Santa Cruz County Water Articles

Dan Haifley, a long-time ocean conservationist and former director of O'Neill's Sea Odyssey and Save Our Shores, gives us an update on the multiple threats to ocean ecosystems and marine sanctuaries posed by the cuts to federal staff and budgets …

About 80 people gathered Monday in the historic Aromas Community Grange after the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) selected the Pajaro River Watershed as one of five watersheds to pilot the Watershed Resilience Program.

Santa Cruz Water Department has announced that it will relocate 3.7 miles of the Newell Creek Pipeline out of Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park and under Graham Hill Road to ensure continued reliability of the critical water supply pipeline.

Heidi Luckenbach is the Water Director for the City of Santa Cruz. In this role, she is responsible for maintaining the water system's infrastructure, ensuring a reliable climate-resilient water supply, advancing environmental sustainability initiatives, and maintaining financial stability. Heidi has …

Two new tanks have been installed at a Graham Hill Road water treatment facility, and a new 1 million gallon water tank is due this year. (City of Santa Cruz)
Key takeaways

The Pure Water Soquel project shuttles treated water from Santa Cruz to mid-county and aims to prevent saltwater intrusion. (Soquel Creek Water District)
SOQUEL >> A four-year, $140 million construction project to bring more reliable water to Soquel, Aptos and …

With the overwhelming approval of Measure Q, formally known as the “Santa Cruz County Safe Drinking Water, Clean Beaches, Wildfire Risk Reduction and Wildlife Protection Act,” County staff and partners are establishing the structure necessary to fulfill voters’ vision, including …

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.

On Jan. 28, the Department of Water Resources (DWR) announced an update to the State Water Project allocation forecast for 2025. Original article published at Rancho Cordova Independent

Elevated chemical levels in the water at the Rountree Detention Center near Watsonville have prompted work on a new water filter system. (Nik Altenberg — Santa Cruz Local)
WATSONVILLE >> After elevated levels of “forever chemicals” or PFAS were found …

The San Lorenzo Valley Water District released its draft 2025 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan (LHMP) for public review. The draft plan will be presented at the district's February 6 SLVWD Board of Directors meeting.

Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History has made bold strides towards accessibility and community connection through recent signage installations at Neary Lagoon.

Trump backs Newsom's Delta plans in a big way, but are the President's sweeping anti-environmental orders so broad that the Governor and other California leaders...

San Lorenzo Valley Water District (SLVWD) has been awarded a $100,000 grant to update hundreds of water meters in Ben Lomond.

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.

By Dan Bacher Gavin Newsom continued his “California Jobs First” tour last week with a press event at a farm in Colusa in the Sacramento Valley where the...

The Scotts Valley Water District (SVWD) will begin construction of a new production well at 5299 Scotts Valley Drive this winter. The work begins by removing a former commercial building at the project site before the start of well drilling. …

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 …

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

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 …