A significant amount of rock that provides San Lorenzo River levee armoring and flood protection has been displaced, according to a release from the city of Santa Cruz.

The city is calling the displacement an act of vandalism. Unpermitted plantings have been installed and the city has started the repair of the damage.

The city manages the San Lorenzo River flood control channel under an operations and maintenance agreement with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers as per the release. Large rocks known as “rip rap” can be found along the inboard side of the levee that provide protection against erosion during high-flow events.

The city discovered that within the past few days, approximately 3 cubic yards of rip-rap were removed the levee’s east bank and placed at the levee crest along with unpermitted citrus tree plantings and homemade signs with unauthorized use of the city logo.

The city said this act of vandalism along approximately 40 feet threatens the integrity of the flood control structure and also jeopardizes the city’s efforts in seeking Federal Emergency Management Agency certification for the levee system.

The city is working with the community and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to explore and permit projects that promote native habitat restoration along the river.

For information on community meetings on this process, visit cityofsantacruz.com/publicworksprojects.