ITEM:		INFORMATIONAL ITEMS/STAFF REPORTS
30.	QUARTERLY CARMEL RIVER EROSION PROTECTION AND RESTORATION PROJECTS REPORT
Meeting Date:			October 18, 2004	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 Watershed Conservancy (CRWC) Coordination: Staff continued work to assess biologic, aquatic, and environmental conditions along the main stem of the Carmel River, in accordance with a contract between MPWMD and the CRWC. An administrative draft report was sent to the CRWC in August 2004. An interim report containing most of staff’s analysis and conclusions is available (see additional information in this packet under Item 13, “Presentation on Environmental and Biological Assessment of Portions of the Carmel River Watershed”). A final report is expected to be completed early in 2005.

Compliance with Permits for 1998/1999 Carmel River Streambank Repairs: In 1998, MPWMD secured Regional General Permit (RGP) 23783S for emergency streambank repairs from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps). The RGP was secured on behalf of property owners whose properties suffered streambank damage during the 1997-1998 El Niño winter. As a condition of granting the permit, the Corps required that MPWMD determine whether repairs comply with the terms and conditions of the permit. Repairs were carried out at 19 properties between Fall 1998 and Fall 1999. An initial review of repairs in Spring 2000 showed that several projects were not in compliance with the terms and conditions of permits issued for the work. In particular, several repairs did not meet the 70% success criterion for reestablishment of native riparian species, and a few of the sites exhibited slope instability. At that time, MPWMD noted repair deficiencies and made recommendations at each repair site for attaining full compliance.

In Spring 2004, staff began the final review by inspecting the 19 repair sites. It appears that all but three properties are now in compliance with permit conditions. Letters will be sent to the Corps, other regulatory agencies and all property owners with MPWMD’s findings and conclusions. Staff will continue to work with the property owners at the three sites that are not in compliance to find ways to complete repairs satisfactorily.

Presentation to Docents of the Monterey Peninsula Regional Park District: On September 11, 2004, Thomas Christensen and Larry Hampson gave a presentation to a group of approximately 25 docents at the Garland Ranch Regional Park on MPWMD’s management and restoration activities along the Carmel River. Activities in and around Garland Park were highlighted, and staff showed photographs comparing the Carmel River at Garland Park in 1918 to the same area in 2004.

Carmel River Violation:  A serious violation of the District's riparian ordinances occurred in late December 2003 on two residential properties on the north bank of the river just upstream of the Rancho Cañada Golf Course.  One of the property owners, Roy Woods, had directed workers to cut riparian vegetation and place concrete slurry on the river bank in an area that had been armored with rip-rap following the high flows in 1998.  Approximately one-half of the work was carried out on an adjacent property, owned by Nick and Gerda Marotta. District staff took enforcement action against both property owners and recorded Notices of Non-Compliance on the titles of both properties.

In August 2004, Mr. Woods met with District staff to discuss potential solutions for repairing the streambanks. In September 2004, MPWMD provided several documents from MPWMD’s files to Mr. Marotta’s attorney in response to a Public Records Act request by the attorney.

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