Historic pier set to be torn down
The iconic pier in Aptos that was pummeled during January’s harsh atmospheric rivers is set to be torn down, according to an announcement from California State Parks.
The state agency confirmed this week that the storms had destroyed over half of the historic pier at Seacliff State Beach near Santa Cruz and severely damaged the remaining structure, giving officials no other option but to demolish it entirely. The work will take place this month, they wrote.
The massive storm in January brought in some of the biggest Pacific swells to hit California in years, some as high as 26 feet, The Chronicle reported. The vigorous waves knocked over the town’s landmark S.S. Palo Alto Cement Ship, which had originally been named for its durability.
“Seacliff State Beach has been beloved for generations,” said California State Parks District Superintendent Chris Spohrer in the statement. “State Parks looks forward to working with the community, scientists, and environmental stewards to build resilience to sea-level rise and extreme event impacts so that more generations can continue to fall in love with Seacliff State Beach.”
Officials announced that the storms also had devastating effects on the campground at Seacliff State Beach, another popular camping destination that will now be closed through the remainder of 2023. Most of the seawall has been destroyed, in addition to much of the fill material on which the campground was built.
The parking lot pavement and underground utilities were also lost to the sea, they wrote.
In mid-January, President Biden and Gov. Gavin Newsom surveyed the damage at Seacliff State Beach and the park’s pier. The president pledged that federal agencies would help the region “fully recover and rebuild.”
A farewell to the pier combined with a Seacliff State Beach cleanup was held Saturday.