Purisima Creek Trail Slide Repair and Bridge Replacement

The Purisima Creek Trail Slide and Bridge Repair project will restore resilient trail access and protect sensitive creek habitat within Purisima Creek Redwoods Open Space Preserve on the western slopes of the Santa Cruz Mountains overlooking Half Moon Bay. Following severe 2023 storm damage, the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District contracted Herrera as prime consultant to lead an interdisciplinary team in repairing slope failures that have undercut the trail and replacing two failing pedestrian bridges along Purisima Creek. The project is partially funded by FEMA and is being designed to provide durable infrastructure protection while working with the natural processes of the creek corridor.

Herrera’s design integrates engineered log structures to restore creek function and support the trail, vegetated soil lifts to provide additional bank stabilization during higher flows, and new pile-supported pedestrian bridges that improve long-term trail reliability. Herrera is providing civil engineering, landscape architecture, hydrologic and hydraulic engineering, and habitat restoration design, supported by subconsultants providing structural engineering, geotechnical engineering, and topographic survey. Through this integrated approach, the project will protect public access, improve corridor resilience, and create infrastructure that is seamlessly integrated with the natural conditions of Purisima Creek Canyon. Construction is planned for 2027-2028.