Sandbar strands boats at Santa Cruz Small Craft Harbor

A sandbar is stranding boats at the Santa Cruz Small Craft Harbor, according to Santa Cruz Harbor officials.

The water is dangerously low, making it nearly impossible for boats to use the harbor.

According to the Harbormaster’s website, California’s historic drought has left lots of sand and debris. That, combined with heavy surf and shallow waters, makes the mouth of the harbor inaccessible.

The news has been especially hard for local commercial fishermen.

“Well, we can’t get out,” Fisherman Jason Chin said. “We’ve been down from a crab season so far. It has taken a toll on the whole commercial fleet here in California. We don’t have a lot to fish for. We do have some small ground fish we can get. I am pulling my boat out right now, there is nothing we can do”

While the issue can be common during the winter months, a stormier season this year is making the matter a bit more problematic.

NewsChannel 5’s Paul Dudley will have more details on this story tonight at 5 and 6.