Posted on 12/30/2024 1:27:58 PM PST by nickcarraway
After part of the iconic Santa Cruz Wharf collapsed into the ocean amid powerful waves on Monday, feathered culprits have been found to factor into the pier’s damage: seagulls.
Specifically, environmental requirements meant to protect the birds during their nesting season delayed necessary repairs to the 110-year-old structure, the Mercury News first reported.
Santa Cruz Wharf to remain closed indefinitely after partial collapseSanta Cruz Wharf to remain closed indefinitely after partial collapse A 2021 repair and maintenance plan for the wharf published by the California Coastal Commission states that repairs and maintenance are needed on the structure due to its “age, location, and construction material.” The plan also states that since seabirds like western gulls and pigeon guillemots are known to nest in the wooden columns that support the wharf, major repairs should take place outside of the birds’ nesting period, which occurs from mid-February to the start of September.
That means major repairs — including the replacement of the pier’s wooden columns — must take place during what are generally the stormiest months of the year.
Santa Cruz Wharf collapse: Bathrooms that washed up onshore being removedSanta Cruz Wharf collapse: Bathrooms that washed up onshore removed “Our work window is a very narrow six months over the winter time when we tend to have storms and big waves,” Tony Elliot, director of Parks and Recreation for the city of Santa Cruz, told the Mercury News. “The wharf is a 110-year-old structure, and it requires a lot of work. … It takes more than six months out of the year to maintain it effectively.”
Those maintenance needs directly conflict with protections for the seabirds, which are upheld by the Coastal Commission. A memorandum included in the commission’s wharf repair plan said the birds are “sensitive during their reproductive life history phases” and wharf repair processes “have the potential to significantly disturb nesting seabirds and affect nestling survivorship.”
Santa Cruz Wharf damaged drone video. Video Gallery: Damage caused after Santa Cruz Wharf partial collapse
The memorandum continued, “There have been discussions recognizing that the unique nature of the wharf environment itself is unlike typical seabird nesting sites and therefore warrants special consideration, and the City has continually expressed concern that protections for the nesting seabirds impose conflicts with the needed wharf maintenance and repair.”
Concerns from the city regarding the need for repairs to the wharf caused the Coastal Commission to modify its requirements in February, allowing some repairs to be made during nesting season. Per the changes, workers were required to stay 300 feet away from nesting birds and only work for a maximum of four hours a day. But the changes “didn’t change the dynamics” of the repair schedule, Elliot told the Mercury News.
Santa Cruz wharf collapse prompts safety warnings due to debris
Monday’s damages to the pier caused the closure of multiple beaches in the area due to debris washing up on local shorelines. A high surf warning remains in effect in the region through Sunday morning.
Safety last.
I’m think what they meant by blaming seagulls is due to their nesting period no work can be done. I get can always build another right next to it and they nice complete tear the old one down. The birds will eventually move to that location.
Out of control government is out of control.
My thoughts exactly.
I guess somebody’s in trouble because part of the pier fell in the water and now it has Disturbed the nesting area what are we going to do about that
My question about environmental requirements meant to protect the birds during their nesting season is, with the pier gone hasn’t the seagulls’ nesting area been destroyed? If so who do I sue? 😂😂😂😂
No. The work couldn't be done due to the policy some morons put in place. Not because of the birds. Life finds a way. The birds will nest elsewhere while the work gets done. Probably in the same types of places they used to nest in before the pier was ever built and before the idiotic policy was made preventing proper maintenance. It is humans who caused the mess. Not birds.
You nailed it.
“The UC Santa Cruz Banana Slugs”.
Great movie.
Human stupidity regarding the nature idolators priorities over common sense.
Exactly.
So it wasn’t exactly seagulls, it was Democrats.
Yep do what you have to do, fix what you have to fix and be done with it.
The flying rats will return regardless of what you do. Their single purpose is to steal food and poop on things.
California stopped being nice decades ago and will continue to to worsen.
If California was completely destroyed would anyone even care.
Build a few seagull nesting wharves 1/2 mile south and 1/2 miles north. Seagull proof the new build on the old wharf.
Don’t have to worry about seagull nesting..
These administrators cannot solve the simplest of problems.
Tar and feathers are in order.
Won’t matter when the tsunami hits....
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Most annoying, ridiculous, overpopulated bird around. It is idiotic that they are protected.
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