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Santa Cruz County Sustainability Overview



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EcoFarm’s goal is to transform the food system from the ground up by nurturing safe, healthy, just, and ecologically sustainable farms and communities.

California Local Pin Marker Local Sustainability Digest

The Salton Sea Is California’s Most Imperiled Lake. Can a New Conservancy Save It?

03/11/2025

A new conservancy will oversee work to improve vegetation, water quality and natural habitat in the Salton Sea. Will nearly half a billion dollars in projects be enough?

With Reservoir Levels in Good Shape, State’s Water Managers Increase Delivery Forecasts

02/28/2025

State and federal water managers have announced significant increases to water allocations across California thanks to early February storms and healthy reservoir levels.

California Local Pin Marker Recent Articles

The Pajaronian logo LOCAL NEWS
A Watchful Eye on the Wetlands

Dozens of volunteers joined forces with a crew from Watsonville Wetlands Watch and the City of Watsonville on Feb. 1 for a day of tending local wetlands as part of the annual World Wetlands Day.

Santa Cruz Local logo LOCAL NEWS
New Group to Oversee $7 Million in Land Work Through Measure Q in Santa Cruz County

A board is forming to oversee $7 million in anticipated tax revenue from Measure Q in Santa Cruz County. (Stephen Baxter — Santa Cruz Local file)
SANTA CRUZ >> Applications are open to oversee about $7 million annually for environmental …

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.

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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