ITEM:		INFORMATIONAL ITEMS/STAFF REPORTS
24.	QUARTERLY CARMEL RIVER EROSION PROTECTION AND RESTORATION PROJECTS REPORT
Meeting Date:			July 17, 2006	Budgeted:	N/A
From:			David A. Berger,	Program/	N/A
			General Manager	Line Item No.:
Prepared By:			Larry Hampson	Cost Estimate:	N/A
General Counsel Approval: N/A
Committee Recommendation: N/A
CEQA Compliance: N/A

Carmel River Advisory Committee Meeting: On May 4, 2006, the Carmel River Advisory Committee held a Regular Meeting. Minutes from that meeting will be made available in a future Board packet.

State Proposition 50 Planning Grant: The General Manager entered into subgrantee agreements with the City of Monterey, the Carmel River Watershed Conservancy (CRWC), and the Big Sur Land Trust and consultant agreements with RMC Water and Environment and Padres and Associates to prepare portions of an Integrated Regional Water Management (IRWM) Plan for the Region, which includes the Carmel River watershed, the Monterey Peninsula, the Seaside Groundwater Basin, and other areas within the MPWMD boundary.

The scope of work has changed somewhat as events in the Region have occurred. The Federal Emergency Management Agency has postponed the release of an update of the Carmel Valley Flood Insurance Study (FIS) to mid-2007. Part of the scope of work for the IRWM Plan (to be completed by the Big Sur Land Trust) included evaluating the new FIS and incorporating the results into a proposal for managing flood-prone areas with a multi-purpose project. BSLT, MPWMD, and the Monterey County Water Resources Agency are working together to revise the scope of work.

RMC Water and Environment completed a review of the Draft IRWM Plan and made several recommendations to improve and complete the Plan. MPWMD staff will review these recommendations and will report to the Board at the August 2006 meeting.

Other stakeholders, including the Carmel River Watershed Conservancy and the City of Monterey have begun work on their portions of the IRWM Plan.

To date, MPWMD has processed reimbursement requests for grant funds totaling a little more than $2,200 (out of a total grant of $497,000).

Carmel River Streambank Violations Update:  During a routine annual inspection of the Carmel River, MPWMD staff observed new construction of a deck underway adjacent to the top of the riverbank along the Sutherland property, located near the upstream end of Garland Park. Subsequently, staff met with the property owners, Mr. and Mrs. Sutherland, and requested that work stop at that time. On June 16, 2006, District Engineer Andy Bell issued a Notice of Riparian Ordinance Violation that included a Cease and Desist Order and a request for Mr. Sutherland to respond in writing with a plan to remove the deck and comply with MPWMD’s ordinance. Mr. Sutherland’s written response did not meet the District’s requirements and staff is considering what further actions to take to resolve this issue.

Carmel River Lagoon Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) - At the June 2, 2006 Technical Advisory Committee meeting, California State Parks requested that another agency take over the facilitation role in the TAC.  MPWMD General Manager David Berger agreed to take on that role on an interim basis, with the stipulation that the TAC follow through on project description(s) acceptable to all the agencies in the TAC and that permit applications would be made to the appropriate agencies including the Corps or Engineers, California Coastal Commission, Regional Water Quality Control Board, and a notification of streambed alteration to the California Department of Fish and Game for beach management activities.

On Thursday, July 6, 2006, California State Parks closed the barrier beach to outflow from the Carmel River Lagoon.  MPWMD has provided to State Parks and the Lagoon TAC frequent updates of the flow recorded at Highway 1, which was measured by MPWMD staff at 21 cubic feet per second at the time of closure.  Based on previously gathered data on percolation rates through the beach sands and similar inflow conditions at the lagoon, MPWMD staff believe that the lagoon level will rise to an elevation of between 8 and 9 (NGVD 1929), stabilize, and then begin a slow decline as inflow drops to zero.  MPWMD will continue to provide the TAC with regular updates of inflow, water surface elevation data, and water quality.  Over the next few months, MPWMD will also work to facilitate a beach management plan for the winter of 2006-2007 and continue to work with the TAC to find funding for a long term plan for the Lagoon.

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