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The San Lorenzo Valley Post is your essential guide to life in the Santa Cruz Mountains. We're dedicated to delivering the latest news, events, and stories that matter to our community. From local government to schools, from environmental issues to the arts, we're committed to providing comprehensive and unbiased coverage. We believe in the power of community journalism and strive to be a platform for diverse voices.

Santa Margarita Groundwater Agency Local News Water 

SMGWA Seeks Well Owner Representative for Board Vacancy

The Santa Margarita Groundwater Agency (SMGWA) has an opening on its Board of Directors and is looking for a Well Owner Alternate Representative to fill it. SMGWA was established in 2017 to manage groundwater sustainability in the San Lorenzo Valley and Scotts Valley areas under California’s Sustainable Groundwater Management Act. This is a chance to have a real voice in… Read More
Road work ahead Local News Traffic 

Highway 9 Construction Projects to Affect Traffic Through May

Travelers on Highway 9 in the San Lorenzo Valley should expect daytime one-way reversing traffic control at multiple locations throughout the week of May 11, with some disruptions extending well beyond that. Bridge Replacements North of Boulder Creek The most significant ongoing work is the Highway 9 San Lorenzo River and Kings Creek Bridge Replacement Project, which involves the full… Read More
Rosemary Chalmers Good Morning Monterey Bay Local News Radio Valley People 

Rosemary Chalmers and Good Morning Monterey Bay Find a New Home at KBCZ

After more than three decades as a Central Coast radio fixture, Rosemary “Rosie” Chalmers is turning the page on a new chapter. The longtime host of Good Morning Monterey Bay — most recently broadcast out of Santa Cruz Voice for the past three years — signed off from that station in February alongside broadcasting partner Bill Wolverton. But good news… Read More
Felton Fire Tax Assessment understanding Proposition 217 Fire Departments Local News 

Understanding Proposition 218 and the Felton Fire Benefit Assessment

Felton Fire’s benefit assessment taxing mechanism is underway. If the board votes to proceed on May 11, ballots will mail May 20. Here is what every Felton property owner should understand before that ballot arrives — including a legal deadline that could permanently strip your right to legal recourse, and a tension at the heart of this assessment that Proposition… Read More
Felton Fire Department Fire Departments Local News 

Felton Fire Assessment Would More than Double District Budget, Shift from Volunteer to Paid Staffing

Property owners could receive ballots as early as May 20 The Felton Fire Protection District is asking property owners to approve a $1.7 million annual benefit assessment that would transform the district from a historically volunteer-based agency into a fully paid department. If the board votes to proceed on May 11, ballots are expected in mailboxes May 20. The assessment… Read More
Ben Lomond Slide Infrastructure Local News 

Fire Chiefs and Residents Push for Permanent Highway 9 Slide Repairs

By Jim Helmer In December, the Regional Transportation Commission (RTC) released its draft 2050 Regional Transportation Plan (RTP) — a 25-year spending plan that is a first step in securing federal, state, and local funding — for public review. Fire Chiefs from Ben Lomond, Boulder Creek, and Zayante were dismayed to find no funding identified for permanent repairs to the… Read More
Roaring Camp Fire Recovery Local News 

Roaring Camp Works to Protect Forest and Neighboring Communities from Wildfire

Roaring Camp Railroads has been taking steps to protect its old-growth forest, and the neighborhoods that border it, from wildfire. The railroad has partnered with Boulder Creek-based Cosentino Timber Enterprises to construct shaded fuel breaks across roughly 180 acres of forestland adjacent to the Henry Cowell and Mount Hermon communities, with work expected to continue throughout 2026. The project involves… Read More
Douglas Iris Iris virginia.png Hikes Local News 

April in Bloom: The Best Wildflower Trails in and Around the San Lorenzo Valley

Spring is the best time to explore wildflower trails in the San Lorenzo Valley and nearby hills, where redwood shade, sunny ridges, and serpentine soils create very different bloom patterns. The strongest bets are Big Basin, Fall Creek, San Vicente Redwoods, and a few Scotts Valley and Santa Cruz Mountains preserves that usually show a good mix of native flowers… Read More