City of Santa Cruz Public Works

10/29/2026

💨 Blink and you might miss it.

Watch the Resource Recovery Facility’s new enclosed flare take shape in this installation timelapse.

The new flare supports the facility’s landfill gas management system and helps keep operations safe, reliable, and environmentally responsible.

10/09/2026

💧 It’s Water Professionals Appreciation Week!

Here in Public Works, water professionals are working every day, often behind the scenes, to keep Santa Cruz clean, healthy and resilient.

Our wastewater team helps operate and maintain a system that treats more than 10 million gallons of wastewater each day, supported by more than 200 miles of sewer lines and 17 pump stations.

Our stormwater team works to reduce flooding, maintain storm drain infrastructure and protect water quality. In Santa Cruz, storm drains flow directly to local creeks, the San Lorenzo River and Monterey Bay, making that work especially important.

From underground pipes and pump stations to treatment systems, storm drains and local waterways, these teams help protect public health and our environment every day.

👏 Thank you to our wastewater and stormwater professionals for the essential work you do for Santa Cruz!

10/07/2026

🎉 100 years calls for a celebration!

Today, our Resource Recovery team came together to celebrate a century of service to Santa Cruz.

For generations, Public Works employees have kept this essential service moving, from collection and recycling to operations, maintenance and everything in between.

The facility may be turning 100, but today was really about celebrating the people behind the work. 💚♻️

Thank you to our past and present Resource Recovery staff for being part of this incredible milestone!

09/25/2026

🎉 Murray Street Bridge reopens Monday!

Starting Sept. 28, the bridge will reopen to one-lane, eastbound-only traffic as construction continues.

🚗 Eastbound traffic can cross the bridge.

↩️ Westbound traffic will continue to use the detour via 7th Avenue, Soquel Avenue and Seabright Avenue.

🚲🚶 People biking and walking will also be able to cross, with two-way pedestrian access available.

Thanks for your patience during this summer’s full closure. Please allow extra travel time and follow posted signs as everyone adjusts to the new traffic pattern.

09/22/2026

Tomorrow!

🚲🔧 Got a squeaky brake or flat tire? We've got you covered! Sign Up for the FREE Bike Repair on Sept. 23 from 1-4 p.m. near the Downtown Farmers Market. Our mechanics will handle minor tune-ups + repairs so you can ride smooth. 🍂🔧👉 Book your spot now! https://bit.ly/4yc5qLJ

09/10/2026

Big Machines. Big Jobs. 💪

Specialized equipment helps staff manage thousands of tons of material safely and efficiently each year. These machines play an important role in daily operations at the Resource Recovery Facility.

09/02/2026

Keeping Resource Recovery services running takes operators, mechanics, drivers, technicians, and support staff. This month, we're highlighting the people behind the service. 👷‍♂️👷‍♀️

08/26/2026

🐐 GoatPro reporting for duty.

Each year, goats and sheep visit the Resource Recovery Facility to graze vegetation and help with w**d abatement and land management around the site.

This time, one of them brought us along for the job. 🎥

Take a look at vegetation management from a goat’s point of view.

08/19/2026

The Resource Recovery Facility is part of a larger environmental landscape that includes protected open space, coastal habitats, and the nearby Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Staff work every day to operate the facility responsibly while supporting environmental stewardship and protection of the natural resources that make Santa Cruz unique. Protecting the environment isn't limited to what happens within the facility. It's also about helping preserve the places that surround it.

08/14/2026

⏱️ Time for another Murray Minute.

🚧 A lot of progress is happening behind the construction barriers at the Murray Street Bridge during the project’s last long full closure.

🏗️ Crews are completing major work on the south side, including building new foundations and repairing supports damaged during the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake. Significant utility and foundation work on the north side is already complete, and a temporary bypass is maintaining wastewater service during construction.

📅 The bridge will reopen to eastbound-only traffic in September. Only two short full closures (1-2 weeks) remain, planned for 2027. The project remains on budget and on schedule for completion in January 2028.