Santa Cruz engineers battle coastal erosion

In an effort to prevent further coastal erosion in Santa Cruz, public works engineers have released to a new plan which specifically focuses on Seabright State Beach, according to Santa Cruz Public Works Engineer Steve Wolfman.

Engineers will be moving the current sidewalk a few feet away from the eroding cliff because the cement, which the sidewalk is on, is more than 50 years old and is failing, according to Wolfman.

“We want to correct the situation,” said Wolfman.”We can push the sidewalk and the handrail away from the cliff and reestablish it, so it is a safe pedestrian walkway.”

Engineers will likely start work at East Cliff Drive and Alhambra Avenue either right before summer starts or right after it ends, according to Wolfman.

With the East Cliff receiving some maintenance, the next erosion concern is West Cliff.

“Now we have a particular bad problem with the retaining wall,” said Joshua Spangrud, an associate engineer with the City of Santa Cruz, “it has been undermined and we need to correct that.”

The erosion problem in Santa Cruz is nothing new for many locals.

“We hear it at night, especially last night when the swell picks up and it shakes the whole house,” said Santa Cruz resident Daniel Sullivan.

Sullivan lives off East Cliff Drive right next to the beach. His house is a few miles away from where the new construction is going to take place.

Sullivan says erosion is certainly a problem, but he considers himself one of the lucky ones because of the thousands of large rocks that have been purposely piled up against the cliff.

“These rocks and the way they have set things up here make us feel very safe,” said Sullivan.

However, he says his neighbors are not as lucky.

“There are some homes that are in absolute danger,” adds Sullivan. “It is just a matter of time.”