18 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY AUGUST 27-SEPTEMBER 2, 2026 www.montereycountynow.com have now nearly wrapped up their data analysis. While the samples can’t pinpoint the exact location of a species— water flows downstream, after all, taking DNA with it—it does show what is in the river, or has been at some point. “It’s a complex system which we’re trying to figure out,” Alter says. “If we take a sample of water at this spot, does that mean those species were there 10 minutes ago or an hour ago, or a kilometer away? That’s all inferences that we make.” She adds the study will provide a more complete picture of habitat in the river than any other such research in the past. “To date, there’s been patchy surveys of biodiversity of the river,” she says. “The surveys that have occurred so far have been traditional surveys, where you’re going out and visually looking for organisms and counting them. That’s time-consuming, and it’s limited both in how much time and space you can cover.” The researchers found more than 31 species, including steelhead and Sacramento suckers—“species that we are happy to see because they indicate ecological health in the system,” Alter says. On the flipside, they discovered some non-native, invasive species, including mosquitofish, catfish and bullfrogs. That can be a problem, because bullfrogs, for example, will eat the eggs and larvae of endangered fish and amphibians, including the longtoed salamander. Mosquitofish, while useful for pest control in ponds or lakes, compete for resources with the native fish. “We’re working hard to protect the habitat of the native species,” Alter says. “To have non-native species in the system that are actively working against them, that’s a problem.” Finding evidence of these non-native species is important for the study, which can recommend ways the levee project can modify the habitat to be friendly to the natives and to limit the spread of the invasive species. CSUMB environmental graduate student Subi Nair says the research helps establish a baseline for the current conditions in the river as a way to guide what impacts the levee project will have not only in the channel, but on the surrounding environment. “I see this as a larger group effort between a lot of different institutions that are working with this common goal to build a comprehensive report of what these levee setbacks are going to do and the effects down the road,” she says. “Hopefully, we’ll set a precedent for future projects.” Fisher’s team of student researchers at UCSC is looking at the river’s water quality and recharge. What’s surprising to Fisher is areas of the river that were losing water at a pace quicker than others, yet a couple of months later gained it back. The researchers suspect it has to do with the geology of the Pajaro Valley, which has an extensive, impervious layer of clay throughout that is a remnant from its history as a vast wetland complex. “If you have this clay level below the river, that limits where recharge can occur,” Fisher says. The data from the study can help inform the Army Corps of Engineers, which is managing the project’s construction, how to design and build the levee in a way that benefits water flow and quality. Not only is it designed for the habitat, but also with maintenance in mind, Fisher notes, such as building ramps into the river and staging areas for equipment needed for the upkeep. “This has been a long-term challenge for the area,” he says. “Keeping these levees functional and keeping these channels clear can be expensive. Are there ways to design this that makes maintenance easier? In the long run, that benefits everybody.” A few times every decade, the idea of an El Niño event makes the news, bringing with it the threat of wetter winters and more powerful storms. But such instances are not guaranteed, nor are they likely to happen evenly across the state. Still, local jurisdictions use the late summer and fall to prepare for what may (or may not) come at the end of the year. The Pajaro Regional Flood Management Agency, which maintains about 26 miles of the Pajaro River system, is gearing up for the winter. On Aug. 12, PRFMA Executive Director Mark Strudley presented a report to the agency’s board, outlining the winter preparation plan, which while similar to previous years, feels a little more urgent with the possibility of a strong El Niño event. That includes more than $900,000 for ongoing vegetation clearing and sediment removal. The agency is also investing in a plan to fortify the levees on the Monterey County side, similar to what it did in 2024 when it brought in new soil to reconstruct a portion of the levee and bring it back up to its original height. PRFMA is also looking at building what is known as “seepage berms,” which are large masses of rocks placed on the sides of the levees to help fortify it and allow water to seep through Left: Mark Strudley, executive director of the Pajaro Regional Flood Management Agency, shows some of the overgrowth in the Monterey County side of the levee. Right: The Thurwachter Road bridge spans the Pajaro River in Watsonville. Another, smaller breach opened up along the levee near the area in 2023. “They see the impacts of climate change firsthand in their communities.” DANIEL DREIFUSS SARA RUBIN
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