Transcript San Lorenzo River Lagoon Managing for

San Lorenzo River Lagoon
Managing for Multiple Benefits
City of Santa Cruz
Conservation Collaborative
Environmental Science Associates
Hagar Environmental Science
Phillip Williams & Associates
Revell Coastal, LLC
2ND NATURE Inc.
Strelow Consulting
Many rivers in
California were
developed in the late
1800s and early 1900s
- impacts extended
throughout the
watershed
Most rivers were
narrowed and
disconnected from
their historic
floodplains
Maintaining an open
mouth of the lagoon
masked conflicts with
flooding &
groundwater in
downtown areas
1875 – City of Santa Cruz incorporated
1900 – Venetian Water Carnivals
Some History
and Where We
Are Today
1907 – Boardwalk construction
1955 - City of Santa Cruz Flood
1957-59 – Flood control project built
1959 – Branciforte Creek channelized
1961 – Boardwalk expansion completed
1964 – SC Harbor built
1973 – Endangered Species Act
1976 California Coastal Act
1987 – Louff Carousel & Giant Dipper declared National
Historic Landmark
1989 – Boardwalk is State Historic Landmark
1989 – Loma Prieta Earthquake
1996 and 1997 Coho and Steelhead Listed
1999 – USACOE rebuilds levees
The River and Lagoon is a
highly altered environment
now and is governed by
local, state and federal laws
Habitat
Priorities
&
Conflicts
• Highly altered system
• Limited access to historic floodplain
• Connection to upstream areas
• Needs to be closed for good fish
habitat
Aquatic Species
Beach Morphology
• goby, steelhead, lamprey, coho,
marine species (29 species total)
•
Since 1963, Main Beach width
has increased by 140 feet at San
Lorenzo point
• This “one not like the others”
Beach access and safety –
lifeguards, water quality, etc.
• Fish needs versus human needs
•
Sea Level Rise
● What will this mean for Main
Beach and lagoon?
Water Quality
Neighborhood Flooding
• Costly solutions - streets, homes,
businesses, yards, bike path
What Are
Our Goals?
Our Plan
• Reduce frequency of artificial breaches of
barrier beach
• Maintain a closed lagoon to provide habitat
for aquatic species concurrent with
acceptable water quality conditions
• Maintain the lagoon elevation 5.0 on trestle
gage to prevent flooding of surrounding
public and private properties
• Provide public access and lifeguard response
ability to the Main Beach
 Will test a solution in 2017
 In 2016 we will conduct temporary outlet channels
 Monitor results and conditions
Thanks & Questions
Donna Meyers
Principal
[email protected]