Santa Cruz County 1 article

Santa Cruz County lies along Monterey Bay and extends into the forested Santa Cruz Mountains. The city of Santa Cruz serves as county seat, while Watsonville anchors an agricultural area known for berries and other crops. Coastal erosion, river flooding and mountain wildfire hazards vary across the county's communities. Its residents also navigate the steep Highway 17 connection to Silicon Valley and the relationship between university activity, tourism and local housing.

Climate & Environment

November 10, 2026, 6:34 PM · 5 mins read

Coast redwoods show robust basal resprouting after CZU wildfire

Research in the Santa Cruz Mountains finds that coast redwoods increased basal resprouting and shoot growth across all fire damage levels two years after the 2020 CZU Lightning Complex wildfire.