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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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