CARMEL VALLEY, Calif.- Controversy is overflowing on the Monterey Peninsula and possibly putting the brakes on the proposed demolition of the San Clemente Dam. It's all new information to the major project expected to start soon.
The latest issue may seem small, but its causing a big headache for neighbors. The questions is, what route will the construction crews take in their work to destroy the dam? The first proposed route was on San Clemente Drive. Now CalAm is ditching that idea and looking at taking an alternate route on Cachagua Road.
CalAm said it's in the process of getting information out to the public on the dam, set to be torn down by 2015. Some residents said they're not against the project as a whole. But re-routing construction traffic into their neighborhood isn't going over very well.
"You know there has to be a balance between the environmental and community impact. I mean in this case its just clear as day that the community impact is so huge that it makes no sense whatsoever," said concerned resident Robert Leffelman.
CalAm said a 2006 study showed a greater environmental risk for the Sleepy Hollow neighborhood along San Clemente Drive. So they decided to move construction traffic to Cachagua Road. Residents like Robert Leffelman said there are only a few homes along San Clemente Drive. But now hundreds of homes will now be affected. They want a better explanation as to why CalAm is making the change.
"On the basis that it would be a less feasible (route) in times of rain for example, flood impacts," said CalAm manager of external affairs Catherine Bowie.
CalAm said they have several public meetings set for September and October to answer questions and explain the decision. They said a flyer with the information will be mailed out on Wednesday. Leffelman said he's worried about construction traffic getting in the way of emergency crews and people trying to get home. But CalAm said they have an answer for that.
"If a resident comes down the road and needs to get to their home, we will move the trucks aside," Bowie said.
Lefellman said in his mind, CalAm needs to go back to the original plan.
"The easiest route and the least amount of impact on the community is the San Clemente Drive route," Leffelman said.
CalAm said getting rid of the dam will help certain types of fish spawn and make the area safer for hikers. But it's going to be costly. Back in June, we told you the cost of removal will turn out to be about $83 million dollars and a lot of that money will come from you. The water company said it's raising rates about 5.5% to pay for the removal. That's about $2.50 a month for the average customer.
