Oct 1, 2025 | Meetings, 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: Pleasure Point Building Limits, Santa Cruz County: Rio del Mar / Aptos
Attached, please find the questions compiled by CPOA and interested coastal property owners in preparation for our meeting with the Integral Consulting and the County project team regarding the Sea Level Rise (SLR) Vulnerability Assessment Project, on Thursday October 16, 2025 at the Simpkins Center main auditorium from 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. We need to confirm our understanding on two primary issues raised during the Community Working Group session on 9/25/25. We would also like the Integral Consulting and County Project Team to respond to our questions ahead of the 10/16/25 meeting, so we can focus our discussion and questions on unresolved issues and concerns. We are very much appreciative to Supervisor Manu Koenig for agreeing to set up and moderate this important meeting with coastal property owners.
Jul 13, 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: Rio del Mar / Aptos
As promised, Santa Cruz County updated the SLR Vulnerability Assessment Project website with more information about the potential impact on our coastline, key areas of focus, community engagement, a public survey on the future vision for the Santa Cruz Coastline, and a listing of the members of the Community Working Group acting as advisors to the Integral Consulting Team and the project.
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.
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”.
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.
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.
Feb 10, 2024 | 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
CPOA urges the County Board of Supervisors to direct staff to re-issue Request for Proposal (RFP) #23P3-011 Santa Cruz County Sea Level Rise Vulnerability Assessment and Local Coastal Program Amendment, and ensure that the RFP reaches the appropriate contact people at each of the major Coastal Consulting firms and extend the deadline to respond to the RFP by 30 days.
Jan 31, 2024 | California Ocean Protection Council, Santa Cruz County, Santa Cruz County: Opal Cliffs, Santa Cruz County: Pleasure Point / East Cliff Drive, Santa Cruz County: Rio del Mar / Aptos
County staff had recommended Integral Consulting be awarded a grant in the amount of $692,608 to complete a vulnerability assessment of the Santa Cruz County Coastline and to recommend changes to the Local Coastal Plan (Land Use & Implementation Plan) to address coastal erosion and loss of public beaches due to sea level rise for the next 50 – 100 years. We are very concerned that Integral Consulting may have strong ties to the Coastal Commission and would not necessarily best represent the interests of the County and the Coastal Property Owners. CPOA Members are urged to Contact Supervisors Koenig, McPhearson, and Friend to get them to vote on February 13th to put the Vulnerability Assessment and recommended LCP changes for Santa Cruz County back out to bid. We do not want Integral Consulting to get the award!
