Santa Cruz Port District
Newsletter - May 2021
Announcements
Remembering Ed Larson
October 20, 1924 – April 11, 2021
Local author, artist, aviator, educator, and boater Ed Larson passed away on Sunday, April 11, 2021.

For over 30 years, Ed Larson sailed his small gaff-rigged felucca out beyond the confines of the harbor’s west jetty and into a sea of beauty and adventure. Although age and failing sight brought a halt to those sailing journeys, Ed always cherished the friendships he made and was filled with gratitude for the multitude of years that the Santa Cruz Harbor brightened his life.

Ed’s love for the harbor was grand. His poetic prowess uniquely illustrates the harbor community in only a way he could.

“I used to look at our harbor as a fine “sea chowder,” always robust and filled with the spice of its fascinating people, inherent beauty, and new and exciting experience. It soon became a meal I couldn’t turn down! The harbor’s people are as varied and intriguing as can be found. Ethnicity, social and financial status, and circumstance are washed away by a commonality of interest and the shared wealth of being a part of the human panorama of this special place.”

Ed truly believed that each day at the harbor was painted with a new and different brush, filled with the rainbow colors of rebirth and adventure. While we are saddened by the loss of a true harbor legend, we are comforted knowing that Ed’s memory will continue to live on at the harbor through his vessel, Pappy, which is prominently displayed near the harbor office.

An avid mariner, Ed was an equally avid artist and author. His incredible artwork and writings are displayed at each walking tour station throughout the harbor and will continue to teach and enrich generations of harbor visitors for years to come.

In 2014, Ed wrote “I will sail again across my own personal eternity on an ocean I have not yet crossed.” We are incredibly thankful for the years of friendship we shared with Ed.
“And thus it goes. Our harbor is a living thing as vital as the air we breathe and as eternal as the tides and winds which are a part of us.”

-Ed Larson
Live Oak Parking Program
Enforcement of Santa Cruz County's Live Oak Parking Program (LOPP) will not occur for the 2021 season. Please visit the program's website for additional information.
Harbormaster Security Notice
Do NOT Prop Gates Open
To maintain dock security, all slip licensees and guests are reminded to securely close dock gates after entry/exit.

Violators subject to citation of Port Ordinance Section 206
Water Conservation
To help reduce water use around the harbor, please:

  • Minimize the use of fresh water at all times
  • Scrub boats with a brush and sea water first
  • Limit rinsing of boats to once weekly and only if necessary
  • Shut-off spray nozzles are required on all hoses
  • Use fish scaling tools, not water, to remove scales from fish
  • Report all leaks to the harbor office

Please help us conserve water. Thank you!
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Employment Opportunity
Boatyard Crew
Full-time, benefited position
Salary Range $3,835 to $5,139/mo.*
*depending on qualifications

APPLICATION DEADLINE: May 10, 2021
Boatyard Supervisor Kevin Melrose
The Port District is pleased to announce that Kevin Melrose has been promoted to the position of Boatyard Supervisor.

Kevin has worked at the boatyard since 2018, and has extensive experience hauling vessels and participating in the oversight of the day-to-day operations of the yard.

We look forward to having Kevin in this supervisory position, so please join us in congratulating him on his recent promotion!
FY22 Fee Schedule Update: 
- Slip Renter Meter Parking Pass rate has increased from $6.00/day to $7.00/day.
- Visitor Meter & Parking Hourly rate has increased from $1.25/hour to $1.50/hour
- Daily Launch Permit rate has increased from $17.00 to $18.00
- No changes to concession parking rates
National Safe Boating Week
May 22-28, 2021
Join the Port District in promoting safe boating during National Safe Boating Week by stopping by our public safety education booth hosted by Harbor Patrol, Coast Guard Auxiliary, and TowBoatU.S. on Saturday, May 22, 2021, at the Santa Cruz Harbor launch ramp.

Recreational boaters will have the opportunity through the District's partnership with the Division of Boating & Waterways (DBW) to exchange unserviceable and/or expired life jacket for a new one, so be sure to stop by.

We hope to see you there!
BOATING SAFETY TIPS
  • Wear a life jacket. No matter what activity you have planned on the water, always remember to wear a life jacket every time you are on the water. Accidents on the water can happen much too fast to reach and put on a stowed life jacket.

  • Make sure your life jacket is U.S. Coast Guard approved, appropriate for your water activity, and fits properly. A life jacket that is too large or too small can cause different situational problems.

  • Know state boating laws. Rules and laws can differ from state to state and violations can result in ticketing, fines, or jail time.

  • Take a boating safety course. Learn valuable tips that can help save your life in unexpected situations by taking a NASBLA (National Association of Boating Law Administrators) approved boating safety course. Many courses are online and will save you money on your boat insurance.

  • Make sure your boat is prepared. There are many items that need to be checked and rechecked on any boat. Schedule a Vessel Safety Check with your local U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary or U.S. Power Squadrons before you hit the water. Every Vessel Safety Check is conducted 100 percent free of charge.

  • Be sure to know your boat’s capacity. If you have too much on your boat, the boat may become unstable and capsize.

  • Check the weather, including the water temperature. Know the latest marine weather forecast prior to going out, and keep a regular check for changing conditions.

  • Dress properly. Always dress for the weather, wearing layers if cooler weather, and bring an extra set of clothes in case you get wet.

  • Always file a float plan. File a float plan with someone you trust that includes details about the trip, boat, persons, towing or trailer vehicle, communication equipment, and emergency contacts. Find out more at floatplancentral.org.

  • Always follow navigation rules. Know the “Rules of the Road” such as operator’s responsibility, maintaining a proper lookout, safe speed, crossing, meeting head-on, and overtaking situations. Know what’s going on around you at all times, and always travel at safe speeds for the environment. Find out more at boatoncourse.com.

  • Don’t drink while you boat. Where the primary cause was known, alcohol was listed as a leading factor in boating-related deaths. Find out more at operationdrywater.org.

  • Beware of carbon monoxide poisoning. Gasoline-powered engines on boats, including onboard generators, produce carbon monoxide (CO), a colorless and odorless gas that can poison or kill someone who breathes too much of it. Be sure to install and maintain a working CO detector, never block exhaust outlets, and always dock, beach, or anchor at least 20 feet away from the nearest boat that is running a generator or engine.

  • Keep in touch. Communication devices can be the most important piece of emergency equipment on board a vessel, especially in case of emergency. Be sure to have at least two communication devices that work when wet, such as satellite phones, emergency position indicating radio beacons (EPIRB), VHF radios, and personal locator beacons (PLB). Cell phones are not reliable in an emergency situation.

2020-21 Dredging Operations
The 2020-21 dredge season concluded on April 29, 2021. Kudos to the dredge crew for a successful dredging season! The crew has begun to demobilize Twin Lakes and other dredge equipment in preparation for off-season maintenance work.

Prior to transiting the entrance, mariners are still advised to check tide and weather conditions, view the entrance sounding online, and know what your vessel draws. Entrance soundings will be updated periodically during the offseason and posted on the District’s website.
Pictured above, the District's dredge Twin Lakes digging outside the harbor entrance.
Thank you Dredge Crew!