There had been interest in a harbor in Santa Barbara going back as far as 1850, but the federal government was not willing to fund one. In the early 1920s, interest in a harbor grew but money was still a problem. In 1926, Max Fleishmann offered the City $200,000 toward a harbor if the City would match the amount. Mr. Fleischmann thought the City needed a harbor and he also wanted a safe haven for his 250 yacht, the “Haida.” Late that year a bond measure passed and construction began on a detached breakwater using rock quarried on Santa Cruz Island. Mr. Fleishmann had to contribute an additional $250,000 before the project was completed in 1928.
As outlined in the “Dredging” discussion below, sand immediately began accreting in the Harbor once the breakwater was constructed. In hopes of solving the shoaling problem, the breakwater was extended to shore in 1930. Over the next seven years Leadbetter Beach and the current Harbor Commercial areas were created through sand accretion. The sand spit soon formed at the end of the breakwater while downcoast beaches were experiencing problems due to erosion. Lawsuits were filed against the City by both private owners and by beach resort hotel owners downcoast.
Federal dredging in the Harbor was authorized in 1935 at an initial cost of $30,000 per year. In 1992, dredging of the navigation channel was being coordinated by the Army Corps of Engineers at a cost of approximately $800,000 per year. Numerous studies have been done over the years attempting to solve the various problems associated with storm damage and sand transport. Dredging of the Harbor is crucial for local Harbor users and for the replenishment of beaches downcoast.
The Harbor has suffered considerable damage from storms in the past, particularly winter storms from the southeast. Major storm damage occurred in 1963, 1973, 1978 and 1983. The 1983 storm damage was from several storms, including a “100 year storm.” The sandspit was breached and sand filled the channel, closing the Harbor for six weeks. Half of Marinas 1 and 2 were severely damaged and Marinas 3 and 4 were heavily damaged. Total Harbor damages were about $3 million, and the loss to the commercial fishermen and others who rely on the Harbor was in excess of one million dollars.
Since the 1980’s the harbor has been expanded, and is in fact being expanded and renovated as of May 2014. It was also closed briefly in 2014 due to a minor winter storm that left the main channel too shallow to navigate safely, but was quickly dredged out. We hope this information is useful for folks who like historical data. We like to share.