Unlikely culprit may have led to collapse of iconic California wharf
Seagulls may be responsible for the shocking collapse of California’s famous Santa Cruz Wharf pier.
City officials revealed that environmental measures intended to protect shorebirds have hindered essential repairs to the 110-year-old structure, according to Mercury news.
When part of the pier deteriorated and collapsed into the ocean during a heavy storm on Monday, the structure was still damaged by storms from two years ago. But those repairs were postponed because of the seagull protection.
Mercury News reported that crucial aspects of the repair work, including repairing the pillars supporting the wharf, were delayed by environmental activism efforts.
Due to Coastal Commission rules, renovations and repairs can only be carried out between September and March to avoid the seagull breeding season.
But this has proven problematic, officials say.
Parks and Recreation Director Tony Elliott told the outlet, “Our operating window is a very tight six months in the winter when we tend to have storms and big waves.
‘The shipyard is a 110-year-old structure and requires a lot of work. … It takes more than six months a year to maintain it effectively.”
In February the Commission relaxed some of their restrictions and allowed work to be done on some support ‘piles’ of wood during the breeding season, but Elliott said this ‘didn’t change the dynamic’.
These barely relaxed restrictions allowed workers to repair the site for only four hours a day before 10am. They also had to be at least 300 feet away from any gull nests.
The Dolphin Restaurant and bathrooms on the edge of the quay were sent into the water after the collapse
The 110-year-old pier needed repairs that were delayed by environmentalists trying to protect seagulls, the Mercury News reported
Former site manager Jon Bombaci claimed that this policy must be changed to prevent future disasters.
He told the Mercury News: “There needs to be a reassessment of the policies that guide the Coastal Commission’s permitting process.
“Their time constraints conflicted with making repairs.
‘These birds nest in a man-made structure. If you don’t make the repairs in a timely manner, you’ll lose the whole thing anyway.’
After the shipyard collapsed, three construction workers had to be rescued from the water.
Workers were demolishing a restaurant at the Santa Cruz wharf that was damaged by a storm surge last year when the collapse occurred around 12:44 p.m. according to USA Today.
“We had our engineer, our engineering team and our wharf crew on site monitoring on a minute-by-minute basis,” city official Matt Huffaker said of the city’s decision to renovate the wharf amid storm surges.
“We decided based on our forecast models that it would be safe to do this today, with constant monitoring.”
Two were rescued by lifeguards, while the last emerged from the water on their own, police told KSBW. They suffered only minor injuries.
A video posted to social media showed two of the construction workers waving for help atop driftwood as officials rushed to the scene on jet skis.
Three construction workers had to be rescued from the water on Monday after the Santa Cruz wharf collapsed
According to city officials, seagull protection policies may have caused the iconic pier’s collapse (stock image)
No members of the public were present when the collapse occurred, amid the $4 million renovation to repair damage to the quay.
However, the wharf was quickly evacuated when approximately 50 meters of the end of the wharf, including the Dolphin Restaurant and toilet, floated into the ocean.
A crane and a skid steer loader were also seen adrift in the water.
Footage posted online showed the structures floating away from the coast before sinking as shocked Californians looked on.
“We heard the pier creaking and he was swaying a lot,” London Ky. said.
“So my friend actually noticed that, but we brushed it off, and the whole thing probably fell into the water within five minutes.”
Docks remained severely damaged and became unstable in some areas and ships were in danger of sinking as wave conditions continued, with wave heights reaching 26 feet high. according to KRON.
These stormy conditions are expected to continue through Thursday.
“Due to life-threatening conditions, we ask that you avoid all beaches, including coastal areas such as rocks, jetties or cliffs,” a public safety alert said.
‘Dangerous and powerful waves can unexpectedly sweep over entire beaches. Do not enter the water or cross the flooded streets along the coast.
“You are risking your life and the lives of the people who should be trying to save you by getting in or too close to the water.”
The structure was reportedly still damaged by storms two years ago
The National Weather Service also posted online that “the ocean is not churning today.
“There are life-threatening (and property) threatening conditions for the remainder of today and tomorrow.”
The Santa Cruz Harbor and Wharf are now closed until further notice, and the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk said this would be the case as well closed for the rest of the day as a precaution, citing ‘major damage caused by storm surge’.
“While some landside businesses are open, access and parking may be severely limited,” the report said.
California Governor Gavin Newsom’s office said he had been informed of the pier collapse.
The Office of Emergency Services is now coordinating with local agencies and officials.