City-Wide Creeks and Wetlands Management Plan

The City's 1990-2005 General Plan/Local Coastal Plan previously required a minimum 100-foot setback from new development to the centerline of all watercourses unless a management plan was prepared. The City Council and Coastal Commission requested that staff prepare a management plan for watercourses city-wide to modify this setback requirement to reflect variations in the values of watercourses in the City. The City Council adopted the Plan and Ordinance on February 28, 2006. The Plan was Certified by the California Coastal Commission on May 9, 2008. The Plan provides specific setbacks for each watercourse and a series of aerial maps delineating these setback requirements(PDF, 405KB).

• Cover Page(PDF, 107KB)
• Table of Contents(PDF, 74KB)
• Executive Summary(PDF, 245KB)
• Chapter 1: Introduction(PDF, 1007KB)
• Chapter 2: Watercourse and Wetland Inventory Methods(PDF, 134KB)
• Chapter 3: Watercourse and Wetland Setback Analysis(PDF, 496KB)
• Chapter 4: Water course Development Permit Procedures(PDF, 387KB)
• Chapter 5: References and Literature Cited(PDF, 80KB)

Appendices

• A - Definition of Riparian Corridor and Wetlands(PDF, 52KB)
• B - Recommended Protocol for Wetland Delineation's and Biotic Reports(PDF, 75KB)
• C - Revegetation Guidelines and Guidelines for Removal of Invasive, Non-Native Species(PDF, 172KB)
• D - Construction Best Management Practices(PDF, 99KB)
• E - Development and Remodeling Projects Best Management Practices(PDF, 140KB)
• F - Regulatory and Environmental Compliance Information(PDF, 47KB)
• G -City of Santa Cruz General Plan / Local Coastal Plan Goals, Policies and Programs that Relate to City Creeks and Wetlands(PDF, 77KB)
• H -Summary of Adopted or Pending Management Plans(PDF, 508KB)
• I - Watercourses and Wetlands -- Historical Names and History of City of Santa Cruz(PDF, 41KB)
• J - Watercourses and Wetlands Background / Primer(PDF, 1MB)

Other

• Summary of Watercourse Categories & Recommended Setbacks(PDF, 405KB)
• Map Index