The Gaviota Coast Conservancy has filed a complaint with the Santa Barbara County Planning Department and the California Coastal Commission over the alleged “disking” over 300 acres on the Santa Barbara Ranch Naples property. 

“The county requires permits before undertaking this kind of activity, which represents a change in use from what has occurred over the past 20 years on this site,” said the group’s attorney, Marc Chytilo. “None of the agricultural exemptions apply when the new practice reflects a change from grazing to cultivated agriculture.”

The disking occurred Jan. 13, before predicted rainfall, increasing erosion and sediment in runoff into the Naples Marine Protected Area, Chytilo said.

Disking involves cutting 6 to 12 inches into the soil and turning over the top layer.

“Major earthwork before a storm is a reckless agricultural practice, regardless of the need for permits,” said Guner Tautrim, a Gaviota Coast farmer and member of the Gaviota Coast Conservancy board of directors. “These lands have been highly productive pasture lands for generations, going back to the time when a dairy operated on the site.

“Grazing is impossible now, and a change to cultivated agriculture doesn’t make sense due to limited water supplies.”

John Zorovich, deputy director of energy, minerals in the compliance division, told Noozhawk on Monday that the Gaviota Coast Conservancy filed the complaint with the county last week, and now officials are investigating. 

“No one has been to the site yet,” Zorovich said. “We’re doing our investigation.”

Zorovich said he was unsure of the timeline of when the county would complete its investigation. 

— Noozhawk staff writer Joshua Molina can be reached at jmolina@noozhawk.com. Follow Noozhawk on Twitter: @noozhawk, @NoozhawkNews and @NoozhawkBiz. Connect with Noozhawk on Facebook.