Emergency breach at San Lorenzo River marks second this year

Crews started conducting an emergency breach of the San Lorenzo River mouth Friday morning. The breach is intended to stop flooding on city streets near the river lagoon in Santa Cruz.

The city organized a similar breach back in August where crews cut the sandbar in half to allow the river to flow through to the ocean. Assistant City Manager Scott Collins said that breach needed to be done as water was leaking on parts of Ocean Street.

“There is less water coming down the river so the sandbar between the river and the ocean gets bigger and wider and harder to push through from mother nature’s perspective so we have to kind of help,” said Collins.

This second breach will likely wrap up Friday evening. City staff coordinated with various state and federal regulatory agencies to permit the emergency activity. Access will be limited on Main Beach, as crews work to lower the river levels throughout the day.

News Channel 5’s Maya Holmes will have more on this story in the evening newscasts.