The beaches in Isla Vista will be closed from 8 a.m. Friday, April 4-8 a.m. Monday, April 7 due to the potential for a “Deltopia” event.

The closure is to prevent a re-occurrence of the destructive and dangerous conditions that resulted from the 2009 Floatopia.

The Santa Barbara County Code (Section 26-11) authorizes the Community Services Department to close any county recreation area including beaches.

Following the 2009 Floatopia event, beaches at Isla Vista were left strewn with trash and debris, including human waste. The event had no provisions for the health and well-being of the public, including no facilities for human sanitation or trash collection.

As a result, the Santa Barbara County acted to close the Isla Vista beaches for similar events since 2010.
 
The planned April 4-6 Deltopia event is not a sanctioned event, and there are no approved permits issued.

“As such, the County Community Services Department will declare the Isla Vista beaches closed to public entry to protect public health and safety and to protect the beach from excessive waste and litter,” the county said.

The Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office will enforce the closure.