The Bureau of Reclamation has released a proposed contract with the Cachuma Operation and Maintenance Board for the "Repayment of Funds Expended for Federally Performed Safety of Dams Act Modification at Lauro Dam and Reservoir" for a 60-day public review and comment period. As a result of new seismic data and changes in state-of-the-art criteria, Lauro Dam and related facilities must be modified to preserve the structural integrity.

The repayment contract was negotiated according to the Safety of Dams Act of 1978, as amended. The Cachuma Operation and Maintenance Board is a California Joint Powers Authority consisting of the Carpinteria Valley Water District, the Montecito Water District, the Goleta Water District, the City of Santa Barbara, and the Santa Ynez River Water Conservation District.

Lauro Dam and Reservoir are located in the foothills north of the City of Santa Barbara, east of San Roque Road, and north of Foothill Road. The dam was constructed in 1952 by Reclamation as part of the Cachuma Project. Lauro Dam and Reservoir are part of a water distribution system that provides municipal, industrial, and irrigation water to communities on the South Coast, including Goleta, Santa Barbara, Montecito, Summerland, and Carpinteria. Lauro Dam is an earth-filled structure with a height of 137 feet, a dam crest length of about 540 feet, and a reservoir capacity of about 640 acre-feet.

Written comments on the proposed repayment contract should be mailed to the Bureau of Reclamation, Attention Ms. Sheryl Carter, 1243 "N" Street, Fresno, CA, 93721 or e-mailed to scarter@mp.usbr.gov. The 60-day public comment period will end February 14, 2006. The repayment contract is available at http://www.usbr.gov/mp/warren_act/index.html. For more information, please contact Ms. Carter at 559-487-5299 (TDD 559-487-5933).