Tree removal leads to temporary closure on Big Basin Highway
Caltrans will temporarily close a section of southbound Highway 236 (Big Basin Highway) left on Ridge Drive in the Boulder Creek community from Tuesday, July 8, through Friday, July 11, from 9am-2pm, to safely remove large dying Douglas fir trees between First Street and Ridge Drive.
There will be a full road closure in both directions. Marked detours will be in place within the surrounding area.
Detour Routes:
- Northbound Hwy. 236: Turn right on First Street, left on West Park Avenue, then left on Ridge Drive to return to Hwy. 236.
- Southbound Hwy. 236: Turn right on Ridge Drive, right on West Park Avenue, then right on First to return to Hwy. 236.
“Please expect longer-than-normal delays, especially near intersections along the detour routes, as access to certain side streets and businesses will be limited,” stated Caltrans.
Illegal dumping fines increase effective July 11
County of Santa Cruz Department of Community Development and Infrastructure has announced that increased penalties for illegal dumping violations in unincorporated Santa Cruz County go into effect Friday, July 11, following a vote by the Board of Supervisors to significantly raise fines to help protect the environment.
Fines will now start at $2,500 for a first offense, $5,000 for a second and $10,000 for a third. Previously, penalties were set at $100, $200 and $500, which failed to deter illegal dumping by unpermitted haulers and residents.
Illegal dumping harms the environment and neighborhood quality of life. Increased fines are the latest measure the County has taken to make Santa Cruz County the cleanest in California. Other efforts include reducing single-use materials, offering free bulky-item pickup through the GreenWaste franchise agreement, improving reporting tools and installing surveillance cameras in illegal dumping hotspots.
Cameras were purchased through funding from Pitch-In Santa Cruz, a program that supports community-based environmental initiatives. The cameras have already resulted in a misdemeanor referral for illegal dumping to the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office.
“This isn’t just about handing out fines, it’s about valuing our shared spaces, protecting the environment and standing up for the communities impacted by illegal dumping,” said Carolyn Burke, assistant director of special services at the Community Development and Infrastructure Department. “By increasing penalties, we’re sending a strong message that Santa Cruz County is serious about stopping this.”
GreenWaste Recovery offers bulky item pickup services. GreenWaste customers in unincorporated Santa Cruz County are eligible for three bulky item pickups and four extra bin setouts per year at no additional cost, making it easier to properly dispose of large or excess waste.
County staff will continue to coordinate efforts with law enforcement and public works staff to track illegal dumping, increase reporting, and support clean-up efforts. Community members are encouraged to report illegal dumping incidents through bit.ly/stop-illegal-dumping-sc.
Community input sought to shape future of county’s coastline
County of Santa Cruz Department of Community Development and Infrastructure (CDI) is inviting residents, stakeholders and coastal users to help shape the future of the County’s 32-mile coastline and determine approaches to help protect it from future climate impacts.
CDI has launched its Sea Level Rise Vulnerability Assessment Project (SLRVA), a science-informed, community-driven planning project to identify current and future vulnerabilities—physical, environmental and economic—to explore adaptation strategies to protect the coastline.
The SLRVA will enable the County to complete its local coastal program or LCP, a state-mandated plan that guides land use and development along the coast, balancing environmental protection, public access and sustainable growth.
To kick off this project, CDI has released a bilingual community survey to collect local knowledge and community input: bit.ly/slrva-survey.
“This project is a community-driven effort and relies heavily on public input to inform the decision-making process,” said David Carlson, CDI resource planner. “We need our community to help us build a vision for our coastline that is both realistic and resilient.”
Community engagement opportunities are available now and throughout the process. A community working group is part of the effort and helps the County by providing a diverse set of opinions and ideas on ongoing technical work, as well as by expanding engagement through their communities.To learn more about the project, community working group and ways to get involved, as well as to explore the interactive bilingual story map, visit cdi.santacruzcountyca.gov/slrva.
