Santa Barbara County leaders are considering a plan that could transform a stretch of the Santa Maria River Levee into a multi-use trail connecting Santa Maria and Guadalupe.
The county has released a draft Environmental Impact Report for the proposed 6.7-mile Santa Maria Levee Trail. The release does not mean the project has been approved — it marks the beginning of a public review process that will help shape what the project could look like in the future.
For many North County residents, the levee is already part of their daily routine. Sophia Garcia, a trail user who grew up in the area, said the space holds personal meaning for her…