May 31, 2025 | Santa Cruz County, Santa Cruz County: Coastal Access / Public Right-Of-Way, Santa Cruz County: Opal Cliffs, Santa Cruz County: Pleasure Point / East Cliff Drive, Santa Cruz County: Pleasure Point Building Limits, Santa Cruz County: Rio del Mar / Aptos
The Community Working Group for the County SLR Vulnerability Assessment Project had it’s 3rd meeting on May 1, 2025 to review the preliminary study findings, Felt Maps showing coastal erosion with each foot of SLR, and to suggest potential Adaptation Strategies and Triggers for each Neighborhood. For more information see the CPOA Update, or go to the County SLR Vulnerability Assessment Project website at: https://cdi.santacruzcountyca.gov/Planning/PolicyPlanning/SeaLevelRiseVulnerabilityAssessmentProject.aspx, and review the draft Felt Maps by Neighborhood at: https://felt.com/map/SC-County-Hazards-ZIDVtY8cSQmIPs162Pg4AC?loc=36.957259,-121.980867,17.91z
May 31, 2025 | Pajaro Dunes, Santa Cruz County, Santa Cruz County: Coastal Access / Public Right-Of-Way, Santa Cruz County: Opal Cliffs, Santa Cruz County: Pleasure Point / East Cliff Drive, Santa Cruz County: Rio del Mar / Aptos
The Community Working Group for the County SLR Vulnerability Assessment Project had it’s 3rd meeting on May 1, 2025 to review the preliminary study findings, Felt Maps showing coastal erosion with each foot of SLR, and to suggest potential Adaptation Strategies and Triggers for each Neighborhood. CPOA Board of Directors provided input on the potential adaptation strategies and triggers to address SLR and coastal erosion for 1) Twin Lakes/Corcoran Lagoon/East Cliff Drive, 2) Pleasure Point/Opal Cliffs, 3) Pot Belly Beach/Aptos/Beach Dr/Seacliff, and 4) Pajaro Dunes. Also CPOA has expressed a number of concerns and comments regarding the Vulnerability Project being conducted by Integral Consulting Group.
Apr 11, 2025 | Meetings
Stay informed and share your vision and ideas with Santa Cruz County. The County is hosting a virtual listening session on April 30th from 5:00pm – 6:00pm PST via Zoom. Please register for this Listening Session at https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN__hmSS1kKQuaei3binAxZGA
Mar 2, 2025 | California Coastal News, Santa Cruz County, Santa Cruz County: Capitola / Depot Hill, Santa Cruz County: Coastal Access / Public Right-Of-Way, Santa Cruz County: Opal Cliffs, Santa Cruz County: Pleasure Point / East Cliff Drive, Santa Cruz County: Rio del Mar / Aptos
Please use the attached web link to access the County SLR Vulnerability Assessment Project and the Map for the Santa Cruz County coastline
Mar 2, 2025 | California Coastal News, Santa Cruz County, Santa Cruz County: Capitola / Depot Hill, Santa Cruz County: Coastal Access / Public Right-Of-Way, Santa Cruz County: Opal Cliffs, Santa Cruz County: Pleasure Point / East Cliff Drive, Santa Cruz County: Rio del Mar / Aptos
At the 2nd meeting of the County Community Working Group on 2/19/25, the project team presented the preliminary findings of the SLR Vulnerability Assessment Study for the Santa Cruz County coastline. The Sea Level is projected to rise 0.6 to 1.0 feet by 2050, and 1.6 to 4.9 feet by 2100 (Statewide average: Intermediate Low – Intermediate High scenarios), CA Sea Level Rise Guidance Policy for 2024. The Consultants evaluated the incremental impact on coastal resources and shoreline protection of each foot (1 – 3 feet) of Sea Level Rise over the next 20 – 30 years, and the potential impact of 4-6 feet of SLR over the following 30 – 70 years (up to 2100). Countywide, there would be approximately 200 structures “at risk” with existing armoring and one foot of SLR, 1,500 structures “at risk” without any armoring. With three feet of SLR, 500 structures would be “at risk” with existing armoring and 2,400 structures would be “at risk” without any armoring. County beaches would be approximately 75 feet narrower on the average with existing armoring. Most vulnerabilities are caused by erosion to residential buildings, with Seacliff, Rio Del Mar and Aptos neighborhoods having the highest number of structures “at risk”.
Oct 22, 2024 | California Coastal Commision News, California Ocean Protection Council, Meetings
Steve Forer, President of CPOA-SC, has been appointed to the Community Working Group for the Santa Cruz County Sea Level Rise Vulnerability Assessment and Recommended Revisions to the County LCP for Coastal Beaches and Bluffs. The County of Santa Cruz is updating its coastal planning policies through a Local Coastal Amendment to address these issues. The study will consider the economic and environmental impact on land use and existing coastal structures, utilities and infrastructure, recreational and coastal access, transportation and coastal resources. Initially, six neighborhood study areas were proposed by the Consultants. See initial comments submitted by CPOA
Sep 18, 2024 | Articles - Misc
Amici City of Del Mar, City of
Dana Point, Capistrano Bay District, Gary Grossman, Pajaro Dunes
Association, Pajaro Dunes North Association, Coastal Property Owners
Association of Santa Cruz, Alliance of Coastal Marin Villages, and Smart
Coast California respectfully submit that the words “existing structures” in
Section 30235 of the Coastal Act are necessarily and properly interpreted as
private and public structures existing at the time the Commission acts on an
application for coastal development permit.
Sep 2, 2024 | California Coastal Commision News, Santa Cruz County, Santa Cruz County: Opal Cliffs, Santa Cruz County: Pleasure Point / East Cliff Drive, Santa Cruz County: Rio del Mar / Aptos
CPOA’s Comment letter challenges the CCC’s authority to REQUIRE that all coastal jurisdictions and property owners address the worst-case scenarios 4-5 (4.6 – 6.4 feet of SLR by 2100) in their LCPs or CDPs. These scenarios will bankrupt many counties, force property owners to remove their costal structures, resulting in “Managed Retreat”, “takings” of private coastal properties along most of the California Coastline, and the loss of over $2.5 billion dollars/year in coastal property taxes.
Aug 1, 2024 | California Coastal Commision News, California Ocean Protection Council
CCC just released a draft of the SLR Guidance Policy Document for 2024. According to the most recent best available science from the Ocean Protection Council (June, 2024), by the year 2100, sea levels in California may rise by 1.6 to 3.1 feet by 2100, under the most likely scenarios 2 (Intermediate Low) to Scenario 3 (intermediate) with a Probability of 49% to 96% (OPC 2024). • However, the California Coastal Commission in their recent draft Sea Level Rise Policy Guidance document (July, 2024) is requiring all coastal jurisdictions and property owners to plan for the worst case Scenarios 3 – 5 (Intermediate Low to High) an increase of 3.1 – 6.6 feet in SRL with a Probability of only 8% to 49%. This is an extreme position, which will result in potential over-kill in planning, designing and implementing strategies for future coastal development. These scenarios will bankrupt many counties, force property owners to remove their costal structures, resulting in “Managed Retreat”, “takings” of private coastal properties along most of the California Coastline, and the loss of over $2.5 billion dollars/year in costal property taxes.
Feb 12, 2024 | Meetings, Santa Cruz County, Santa Cruz County: Capitola / Depot Hill, Santa Cruz County: Coastal Access / Public Right-Of-Way, Santa Cruz County: Opal Cliffs, Santa Cruz County: Pleasure Point / East Cliff Drive, Santa Cruz County: Rio del Mar / Aptos
CPOA urges the Board of Supervisors to direct staff to re-issue RFP, ensure it reaches the appropriate contact people at each of the major Coastal Consulting firms, and to extend the deadline by 30 days.
