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| photo: Department of Water Resources |
In 1921 the San Clemente Dam was constructed on the Carmel River.
Since that time, sediments that normally would have been transported
downriver, through the Carmel River Lagoon and out to the Pacific
Ocean, have been trapped behind the dam. Today, the San Clemente
Dam is almost completely filled with sediment and no longer provides
water supply benefits for the Carmel Region. In fact, the dam now
poses a significant risk to lives and property. If the dam were to
fail, more than 2 million cubic yards of mud would be released down
stream toward residential areas in the lower river basin.
The dam has been determined to be seismically unsafe by the Department
of Water Resources Division of Safety of Dams, and has ordered the
owner of the dam, California American Water Company (Cal-Am), to
solve the problem. Previous efforts to develop the buttressing project
have stalled over concern that buttressing would perpetuate significant
impacts to the Carmel River ecosystem including long-term impacts
to endangered steelhead trout. However, the seismic issues and related
regulatory actions do not require solutions to these environmental
concerns, only that the threat of dam failure be eliminated.
In an effort to secure the best environmental outcome for the Carmel
River, PCLF has been working closely with Cal-Am, the State Coastal
Conservancy and NOAA Fisheries in a cooperative approach to determining
the viability of a dam removal project, and to better understand
the opportunity for the state to assist with advancing the plan for
dam removal.
In May of 2007 the State Coastal Conservancy initiated a major study
to determine the feasibility of removing the San Clemente Dam. The
study will investigate the technical and environmental aspects of
removing the dam in order to provide crucial information for the
state to proceed with a project. If determined to be a viable solution,
the dam removal project would begin in 2009 and would be completed
over a three-year period. PCLF has played a key role in these developments
and will continue to work with the local community, conservation
groups, and others to advocate for the best environmental solution
for the Carmel River.
San Clemente Factsheet (1.7MB
PDF file)
Read a short synopsis of how the Carmel River has
been impacted by the San Clemente Dam and learn about the
options to improve the natural resources and restore the
watershed. One option gaining momentum is the removal
of the San Clemente Dam.
Download the
Factsheet>>
San Clemente
Project Description (793K PDF file)
The Carmel River represents on of the best opportunities
for river restoration on California’s Central Coast.
Today, there is an extraordinary opportunity to remove the
San Clemente Dam and implement a watershed restoration process
that will bring the Carmel River back to life.
Download
the Project Description>>
For more information please contact Dr.
Monica Hunter.
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