Welcome to the Santa Cruz Group News, a monthly update from the Santa Cruz Group of the Sierra Club. We present articles about issues that the leadership of our six standing committees (Climate, Conservation, Executive, Outreach/Events, Political, Transportation) would like to share, along with occasional items from our events calendar. We look forward to staying in touch with you through this newsletter.
IN THIS ISSUE
• Wilder Ranch Hike • New Life For Big Basin State Park • County Holds Public Meeting on Moran Monarch Butterfly Habitat • Upcoming Santa Cruz Group Outing • Santa Cruz Group Issues Committees
Wilder Ranch Hike
In June, the Group Executive Committee held its monthly meeting as a hike, with all members invited. Everyone met at the Wilder Ranch main entrance and then hiked out to the coast.
In addition to views of the spectacular coastline the wildflowers were in bloom. Dozens of sea lions were observed in two separate locations.
If you were unable to attend, please do try to join your Executive Committee for a hike next June.
New Life For Big Basin State Park
Mother Nature delivered a perfect late-spring day for the new Public Lands Subcommittee (PubCom) at Big Basin State Park near Boulder Creek.
Outings Chair Steve Bakaley and PubCom Chair Cynthia Denny led a conservation-focused, half-day hike with ten participants along the Redwoods Loop and Creeping Forest Trail. An Interpretive Guide highlighted the remarkable regrowth of the forest after the devastating 2020 CZU fire, sharing insights into the redesign plans for camping and recreation areas that reflect local community input.
Cynthia brought nature journals and colored pencils, encouraging participants to sketch and note their observations. She also shared two striking photos of the elusive Marbled Murrelet—one in its speckled brown nesting plumage and the other in its sea-faring black-and-white feathers. Because the birds nest high on old-growth branches and lay only one egg per year, they are especially vulnerable to egg theft by Corvids. To help protect them, hikers followed the “Crumb-Free” principle to avoid attracting these scavengers.
After a picnic lunch, the group witnessed signs of forest resilience: green-sprouting blackened redwoods, yellow and black swallowtail butterflies, crows, downed fir trees, delicate white azaleas, coyote bush, and thistles.
Back at the park entrance, participants were invited to join the Sierra Club and the PubCom. One person became a member, and six more subscribed to the newsletter. Four of the women capped the day by sharing stories and good food over a post-hike Italian dinner at Scopazzi’s in Boulder Creek.
Pink Honeysuckle at Quail Hollow. Photo courtesy of Kristen Sandel.
County Holds Public Meeting On Moran Butterfly Habitat
On Tuesday, June 24th, the Santa Cruz County Parks Department held a second public meeting to share details about its intended update to the Moran Lake Monarch Butterfly Habitat Management Plan. The present Plan was adopted by the Board of Supervisors in January, 2011, based upon work began in 2001. The meeting was very well attended.
The meeting began with an overview of the Monarch butterfly and its migration cycle, then reviewed the history of Moran Lake. The timeline of conservation efforts for this habitat was also shared. Finally, proposed actions for the habitat were discussed.
The Moran Lake Monarch Butterfly Habitat encompasses lands at the tip of Pleasure Point. The combination of the coastal promontory and the layers of wind protection combine to provide the appropriate micro-climate for the butterflies to survive the winter. With the ocean essentially on three sides, winter air flowing over the ocean is kept closer to the temperature of the water, making it very unlikely to have freezing temperatures. But with the storm exposure on the point it is the wind break function of the layers of trees out to the ocean that keep wind velocities low just inland, providing roosting sites.
Monarch Butterflies at Moran Lake County Park. Photo courtesy of Mike Guth.
The Parks Department spoke to finding a balance between the functional needs of the habitat and the safety of residents living near the tree lines. At the first meeting on this Plan update last fall many people spoke of their fear of hazard - especially in light of some significant tree fall during the last two years.
The proposed actions were to bring down the height of some of the tallest trees to 80 feet. A wind study was done to assess the potential impact of these height reductions on the roosting sites. As a result of this study, Parks is engaging in a height reduction program. Their original proposal was to top trees near the winter roosts to 80 feet, and to top trees lower down the lagoon to 50-70 feet. At an earlier Board of Supervisors meeting authorizing the funding of this trees project, Supervisor Koenig, whose District the habitat resides in, modified the Parks proposal to limit height reduction to 80 feet in all locations, and further to stop any future limbing up of the trees from the ground, to enhance wind protection. The Sierra Club is appreciate of Supervisor Koenig's efforts here, as the original Parks proposal was more drastic.
Also discussed was the need to address the unnatural ponding of water in the Park, leading to soil saturation and tree fall during winter storms.
Water ponding near tree lines at Moran.
The runoff from the adjacent neighborhoods, which has increased due to infill in the area and poor retention practices, then gets caught in ponding areas which themselves are not natural. The ponding areas are in man-made fill along the lagoon which has compacted away from the lagoon edge, creating low spots. This ponding was identified in the first draft of the original management plan, in 2001, as the key negative condition that should be addressed. Unfortunately, decades went by before anything was done about this condition. Parks did say that they have begun drainage changes in these areas.
It appeared that the Santa Cruz County Parks Department was taking responsibility for the Moran Lake Monarch Butterfly Habitat at this meeting. However, given the past history of unfulfilled promises and overlooked obligations, prudence dictates that the Sierra Club should pay close attention to this project.
In the year 2000, an effort was begun to acquire a parcel adjacent to the Park. The parcel was heavily treed and it was acquired both to retain trees in an area that was undergoing heavy development, and to retain another layer of windbreak for butterfly habitat. The parcel was finally acquired in 2008. This parcel had some tree fall, and in an act of over extreme over-reaction, the County clearcut this parcel during June.
40 Moran Way parcel, acquired with public funds to preserve trees on the parcel, was clearcut in June 2025. Photo courtesy of Mike Guth.
In mitigation for this tree loss, Parks did present a replanting plan for the site. The replanting plan does utilize Monterey Cypress and Coastal Live Oak, in addition to other native species.
This parcel had numerous trees removed last year in response (over-response ?) to tree fall during the prior winter. The Sierra Club had requested that the remaining trees be retained as replacements were planted, in order to maintain as much habitat and wind protection as possible. See our letter on that aspect here.
In discussions with Parks Director Jeff Gaffney and the Parks lead on this habitat Rob Tidmore, it appears that there is a renewed emphasis on conservation of this habitat area. The Sierra Club hopes that this emphasis carries forward, and will diligently work towards that end.
Upcoming Santa Cruz Group Outing
July 12 - Jack's Peak 2B Dayhike 10:30AM - 4:00PM
Join Steve Bakaley on a leisurely - moderately paced hike in the beautiful scenic piney ridges of Jack's Peak County Park near Monterey.
View of Seaside from Jack's Peak County Park Photo courtesy of Steve Bakaley
Santa Cruz Group Issues Committee
Conservation Committeeworks on habitat conservation, monitors logging activities, reviews development projects, and participates in creation and modification of parks master plans, and city and county general and local coastal plans. Contact: Chair Mike Guthmguth@guthpatents.com
Transportation Committeereviews transportation projects within the Cities and County, supports public spending on increased Metro service with bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure, and large-scale bicycle and pedestrian projects. Contact: Chair Lani Faulkner equitytransitsantacruz@gmail.com
Political Committeemakes endorsements of candidates and ballot measures during election years. Contact: Chair Micah Posnermicahposner@cruzio.com
Who We Are
We are the Santa Cruz Group of the Ventana Chapter of the Sierra Club, the world's oldest, largest, and most influential grassroots environmental organization. With over 3.8 million members and supporters, the Sierra Club has the resources to empower people and to influence public policy through community activism, public education, lobbying, and litigation.
Our mission is to Explore, Enjoy and Protect the Planet.
