How to Help Save Arana Gulch

The City is expected to apply soon to the California Coastal Commission (CCC) for a permit to pave Arana Gulch (AG), asking that its Master Plan for the AG greenbelt be approved. That Master Plan includes construction of the Broadway-Brommer (B-B) Bike project through AG, with two bridges (one over Hagemann Creek and one over Arana Creek) and 8' - 11' paved (asphalt) "trails" running north to south and east to west.

Many of us have tried over the last 15 years to stop this project and let Arana Gulch be the open space that it is, with good resource management to protect and enhance this natural area.

The CCC has the power to stop this project.

It is critical that the CCC hears from you immediately. They have already received letters of support for the Master Plan. To be most effective, your letter should address specific issues, including:

1. The proposed Broadway-Brommer Bike project (now called an "interpretive trail") will cause "significant and unavoidable impact" to habitat of the endangered and threatened Santa Cruz tarplant (Holocarpha macradenia).


2. The B-B Bike project ("interpretive trail") will violate an Environmentally Sensitive Habitat Area (ESHA) as defined in the CA Coastal Act (Policy 30240). The City of Santa Cruz has failed to demonstrate that this proposed project is "resource-dependent," as specified by the Act.


3. The tarplant population in Arana Gulch has declined precipitously due to lack of management. In the Draft Master Plan document, the City ties management of tarplant habitat to the B-B Bike project, but the City has no funding mechanism to ensure long-term management of the Santa Cruz tarplant.

Urge that the CCC only approve the Arana Gulch Master Plan contingent on the removal of the Broadway-Brommer Bicycle Path Connection project (as found in six Public Use objectives on page 30 of the Draft Master Plan, as well as portions of Sec. 3.4).

Finally, ask that the CCC instruct the City to consider alternatives outside of Arana Gulch for any proposed east-west bike connection.

Send your letters (44 cents postage) to:

Dan Carl, District Director
California Coastal Commission
725 Front Street, Suite 300
Santa Cruz, CA 95060

Please share this flyer (or the web site below) with others and encourage them to write letters also. All City, County and State residents can participate to Save Arana Gulch!

Friends of Arana Gulch web site: http://members.cruzio.com/~arana