Lake Cachuma, reservoir in Santa Barbara County, California

Lake Cachuma is a 3,100-acre reservoir on the Santa Ynez River in Santa Barbara County, California, formed by Bradbury Dam, a 201-foot earth-fill structure completed in 1953. The lake lies beside State Route 154 and stores water for five agencies from Santa Ynez to Carpinteria.

The lake was created in 1953 when the Bradbury Dam was completed across the Santa Ynez River. This project was built to store water for the region and provide a reliable supply during dry seasons for local agriculture and communities.

The name Cachuma comes from the Barbareño Chumash word aqitsu'm, meaning "sign", via the village the Spanish spelled Aquitsumu. The Neal Taylor Nature Center, formerly the Cachuma Lake Nature Center, displays exhibits on the area's Chumash and natural history; admission is free and it is open year-round.

The lake is open year-round for fishing and boating, with docks and boat ramps available for visitors with vessels. Swimming and water skiing are not permitted to protect the water quality for drinking, though kayaks and small boats are welcome with proper safety precautions.

The lake serves as a training ground for the University of California, Santa Barbara rowing team, which maintains a boathouse near the water for its athletes. Visitors often spot bald eagles perching in trees around the shoreline and soaring over the water during observation tours.