Carmel River Floodplain Restoration and Environmental Enhancement (Carmel River FREE) Project
A watershed-related issue examined by the ENVS 560/L Watershed Systems class at CSUMB.
[[File:BSLT_CarmelRiverFREE.JPG|700px|thumb|right| Carmel River Floodplain Restoration and Environmental Enhancement Project long term restoration plans. Image sourced from the Big Sur Land Trust blog
Contents
Summary
The Carmel River Floodplain Restoration and Environmental Enhancement Project (Carmel River FREE) is a multi-level project in the Lower Carmel River Watershed east of Highway 1. Carmel River FREE is a collaboration between the Big Sur Land Trust (BSLT) and the County of Monterey. Construction is projected to begin in 2017. [1] The project encompasses the following goals:
- Removal of 1/2 mile levee section to allow the Carmel River access to the floodplain,
- Construction of a causeway along Highway 1 to connect the floodplain and the Carmel River Lagoon,
- 130 acres of riparian and wetland habitat restoration,
- 36 acres reserved for organic agriculture and public access.
Location
Lower Carmel River Watershed, Monterey County, California
History
The Lower Carmel River has a history of flooding. In 1997-98, the mouth of the Carmel Valley was covered in a foot of water. Instead of expensive levee reinforcements, in 2010 BSLT proposed alleviating the risk of flooding by restoring the floodplain. [2]
Funding
The Big Sur Land Trust secured $14 million in grant funds from the California Water Resources Agency, US Environmental Protection Agency, US Fish and Wildlife Service, California Coastal Conservancy, and the California Wildlife Conservation Board. [1]
The 2014 Monterey County Service Area 50 Flood Control Report [3] estimated that the Carmel River FREE project would reduce the cost of flood control improvements from $25,771,000 to $11,322,000.
Resources at stake
Stakeholders
County of Monterey
Monterey County Water Resources Agency
Monterey Peninsula Water Management District
California Department of Parks and Recreation
Residents of the Lower Carmel Valley
Clint and Margaret Eastwood
Laws, policies, & regulations
Systems
... What elements of the biophysical system are/were involved?...
Science
...What scientific studies are or would be relevant / already completed?...
Future research
...What knowledge gaps remain?...
References
- ↑ Carmel River FREE Project hopes to relegate flooding to history, Monterey County NOW
- ↑ CSA-50 Final Lower Carmel River Stormwater Management and Flood Control Report
Links
Disclaimer
This page may contain student work completed as part of assigned coursework. It may not be accurate. It does not necessary reflect the opinion or policy of CSUMB, its staff, or students.
