San Vicente-Waddell Creek Coastal Resilience (SANV-WA)

Climate stressors are  conditions, events, or trends related to climate change—such as extreme heat, sea-level rise, or drought—that exert pressure on natural, human, or economic systems. In our coastal region, we are already seeing the effects of climate stressors on many different natural coastal processes. Rising sea levels, coastal erosion, intense and changing weather patterns, wildfires and flooding are all sources of vulnerability for our coastal infrastructure. If no action is taken, critical coastal transportation infrastructure may be eliminated, damaged or unsafe; or otherwise rendered unusable by these factors in the next 50-100 years.  

Highway 1 and the associated State Park’s parking on the ocean side of Highway 1 at or adjacent to Waddell Creek are piece of critical infrastructure that are currently vulnerable to damage from coastal erosion and flooding  due to storm surge and this vulnerability is likely to  be exacerbated by sea level rise and increased frequency of major storm surges , affecting the roadway, the bridge, and the parking lot’s safety and integrity.

The threat of damage to critical infrastructure from coastal flooding and coastal erosion is lower at the San Vicente Creek site than at the Waddell Creek site. Highway infrastructure at this site lies farther inland from the shoreline and benefits from protection by way of the Santa Cruz Branch Rail Line, which  is situated on an elevated berm that currently protects Highway 1 and the low-lying neighborhood inland from the highway from direct effects of sea level rise and coastal flooding.

However, the highway is still vulnerable because not only due to erosion of the Branch Rail Line berm, but also because groundwater rise, a direct product of rising sea levels, could undermine the integrity of the railroad and highway embankments leading to structural instability.

Moreover, while the railroad and highway currently provide protection from the direct effects of storm surge, the potential for future combined flooding, i.e., precipitation driven stream flow combined with storm surge, high tides and sea level rise, could result in increased vulnerability and threats to the low-lying properties on the inland side of Highway.

A variety of key stakeholders are involved in the planning and discussions of this project, including representatives from many different local, federal, and state agencies, as well as advice and consulting from private firms and organizations. Members of the public are also encouraged and invited to attend outreach events to become involved in the discussion.

Both ecosystems provide habitat for many protected species. The coastal estuary at Waddell Creek is ecologically important and home to a large freshwater pond adjacent to the Highway and to the south of the existing Waddell Creek lagoon.

This freshwater system supports an array of rare wildlife such as California red-legged frogs, western pond turtles, and possibly San Francisco garter snakes. Rising sea-levels could result in the conversion of this important resource from freshwater to brackish or saline, impacting its ability to support the rare native species that currently utilize it. 

Like at Waddell, elevated groundwater and increased saltwater intrusion related to rising sea levels could impact the freshwater habitats of San Vicente Creek, just upstream of the highway. The San Vicente Creek provides habitat for coho salmon, steelhead, and the California red-legged frog.   Because the current connection between the stream and the ocean is limited to culvert and a tunnel, salt water moving up into the system during high tides and storm surges may have a difficult time exiting the stream and associated wetlands once it flows into adjacent floodplains, resulting in loss of important freshwater wetland habitats.

Transportation infrastructure has significantly impacted both ecosystems. The state highway system has had a marked effect on the ecosystem at both project sites. The Santa Cruz Branch Rail

One objective of this project is to identify action items for environmental enhancements that prioritize protecting these delicate ecosystems, along with our coastal infrastructure. 

For Waddell Creek, the adaptation options could include modifying the existing Highway 1 bridge to address key challenges related to sea level rise, coastal erosion, storm surge/flood risk, hydraulic efficiency, climate resilience, and infrastructure stability, such as by analyzing the vulnerability of the coastal public access parking lot at Waddell Creek and potentially relocating the coastal public access parking lot and restroom amenities if they are determined to be vulnerable to coastal hazards.

Options also include analyzing potential ecosystem restoration actions that could improve the ecological health of Waddell Creek in the short-, medium and long-term, particularly in light of climate stressors, including opportunities for wetland restoration and living shorelines.

At San Vicente Creek, the adaptation options would be more constrained by the adjacent Santa Cruz Branch Rail Line (SCBRL). However, the options could include removing the Highway 1 and SCBRL berms and replacing them with bridges.

The new Highway 1 bridge could include public access features such as widened shoulders for safer biking and improved connections to the existing beach access trail system, including safer pedestrian crossings.

After the two berms were removed, extensive creek and lagoon restoration could occur, restoring natural bar-built lagoon processes to San Vicente Creek as it enters the Pacific Ocean.  Analyses of berm removal would include climate vulnerability assessment of public and private facilities and infrastructure on the inland side of the berm.

If berms are not removed, other adaptation options could be explored, such as nature-based protection strategies for seaward side of the SCBRL berm, taking into consideration regulatory feasibility. Integrating additional culverts or relief channels will also help manage impounded water behind the berms.

Relocation could also be explored at San Vicente, but it is anticipated that realignment would not be feasible and/or would have significant short-term (and potentially long-term) ecological impacts, as well as potential impact on traffic patterns and private property.

This project will develop a Draft Plan for Coastal Resilience along the Highway 1 Corridor at Waddell Creek and a Draft Plan for Coastal Resilience along the Highway 1 Corridor at San Vicente Creek that presents the various alternative project concepts of the transportation infrastructure, public access, and ecosystem restoration for resiliency to climate impacts. The Plans will include a discussion of ecological trade- offs associated with different alternative project concepts for long term resiliency. 

The Draft Plans will include:

• Discussion of project methods and decision-making structure.
• Discussion of the regulatory setting reflecting the Ocean Protection Council’s 2024 State of California Sea Level Rise Guidance, the CCC’s 2024 Sea Level Rise Policy Guidance, State Parks Sea Level Rise Adaptation Strategy, the Coastal Act, and the Santa Cruz County Local Coastal Program, in addition to other applicable regulations.
• Summary of historic and baseline conditions
• Summary of technical studies existing and performed as part of the Project to forecast future conditions based on various climate scenarios, projected changes to the transportation infrastructure, and proposed restoration of the ecosystems, incorporating sea level rise assumptions consistent with state and local guidance
• Alternative Project concepts and their feasibility for Highway 1 bridge resiliency at both sites, alternative project concepts and their feasibility for the Santa Cruz Branch Rail Line resiliency at San Vicente Creek, ecosystem restoration and potential public access enhancements, incorporating nature-based solutions to the greatest extent feasible at both sites.
• Evaluation of each alternative Project concept using an evaluation criteria matrix that discusses the trade-offs associated with each concept, as well as the construction and operational costs, public access and ecosystem restoration benefits, and regulatory feasibility
• Summary of stakeholder and public outreach and input that informed the plans
• Next steps that are needed for implementation and potential funding sources for the next steps in project development and implementation.