Oct 17, 2025 | Creature Feature, Featured Articles, News, Videos
Our San Lorenzo River is incredible – and a particularly special way to experience it is by putting on a mask and snorkel and diving in. Not only is the river a critically important drinking water resource for local residents, it’s also home to many special plants and... 
Oct 1, 2025 | Creature Feature, Featured Articles, News
Earlier this year, the Coastal Watershed Council helped spotlight the beauty of our local birds by co-hosting a Bilingual Bird Walk with The Bird School Project. Community members joined us for a beautiful morning at the San Lorenzo River to learn about the unique... 
Jun 9, 2025 | Creature Feature, Featured Articles, News
One of the questions the Coastal Watershed Council hears most about the San Lorenzo River is, “How are the steelhead doing?” To monitor population changes of steelhead trout, or Oncorhynchus mykiss, the City of Santa Cruz Water Department and contracted fish... 
Feb 20, 2025 | Creature Feature, Featured Articles
This article written by Will Ware, CalTrout Bay Area Project Coordinator, was originally published by CalTrout in CalTrout News on May 31, 2024. View the Original Article on CalTrout.org Ghosts of Past & Present Monitoring salmon and steelhead is like ghost... 
Aug 2, 2024 | Creature Feature, Featured Articles, News
Did you know that lamprey live in the San Lorenzo River? Here is your proof! We received these incredible shots of a Great Blue Heron eating a Pacific lamprey at the San Lorenzo River mouth on June 7, 2024, from Alan Ritch, Associate University Librarian Emeritus from... 
Feb 15, 2024 | Creature Feature, Featured Articles, Habitat Enhancement, News
Birds are a real attraction at the San Lorenzo River during any time of year. An estimated 122 bird species frequent the river, and its lower stretch is considered a birding “hotspot” in Santa Cruz. While spring and fall are often thought to be prime seasons for...