San Lorenzo Valley Water District Infrastructure Water 

‘We’re Still Healing’: Six Years After CZU, SLV Water Faces a Long Rebuild

By Mary Andersen Six years after the CZU Lightning Complex Fire, San Lorenzo Valley Water District General Manager Jason Lillion is clear about where recovery stands. “We’re still healing,” he said. “There’s still a lot of work to be done.” The fire destroyed roughly seven miles of raw water pipeline, including the entire 5-Mile Pipeline and its Sweetwater and Peavine… Read More
mount hermon solar farm Environment Infrastructure 

Community Meeting on Felton Meadow Solar Array Is Tonight

By Mary Andersen A community meeting on the proposed Mount Hermon Solar Array in Felton Meadow is scheduled for tonight, Wednesday, September 23, at 7:00 PM at Newton Memorial Hall, 30 Conference Drive, Felton. To be clear from the start: we support projects that generate power from renewable sources, and we welcome community meetings like this one. Holding a public… 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
Boulder Creek Complete Streets Highway 9 Infrastructure Local News 

Boulder Creek Street Improvements Move Closer to Reality

A long-planned effort to make Highway 9 safer and more walkable through Boulder Creek is advancing, with environmental review now underway and construction targeted for 2028, according to the Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission. District 5 Supervisor Monica Martinez, Regional Transportation Director Sarah Cristiansen, and Congressman Jimmy Panetta have announced Community Project Funding the Congressman was able to secure… Read More
PG&E Town Hall meeting in Boulder Creek Infrastructure Local News 

Did PG&E Deliver? A Look at the March 2 District 5 Town Hall in Boulder Creek

On Monday, March 2, Boulder Creek residents packed the Rec Center gym for Supervisor Monica Martinez’ town hall with PG&E. “For those of us who live in the mountains, power is truly the backbone of our everyday life,” Martinez told the crowd. “I’ve heard from many of you, particularly during the extended outages during the holiday season. And I know… Read More
Road repair Santa Cruz Mountains Government Infrastructure Local News 

Town Hall to Focus on Road Repairs and Recovery in the San Lorenzo Valley

BEN LOMOND — San Lorenzo Valley residents will have a chance to get the latest updates on local road conditions, storm recovery efforts, and upcoming transportation projects at a public Town Hall hosted by Supervisor Monica Martinez on Thursday, November 13, at 6 pm. The event, called the District 5 “State of the Roads” Town Hall, will take place at… Read More
Highway 9 Ben Lomond Infrastructure Local News Transportation 

Transportation Commission Seeks Community Input for Rural Highway Safety Overhaul 

By Mary Andersen Santa Cruz County’s rural highways, critical arteries for residents and visitors alike, are poised for transformative safety upgrades led by the Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission (SCCRTC). The Highway 9/San Lorenzo Valley Complete Streets Plan (SLV Plan)  from 2019 is being updated via the comprehensive Rural Highways Safety Plan (RHSP) which expands upon the previous efforts… Read More
Surfnet Communications broadband Infrastructure Local News 

Surfnet Announces New High Speed Fiber Internet in the Santa Cruz Mountains

SANTA CRUZ, CA — Internet service provider Surfnet Communications (Surfnet) announced completion of Phase 1 of its grant-funded project to build new fiber infrastructure. Phase 1 includes locations in the Summit Area of the Santa Cruz Mountains in both Santa Cruz and Santa Clara counties. The ultimate goal of the project is to serve 1,400 customers in the area. Attendees… Read More
Local Hazard Mitigation Plan San Lorenzo Valley water District Infrastructure Local News 

SLV Water District Seeks Public Input for Local Hazard Mitigation Plan

The San Lorenzo Valley Water District released its draft 2025 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan (LHMP) for public review. The draft plan will be presented at the district’s February 6 SLVWD Board of Directors meeting. Funded by a California Office of Emergency Services (CalOES) Hazard Mitigation Grant Program grant, the Local Hazard Mitigation Plan (LHMP) seeks to: The planning process for… Read More