San Lorenzo River Lagoon Managing for Multiple Benefits

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 2 ND NATURE Inc. Strelow Consulting

Many rivers in California were developed in the late 1800 s and early 1900 s - 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 Beach Morphology • • Since 1963, Main Beach width has increased by 140 feet at San Lorenzo point Beach access and safety – lifeguards, water quality, etc. Sea Level Rise ● What will this mean for Main Beach and lagoon? • • Highly altered system Limited access to historic floodplain Connection to upstream areas Needs to be closed for good fish habitat Aquatic Species • goby, steelhead, lamprey, coho, marine species (29 species total) • This “one not like the others” Water Quality • Fish needs versus human needs 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 ² Will test a solution in 2017 ² In 2016 we will conduct temporary outlet channels ² Monitor results and conditions

Thanks & Questions Donna Meyers Principal conservecollab@gmail. com