Goodbye Dam, Hello Steelhead

The California Public Utilities Commission has approved the largest dam demolition project in California history, calling for removal of the aging San Clemente Dam from the Carmel River on the Monterey Peninsula. Removing the dam will restore access to 25 miles of critical steelhead habitat, in addition to reestablishing ecological connectivity for other threatened species in the region.

Via The Wall Street Journal: "The project is unique in its approach because rather than remove the sediment, which would fill 250,000 truckloads, the accumulated sediment will be left in place and located between two new, stabilized, natural, earthen structures. The Carmel River will be rerouted 1/2 mile to bypass the sediment and as the final step, the dam will be removed. California American Water will donate the 928-acre property where the dam is located to the Bureau of Land Management. The project area adjoins two regional parks, creating over 5,400 acres of combined open space available for hiking and passive recreation."