Santa Cruz Water Department has announced that it will relocate 3.7 miles of the Newell Creek Pipeline out of Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park and under Graham Hill Road to ensure continued reliability of the critical water supply pipeline.
Construction will begin in spring 2025 and last an estimated two years.
The Newell Creek Pipeline transports water between the City of Santa Cruz’s Loch Lomond Reservoir and the Graham Hill Water Treatment Plant. The existing 18- to 27-inch diameter pipe, which travels through Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park, was constructed in 1960.
This project is part of Climate Resilient Santa Cruz, an ongoing initiative of the City of Santa Cruz that aims to respond to anticipated future impacts from climate change. The pipeline is prone to storm damage, which has increased in recent years in relation to climate change.
The pipeline will be replaced with a 24-inch diameter pipe under Graham Hill Road to help avoid environmentally sensitive areas and geologic hazards within the park.
Work will occur between the intersection of Graham Hill Road and East Zayante Road in Felton, along Graham Hill Road to Henry Cowell Drive. Construction is anticipated to occur weekdays from 9am-3pm, starting at the 4600 block of Graham Hill Road and heading south toward Lockwood Lane. Temporary traffic delays are expected.
Water and other utility services are not anticipated to be interrupted by this project.
The relocated Newell Creek Pipeline will increase system resilience, improve emergency preparedness, and ensure the availability of reliable, safe drinking water for customers. This $29 million project is funded through fees collected from Santa Cruz Water Department customers, based on monthly water rates.
A community meeting about the project will be held virtually on Wednesday, March 12, at noon. For more information, visit the project website at tinyurl.com/mth23p6k.
