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The Westside of Santa Cruz extends from Terrace Point and Long's Marine Lab to the Harbor. Westcliff Dr. meanders along the cliff from Natural Bridges to Cowell's and the wharf. Most cliffs along the road have riprap boulders protecting the roadway with only 2 structures on the ocean side of the road. A residence near Mitchell's Cove and the Surfing Museum housed in the lighthouse at Lighthouse Point. There is constant work on the roadway to prevent more erosion. The waves, at times, splash up over the roadway. |
| The Long Marine Lab is very close
to the cliff edge and is on property that is deemed for further development
(Terrace Point). De Anza Mobile Home Park is situated on the cliff edge
and, in my opinion, is the only type of cliff edge structure that should
be allowed (mobile).
Access is somewhat limited but adequate. Natural Bridges is a State Beach with no camping. There are several surf spots along West Cliff Dr. deemed good for experienced only. Steamer Lane at Lighthouse Point is world famous. Its access has recently seen a loss of part of the cliff edge adjacent to the stairway. In front of the Lighthouse, 20' of cliff was lost in one chunk a couple of years ago. There's a cave under the lighthouse. |
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Lighthouse field
is directly across from the Lane. It is a huge, undeveloped park which has
a Monarch Butterfly habitat within it as does Natural Bridges.
At Pelton St., at the Surfer Statue, is a stairway. There is also a stairway at Cowell's for the novice and intermediate surfers. At Cowell Beach, there is an outlet for Neary Lagoon which houses the sewage treatment plant. In the winter months, it flows onto the beach with high fecal contamination from birds and wildlife. |
| Further along the Main Beach area of the Boardwalk is the San Lorenzo River which tests very high in fecal coliform because of wildlife and probable septic failure in the mountains above Santa Cruz. Just past the Rivermouth is the Santa Cruz Harbor which has blocked much of the sand feeding the beaches south of it. The harbor is dredged quite frequently to keep its mouth clear of sand buildup. There's a perfect wave at times at the end of the 1st jetty. It's illegal to surf it and is extremely hairy. |
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beachscape | westside | eastside | capitola | beaches of south scc
