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Santa Cruz County Sustainability Overview



California Local Pin Marker Get To Know A Group

This small organic farm operates as a nonprofit organization that educates the public on sustainability, environmental concerns and nature appreciation. Since 1971, it has exemplified sustainable living through gardening, animal husbandry, food preservation, and other basic skills.

California Local Pin Marker Local Sustainability Digest

CA Abandons Clean-Air Rules on Diesel Trucks

01/14/2025

In a striking setback to reduce California’s air pollution but a win for trucking companies, state regulators have walked away from their ambitious plan to phase out diesel trucks less than a week before President-elect Donald Trump returns to the White House.

Questions Raised About Santa Cruz Wharf Collapse

12/30/2024

Following the collapse of a 150 foot section of the Santa Cruz Wharf, questions about contributing factors are raised. Who or what is to blame? Read on to learn more.

California Local Pin Marker Recent Articles

Santa Cruz Local logo LOCAL NEWS
Decades of Santa Cruz Wharf Repair Backlog Contributed to Vulnerability

A decision to rebuild the Santa Cruz Municipal Wharf is not expected for months, after detailed engineering work is done. (Tom Gigliotti)
Key takeaways

Santa Cruz Local logo LOCAL NEWS
State Money Sought for $45 Million in Damage to Santa Cruz Wharf, Harbor

The end of the Santa Cruz Municipal Wharf is fenced off Dec. 24, a day after large surf tore off an area under repair. (Tom Gigliotti)
SANTA CRUZ >> The California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services is expected to decide …

Good Times logo LOCAL NEWS
Ups & Downs

The quaint little Santa Cruz we’ve known for decades has been booming in 2024, like no other time since the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake.It’s been a boom year for construction all over the county. It’s also been a boom for …

Good Times logo LOCAL NEWS
Go With the Flow

There are two sides to a levee, but a conservationist and a farmer have found common ground at the swampy mouth of the Pajaro River.

Good Times logo LOCAL NEWS
Coastal Watershed Council Finds Romance in Our River

The Coastal Watershed Council wants you to fall in love. Since 1995, this nonprofit group has sought to ignite Santa Cruzans with a passion for the San Lorenzo River and the desire to explore, enhance and protect this waterway that …

Hilltromper Santa Cruz logo LOCAL NEWS
Wetland Restoration at Beach Ranch Benefits Nature, Wildlife, and People

Conservation of 247 acres by the Pajaro River preserves habitat, safeguards farmland, and builds climate resilience.

San Lorenzo Valley Post logo LOCAL NEWS
San Lorenzo Valley Water District to Replace Aging Water Meters

The San Lorenzo Valley Water District (SLVWD) has been awarded a $100,000 grant from the Federal Bureau of Reclamation to update hundreds of water meters in Ben Lomond, California. A total of 443 water meters are scheduled to be replaced …

The Pajaronian logo LOCAL NEWS
Vital Questions About the Rail Project

The Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission’s (RTC) $9 million Zero Emission Passenger Rail and Trail project study (ZEPRT) has generated heated debate and confusion.

The Pajaronian logo LOCAL NEWS
Students Help Spruce Up Struve Slough

The organization responsible for keeping Watsonville’s wetlands healthy joined forces with city officials and a herd of volunteers Saturday to spruce up the Struve Slough trail.

Tahoe Daily Tribune logo LOCAL NEWS
Sierra Nevada May Hold Key to Meet California’s Ambitious 30×30 Goal

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. – California's 30×30 goal was a topic at the Sierra Nevada Alliance Conservation Conference held at Lake Tahoe Community College, Nov. 7-8. In 2020, California Governor Gavin Newsom committed the state to conserving 30% of lands …

Featured

The city of Santa Cruz gets just over 20 percent of its water from Loch Lomond in the mountain community of Lompico.
Where’s Our Water?
Santa Cruz is one of the few California communities that receive 100 percent of its water from local rainfall.
In Santa Cruz County, 10 separate entities manage the water supply.
Santa Cruz County Water, Explained
Santa Cruz County's water system is run by a decentralized collection of entities.
Water is a human right under California law, but it doesn’t always work out that way.
Agriculture and Water Shortages in the State’s Breadbasket, Explained
There are many causes contributing to this crisis. And as you may already know, this situation really is nuts.
RCDs look after the land, whether it’s used for grazing, growing, or getting out into nature.
California Dirt
RCDs were created to avoid a repeat of the Dust Bowl. Now they work with landowners to preserve the air, water and natural habitats that sustain us all.
From the coast to the mountains, Santa Cruz County’s landscape has given way to human development. But residents can make all parts of the region more hospitable to native species.
Backyard Ecology
No matter where you live, you can help native flora and fauna.
Moss Landing in Monterey Bay is the world’s largest battery storage facility for solar and other renewable energy.
Solar Power and California’s Clean Energy Goals
How the sun is helping push the state toward 100 percent renewable energy.
Dairy products are California’s top agricultural commodity, but the industry is often criticized for its impact on the environment.
Sustainable Sustenance
Greener ways to feed the world’s growing population
How California reclamation districts turned millions of acres of wetlands into fertile agricultural land, starting in the earliest days of the Gold Rush.
Reclamation Districts: Turning ‘Swamps’ Into Farmland
From its earliest days as a state, California has been trying to turn marshes into productive land.
Long-duration energy storage, such as this thermal energy storage facility, allows renewable energy sources to operate at full capacity without overloading the power grid.
How California Leads the Race For Long Duration Energy Storage
For renewable energy sources such as solar and wind to be viable, ways to store the power they create are essential.
California has a goal of 6 million heat pumps cooling and heating buildings by 2030.
6 Million New Heat Pumps: Essential to California's Climate Future
Installing 6 million heat pumps by 2030 is essential if California is to reach its goal of net zero carbon emissions.
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