Posted on March 4, 2026
SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) – With a federal funding problem looming, Santa Barbara is urgently timing its next round of dredging at the Santa Barbara Harbor entrance.
The infill of sand is clogging the opening but it still has a path for vessels coming in and out, mainly at higher tides.
The Harbor Patrol is checking every day to test depth and widths, especially after recent storms with wave action bringing in tons of sand.
“It is going to get narrow and dire for a week, potentially two weeks,” said Wiltshire. Then Pacific Dredge will be in Santa Barbara with the all-electric dredge the city uses.
He also said there is only one round of funding left in the budget. After that no more federal funding has been allocated. That then puts the burden of the $4-million cost on the local budget.
Another concern is the possibility of the harbor entrance getting shut off with another burst of sand especially if the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Blackfin is still docked.
There is also an active commercial fishing fleet in the harbor which serves local and other restaurants with its catch which includes urchin, halibut and rockfish.
Wiltshire said, “this is not normal conditions.”
For now he said, “We do have a light at the end of the tunnel.” That will come when the dredge arrives.
Thursday some people were fishing in areas where there’s normally less sand, but they were able to walk farther out on the sandspit. There was also a man with a metal detector checking exposed sandy areas looking for valuables.
Boats going in and out were very close in the area that can be used. The Harbor Patrol is available for an escort if needed.
