Bradbury Dam, Embankment dam in Santa Barbara County, United States

Bradbury Dam is an embankment dam in Santa Barbara County that spans the Santa Ynez River valley. The reservoir behind it provides water storage for the region while offering recreational opportunities like fishing and boating.

The dam was built between 1950 and 1953 by the United States Bureau of Reclamation as part of the Cachuma Project for regional water supply. It was renamed in 1971 from Cachuma Dam to honor C. W. Bradbury, a key advocate for water development in the area.

The name Cachuma comes from the Chumash, the Native people of the Santa Ynez Valley; the reservoir and dam carry it, while the dam itself honours C. W. "Brad" Bradbury, a local water-supply proponent. The reservoir is the county's main water source, and the name change in 1971 marked his role in securing it.

The dam lies about 9.7 km west of Santa Ynez, in hilly terrain where surrounding ridges rise to Santa Ynez Peak, 1,308 m high, roughly 6.2 km to the northeast. The structure stands at about 232 m above sea level. Approach roads wind through valleys and wooded slopes, so allow extra driving time.

The dam features a gate-controlled concrete spillway system that can handle extreme water flows during heavy rainfall or rapid snowmelt. This specialized design allows the structure to release water safely when levels become critical.