Santa Ynez River, River system in Santa Barbara County, United States.
The Santa Ynez River is a river in Santa Barbara County, California, rising in the Santa Ynez Mountains and flowing generally westward before reaching the Pacific Ocean. Several dams cross its course, creating reservoirs that supply water to the surrounding region.
Spanish explorers of the Portolà expedition first recorded this river in 1769, calling it Río Grande de San Verardo. The name changed after a nearby mission was established, and the river has carried its current name ever since.
The river takes its name from Mission Santa Inés, founded in the early 1800s and dedicated to Saint Agnes of Rome. The Spanish form of the saint's name gradually shifted to the anglicized Santa Ynez that appears on maps today.
Lake Cachuma is the most accessible point along the river and is easy to reach by car from nearby towns. Spring and fall tend to offer cooler temperatures, which makes outdoor time along the water more enjoyable.
The river supports a population of California golden beavers whose dams create pools that shelter the Tidewater goby, a fish found on the endangered species list. Without the beavers' work, these fish would have far fewer places to survive along the lower stretches of the river.
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