The artificial lake was created by the construction of Bradbury Dam, a 201 ft (61 m) earth-fill structure built by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation in 1953.

Its surface area covers 3,100 acres (1,300 ha), with a maximum design capacity of 205,000 acre⋅ft (253,000,000 m3), but it is currently limited to 188,000 acre⋅ft (232,000,000 m3) due to sediment accumulation.

[3] Further storms in February resulted in flood warnings for portions of Lompoc close to the river due to the water being released from the dam.

[12] Santa Barbara County Parks offers cabin and yurt rentals, as well as RV, tent, and group camping.

The lake is stocked with rainbow trout throughout the winter season, and fishing is open all year from shore or boat.

A large campsite on the south shore of Cachuma Lake is administered by the Santa Barbara County Park's division of the Community Services Department.

The University of California, Santa Barbara rowing team regularly practices and races at Cachuma Lake and erected a permanent boathouse there just prior to the 1982-1983 school year.