaration and state and federal emergency declarations.
Beach nourishment operations are conducted through emergency permits from state and federal agencies. People traveling on the Obern Trail Path (Atascadero Creek Trail) should use caution when traveling through the park due to operations near the park entrance.
For more information on beach nourishment operations, visit www.countyofsb.org/emergencybeachops
Gee, thanks. So we still can’t get out there and fish or play in the water until the end of March? I haven’t seen any test results from SB’s dirt. Are they testing it to make sure they’re not polluting our beach again?
SacJon do your homework please before posting. The County has a robust site on this work that includes testing results.
Dogs do not belong on the beach SBSAND. Talk about bio-waste. Geez.
Sac, that post has such a whiney tone to it! They are testing and we know that it will take a bit for it to be safe for walking dogs and being barefoot. It is what it is, unfortunately. Also, dumped dirt or not, that is actually normal at a lot of our other beaches to avoid being barefoot on the sand or playing in the water when there is so much rain run off. It’s part of living in SB, always has been.
GT and SBSAND – why are you so whiney and upset over my comments? I’m not stoked about our beach getting dumped on again and being closed for months again. So what? Why do you and others get so riled up because of my opinion? I’m not hurting anyone. Get off my back.
“It’s part of living in SB, always has been.” – avoiding water after a storm for a few days is, sure. Not months and not dumping from other areas. This has only happened twice in my life here since 1976. So yeah, I know what’s it like to live, fish, surf, dive, sail, swim, etc at our beaches. This is not how it’s “always has been.” Take your condescension elsewhere.
GTOWNIE – can you point me to the test results. That’s what I’m asking about.
Exactly. What a joke. I wouldn’t bother fishing in that mud.
C’mon only the best pollution comes from Cito.
Goleta should feel lucky.
LOL
Obviously not. Surprising for a bunch of know it alls.
Yeah GT Townie, I’ve got a swamp in Florida for sale, it’s a great investment. What do you say?
It’s not nourishment folks. It short it is crap being dumped on Goleta Beach and what the officials are trying to sell us it just the same.
Overall, the County of SB has done a stellar job with the beach nourishment operations. Of course there were some slight inconveniences for a few of us, but in no time at all the beach will be back to the way it was before the dumping/replenishment. I personally have no plans for at least a few weeks to fish in that area, but indeed the fish will return. The last time I was fishing off the Goleta Pier all I caught were some old hooks, lures, and fishing line…no fish! Be patient people as summer is right around the corner and we can all enjoy one of SB County’s best beach parks (my fav was Hendry’s, but Goleta has much better access, and lousy waves for the most part.
Answers to the questions, comments & complaints posted here are addressed in the link above at the end of the article. It’s quite informative.
Montecito is dumping sewage at Goleta Beach?
Oh, darn it, I need to read the article before cheering.
Roger, Roger.
MICHELE – I’d love to know that as well. Problem is, if anyone complains/asks questions about SB dumping their dirt at Goleta Beach again, they’re shut down and insulted. Someone did post a really interesting video from the 80s (SAIL I think it was?) but that was about how sand moves around on a beach.
Anyone out there know how this dumped dirt and debris turns into sand?