Celebration of the Largest Dam Removal in California History Held Today
June 06 2016 - 10:00AM
Business Wire
Tearing Down of the Antiquated San Clemente Dam
to be Recognized in Milestone Event and Ceremony
Elected officials, conservation groups and community leaders
from across the state gathered in Carmel Valley today to celebrate
the completion of the San Clemente Dam and Carmel River Reroute
Project. The event, hosted by California American Water, in
partnership with the California State Coastal Conservancy and
NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service, included state and
federal representatives as well as leadership from various
nonprofit organizations that contributed to the dam removal
effort.
“This is a historic event,” said Congressman Sam Farr
(D-Calif.). “The removal of San Clemente Dam represents a new
beginning for this river where I grew up and where my grandchildren
are growing up. All the species that depend on the Carmel River and
every member of this community will benefit from the restoration of
this precious environment.”
“It is an honor to have been part of the collaborative effort to
remove the San Clemente Dam and restore the threatened Carmel
River,” said State Senator Bill Monning (D-Carmel). “I commend all
those that have worked to diligently to make this day
possible.”
The 106-foot San Clemente Dam, built in 1921 and removed in the
summer of 2015, impacted threatened habitat within the Carmel
River, which was declared one of America’s 10 most endangered
rivers in 1999. Once vibrant steelhead runs dramatically decreased
over time, while lives and property below the dam were threatened
by the possible collapse of the seismically unsafe structure.
Before its removal, the reservoir no longer provided significant
water storage for the community, having filled more than 95% with
2.5 million cubic yards of sediment and with a remaining water
storage capacity of only about 70 acre-feet. The removal project
included an innovative engineering approach of rerouting the river
around accumulated sediment.
“Our approach avoided the environmental impact of releasing or
transporting sediment,” said California American Water President
Rob MacLean. “The river reroute makes this dam removal unique from
a technical and engineering point of view. I’m tremendously proud
of the more than 300 people who worked to construct this project
and performed the job safely and on time.”
Bringing the dam removal project to fruition was made possible
by a strong partnership between California American Water, the
owners and operators of the dam, and the California State Coastal
Conservancy and NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service.
Additional federal, state and local agencies and elected officials
at all levels played key roles in the project’s design, approval,
and funding. Forty-nine million dollars of the $83 million
construction cost was funded by California American Water.
Thirty-four million was contributed by federal, state and private
sources, including the State Coastal Conservancy and the National
Marine Fisheries Service, as well as The Nature Conservancy, the
Wildlife Conservation Board, and the California Department of Fish
and Wildlife.
“It’s estimated that historically, 8,000 adult steelhead made it
up the Carmel River each year,” said Barry Thom, National Marine
Fisheries Service Regional Deputy Administrator. “Today, the
average run is less than six hundred. This project will enable the
steelhead to make a viable return as well as the river’s other
threatened wildlife.”
Granite Construction was selected through a competitive
procurement process to design and build the three-year construction
project. Granite will also perform five years of post-construction
monitoring and maintenance activities to ensure that the project
objectives are met and the restoration project is successful.
“This project is a win for the people and the environment,” said
Monterey County Supervisor Dave Potter. “This is the largest dam
removal project in state history and one of the largest in the U.S.
The dam was emblematic of outdated infrastructure projects that
didn’t account for ecological impacts. It’s encouraging to see
creative solutions realized for complex problems.”
The removal of San Clemente Dam and restoration of the Carmel’s
natural flow has many benefits including:
- Aiding in the recovery of threatened
South-Central California Coast steelhead by providing unimpaired
access to over 25 miles of essential spawning and rearing
habitat.
- Expanding public recreation by
preserving over 900 acres of coastal watershed lands, resulting in
over 5,400 acres of contiguous regional park land for low impact
recreation.
- Restoring the river’s natural sediment
flow, helping replenish sand on Carmel Beach and improve habitat
downstream of the dam for steelhead.
- Reducing beach erosion that now
contributes to destabilization of homes, roads, and
infrastructure.
- Re-establishing a healthy connection
between the lower Carmel River and the watershed above San Clemente
Dam.
- Improving habitat for threatened
California red-legged frogs.
- Permanent removal of the public safety
risk posed the San Clemente Dam, which could have failed in the
event of a large flood or earthquake.
“What we’ve learned in removing San Clemente Dam may be applied
elsewhere,” said California Natural Resources Secretary John Laird.
“Collaborative governance and partnership with the private sector
can result in huge gains for the environment, and others should
look to this removal project for important lessons.”
California American Water, a subsidiary of American Water Works
Company, Inc. (NYSE: AWK), provides high-quality and reliable water
and/or wastewater services to approximately 600,000 people.
Founded in 1886, American Water Works Company is the largest and
geographically diversified publicly traded U.S. water and
wastewater utility company. With headquarters in Voorhees, N.J.,
the company employs approximately 6,800 dedicated professionals who
provide regulated and market-based drinking water, wastewater and
other related services to an estimated 15 million people in more
than 47 states, and Ontario, Canada. More information can be found
by visiting www.amwater.com.
The Coastal Conservancy is a state agency that works with the
people of California to protect and improve the coast and San
Francisco Bay. The conservancy has helped open more than 100 miles
of coast and bay shores to the public and preserve more than
300,000 acres of wetlands, wildlife habitat, parks, and
farmland.
NOAA’s mission is to understand and predict changes in the
Earth's environment, from the depths of the ocean to the surface of
the sun, and to conserve and manage our coastal and marine
resources. Join us on Facebook, Twitter and our other social media
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version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160606005289/en/
California American WaterCatherine Stedman,
831-241-2990catherine.stedman@amwater.com
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