CPUC Approves Removal of the Dam From Carmel River - Central Coast News KION/KCBA

CARMEL VALLEY, Calif- The California Public Utilities Commission has granted the request to permanently remove the aging San Clemente Dam from the Carmel River in hopes to restore the river's ecosystem.

"Removing San Clemente Dam is among the most important things we can do to help improve the health of the Carmel River," said Rep. Sam Farr, D-Carmel.  

Removing the San Clemente Dam will restore access to 25 miles of spawning and rearing habitat, critical to the South Central California Coast Steelhead's recovery and other threatened species, said American Water. Removal of the dam will allow sediment to move past the dam and help replenish sand to Carmel River beach and dunes, fortifying the beach and coastal area against sea level rise.

"This decision represents a turning point in a decades-long endeavor to restore the Carmel River, which has seen its ecosystem decimated from a lack of water," said Loren Letendre, president of the Carmel River Watershed Conservancy.

According to the company news release, "The estimated project construction cost is $83 million. Forty-nine million dollars will be recovered from ratepayers and $34 million will come from the State Coastal Conservancy, which will raise its portion of the funding from various state, federal and private sources.   Based on California American Water's current rates approved on June 7, 2012, residential customer bills will increase by an average of $2.54 a month or 5.61 percent over current amounts in order to fund the project. The new rates will take effect July 1. Groundbreaking on the project will commence later this year and completion is expected in 2015."