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Salinas, CA 93901
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Carmel River Floodplain Restoration and Environmental Enhancement Project (CRFREE)
| File Number(s): | REF140048 |
| Location: | Downstream end of the Carmel River Watershed, approximately one-half a mile from the river mouth, immediately east and west of State Route 1 |
| Assessor's Parcel Numbers: | 243-071-005-000, 243-071-006-000, 243-071-007-000, 243-021-007-000, 157-121-001-000, 243-081-005-000 and 243-071-008-000. |
| Planning Area: | Carmel Area Land Use Plan |
| Project Lead: | Shandy Carroll, Management Analyst III (831) 784-5643, CarrollS@countyofmonterey.gov |
| Current Status: | In planning, design and environmental review phase. Monterey County and the Big Sur Land Trust will be co-applicants for all project permits and authorizations. |
| Environmental Status: |
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| Project Description: |
The County proposes to implement the Carmel River Floodplain Restoration and Enhancement Project (Project). The Proposed Project consists of two interdependent Project components: Floodplain Restoration and Causeway. The USFWS has granted partial funds for the Floodplain Restoration component and is the NEPA lead agency, with the California Department of Transportation acting as a cooperating agency on the review of the Causeway facilities. The County of Monterey is the CEQA lead agency. The Floodplain Restoration Component consists of: (1) removing a portion of the non-structural earthen levees on the south side of the Carmel River channel; (2) grading to restore the site’s ecological function as a floodplain by creating the hydrogeomorphic characteristics necessary to support floodplain restoration activities; (3) grading to elevate approximately 23 acres of existing farmland above the 100-year floodplain elevation to create an agricultural preserve; and (4) implementation of a Restoration Management Plan (RMP). The RMP includes restoration of a mosaic of native habitats across the site in two phases, and maintenance, monitoring, and reporting protocols to ensure the success of the revegetation specific to compensatory mitigation requirements. The Causeway Component consists of replacing a portion of the State Route 1 (SR 1) roadway embankment with a causeway section to accommodate flood flows that enter into the south overbank area as a function of the removal of portions of the levees as described above and to restore hydrologic connectivity between the Project site and the Carmel Lagoon. The Project would result in the reconnection and restoration of approximately 100 acres of historic floodplain. Once construction of the Causeway is complete, SR 1 would remain a two-lane conventional highway with 12-foot travel lanes; however, the Causeway incorporates 8-foot wide shoulders, transitioning to match existing 4-foot-wide shoulders at the southern project limits. The Causeway would also include a southbound left turn lane at the Palo Corona Regional Park entrance and public trails.
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| Related Links: (These links are provided for information only. The County of Monterey does not endorse any of the information found on these sites) |
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