In January of 2023, a whopping nine inches of rain fell on Orcutt which was second only to 1995 when over twelve inches of rain deluged Orcutt. The downpour during the first few days of the new year three and half years ago caused the stormwater basin at the southeast corner of Bradley Road and Union Valley Parkway to fail.  

          Eight properties on Parkland Drive, Hibiscus Court and Country Hill Road, including one home that was knocked off its foundation, were severely damaged by January 9th downpour of water and resultant debris.

          15 plaintiffs who owned eight properties filed a lawsuit in May of 2024 Santa Maria Superior Court.   The plaintiffs were awarded 4.5 million dollars from defendants Santa Barbara County, the County Flood Control and Water Conservation District, and West Bay Agriculture Holdings, for agriculture operations near Highway 101 and Union Valley Parkway. 

          The retention basin at the southeast corner of Union Valley Parkway and Bradley Road collapsed after it filled with rain and overflow from Mud Lake located at the corner of Via Santa Maria and Kenneth Avenue.  West Bay provided $525,000 in the settlement after it was alleged plastic hoops on the land caused increased flooding.      

 Steve Southwick reporting