Mayor, while stressing the value of the wharf in the community, says rebuilding without serious discussions would be “irresponsible.”

Santa Cruz city officials are keeping climate change in mind as they plan repairs to the Santa Cruz Wharf after pounding surf collapsed a section of the popular tourist attraction.

Although hopeful to reopen the damaged Santa Cruz Municipal Wharf in the coming weeks, Santa Cruz City officials do not yet have a timeframe for the 110-year-old structure’s reopening until

Sea lions and a historic ocean swell were on a list of reasons released by officials Friday explaining why part of the iconic Santa Cruz Wharf collapsed. The wooden wharf is more than 100 years old and extends a half mile over the ocean.

The iconic Santa Cruz wharf might never be rebuilt after giant swells caused the end of the pier to collapse into the sea, city officials said Friday, citing climate change as a significant factor to be considered.

A part of the Santa Cruz Wharf collapsed Monday afternoon during a high-surf warning, with authorities confirming two people had to be pulled from the water.

Work to repair last year’s storm damage to the Santa Cruz wharf likely contributed to its partial collapse, raising questions about the pier’s future as climate change fuels more powerful waves.

Santa Cruz County officials are considering whether it makes sense to rebuild the iconic Santa Cruz Wharf after part of it collapsed into the ocean during a recent storm.

Strong storms have repeatedly pounded Santa Cruz in recent years, most notably collapsing a chunk of its wharf this week. Is it just bad luck that has left the coastal city vulnerable to dangerous surf?