Santa Cruz County Resilience Digest

An effort spearheaded by the Newsom administration and congressional leaders resulted in Congress authorizing and accelerating the transfer of seven C-130 aircraft from the U.S. Coast Guard to CalFire, expanding California’s firefighting fleet.

Santa Cruz County is the 15th most vulnerable county nationwide, according to data recently compiled by the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
More than 93% of the county's total geography is made up of unincorporated regions where more than half of its population resides.

2023 has broken climate records, accompanied by extreme weather which has left a trail of devastation, according to the World Meteorological Organization.

I’m part of a band of humans who call themselves nomads, except I’m a part-time digital nomad. The “part-time” is because I still have a house — a sticks-and-bricks, as the nomads call it.

The Pajaro Valley Water Management Agency, which turns 40 next year, has launched its Strategic Plan 2024+, which outlines the history of the agency, its mission, and in-depth goals for the future.

The Rotary Club of Freedom has assembled a group of local musicians to pay tribute to the beloved once-local folk singer while also raising funds for Pajaro flood victims.

Residents of Planada and Pajaro want state aid to help alleviate debt incurred from rebuilding after January floods. Local officials want some money to go elsewhere.

Much of California could get hit by extreme weather conditions this winter. A major storm is due to hit Northern California this week.

More than 1.5 million acres of forest have been burned or scarred in California. Climbers go high in trees to grab pine cones that could help in reforestation.

The city of Santa Cruz and partnering consultant Farallon Strategies held a virtual public meeting to further gauge the community’s feelings about West Cliff Drive’s role in the city in the next 50 years.

Representatives from California State Parks, Save the Redwoods League and the Waddell Creek Association celebrated the grand opening of the new Rancho del Oso Welcome Center, which serves as a gateway to the western coastal side of Big Basin Redwoods State Park.

Forecasters have struggled to understand why tropical storms sometimes blow up into major hurricanes. Scientists have shed some light on this forecasting challenge.

Los Angeles Times writer Rosanna Xia’s new book, “California Against the Sea,” examines the postwar coastal development boom and the challenges facing the 27 million Californians who live in the coastal zone as sea-level rise and coastal erosion become facts of life.

Local leaders say the number of impacted homes and people displaced will only grow as the climate crisis intensifies, and they have set their sights on exploring a new tactic they think could both aid in the recovery effort and help residents prepare for the future.

"It has been an all hands on deck situation since early January," Santa Cruz County Assistant Director of Public Works Steve Wiesner told the Sentinel.

The report seeks to identify transportation infrastructure assets that may be impacted by climate hazards and then develop an order in which those assets should undergo a more detailed analysis for climate adaptation.

The council will first consider a professional services agreement for $1.19 million to repair Cliff Drive, which suffered extensive damages during last season's winter storms.

The end of 2023 is less than three months away, but one event the year is likely going to be remembered for in Santa Cruz County was the breach of the Pajaro River levee that left the community of Pajaro flooded for weeks.

The San Lorenzo River mouth was breached by city workers Sept. 29 to prevent flooding of the Santa Cruz Boardwalk and adjoining neighborhoods.

Watsonville Mayor Eduardo Montesino reminds the community about the importance of being prepared for heavy rains and the possibility of flooding.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency has identified nearly 500 “zones” that are ill-prepared to tolerate flooding, earthquakes, heat waves, wildfires, landslides and other natural hazards. California topped all states with 51 total zones, followed by 35 in Texas and 32 in Florida.

Construction crews are set to begin work next week on a $7.7 million project to rebuild and reopen this seaside town’s wharf, which was wrecked in winter storms.

A new study that found human-caused climate warming has increased the frequency of fast-spreading California wildfires has come into question from the unlikeliest of critics—its own lead author.

“We’re going to have another storm; we’re going to have another extreme weather event,” said Rep. Jimmy Panetta. “I’m obviously proud of what happened in regards to the response, but I also know it wasn’t perfect ... and that’s where we can get better.”

After California lost over 4 million acres to fire in 2020, the state funded Task Force Rattlesnake, with National Guardsmen to assist Cal Fire.

The effort to restore the currently impassable Bethany Curve bridge on West Cliff Drive moved forward at the Aug. 22 Santa Cruz City Council meeting.

Homeowners in the Fallen Leaf neighborhood in Boulder Creek said they are frustrated that the building process has taken a long time in Santa Cruz County.

Three years after the CZU Complex Lightning Fire, Big Basin Water Company can once again operate the local sewer system. Homeowners say one of the obstacles to rebuilding has been the county was not approving permits because sewer lines were not connected.

Summer heatwaves can strain California’s electricity supply, prompting energy emergency notifications to appear across highway signs and social media.

Heading into peak wildfire season, PG&E has shifted its strategy, focusing less aggressively on trimming trees and relying more on technology to de-energize damaged lines.

Gavin Newsom signed an executive order aimed at accelerating levee repairs and debris removal to ensure communities along the Pajaro River are prepared for the winter.

Huge winter rains and snow are continuing to reduce fire risk, experts say.