September 25, 2023

San Lorenzo River Pump #2 Returns, Thanks to the Water Department's Outstanding Efforts

After months of downtime due to bearing failure, San Lorenzo River Pump #2 is back online thanks to the fantastic work of the Water Department. While long lead times delayed the arrival of a new pump, our Production staff acted swiftly. They ordered a replacement and sent the damaged pump for repair. Last week, the refurbished pump was successfully reinstalled. The return of SLR Pump #2 to full-service last week is a huge milestone as we continue to work toward recovery from a demanding and challenging winter. We commend Jay Mims for his exceptional leadership in swiftly restoring the pump station's capacity despite manufacturing delays and long lead times for parts. His team of electricians and mechanics played a vital role in keeping our system running smoothly.

Santa Cruz Fire Department Supports Prospect Heights Firewise Yard Waste Cleanup

The Prospect Heights Firewise group hosted its 5th annual neighborhood yard cleanup last weekend.  Donating three Green Waste dumpsters, the Fire Department helped Firewise to advance the goal of reducing wildfire risks by clearing out vegetation and establishing defensible space around homes. Thirty-nine neighbors participated, filling all three dumpsters and raising $261 in donations. The Fire Department looks forward to continuing the partnership with the Prospect Heights Firewise group to enhance the community's overall wildfire safety.



Exciting Discoveries in

Fall Fish Surveys



Our fall fish surveys have just wrapped up and we've made some thrilling discoveries! 

In the San Lorenzo River lagoon, we spotted a robust adult steelhead along with a good number of juvenile steelhead, a testament to our ecosystem's health. We also encountered juvenile chinook salmon. Though chinook are not considered to be native to the San Lorenzo River, their presence here is further testament to the improving health of the river. We also observed juvenile Coho salmon in Laguna Creek lagoon. Coho are on the verge of extinction and the City has made tremendous efforts to improve conditions in Laguna Creek. It was extremely gratifying to see that they are doing well there!

We're delighted to welcome new members from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and Cal Trout as they dive into our work and connect with partners. Stay tuned for more updates as we continue our conservation efforts. Thanks for the photo from Noriko Kawamoto!

Street Maintenance Division Assists with the Breach of the San Lorenzo River

Two operators in the Street Maintenance Division assisted with carefully breaching the San Lorenzo River last week. Crews needed the river to open so that maintenance could be done on the culvert at the river mouth. Lower river levels also benefit the San Lorenzo River Vegetation Management Project upstream.

Municipal Wharf

Repaving Underway

The Street Maintenance Division worked with Parks crews on repaving sections of the Municipal Wharf. This work consists of removing broken asphalt, making repairs to the wooden pylons beneath, and then applying a fresh layer of asphalt.



Resource Recovery Helps with Railroad Cleanup

This week, Resource Recovery's Collection Crew assisted on the emergency railroad cleanup at Pogonip.



City of Santa Cruz

City Manager's Office

809 Center Street

Santa Cruz CA 95060

santacruzca.gov

831-420-5030