ITEM:		INFORMATIONAL ITEMS/STAFF REPORTS
26.	QUARTERLY CARMEL RIVER EROSION PROTECTION AND RESTORATION PROJECTS REPORT
Meeting Date:			April 18, 2004	Budgeted:	N/A
From:			David A. Berger,	Program/
			General Manager	Line Item No.: N/A
Prepared By:			Larry Hampson	Cost Estimate:	N/A
General Counsel Approval: N/A
Committee Recommendation: N/A
CEQA Compliance: N/A

Emergency Streambank Repairs at the Lower Carmel River Restoration Project: Following the emergency bank protection work performed the week of January 10, 2005, District staff repaired damage to a driveway used for equipment access and placed temporary erosion protection (straw and native plant seed) over areas disturbed by construction activities. Staff also began preparing a project report to be sent to agencies with regulatory oversight for this work. MPWMD must notify all such agencies in writing about the emergency work and request post construction authorization for emergency repairs. The repair site is located approximately 1,000 feet upstream of Via Mallorca Bridge, across the river from Hacienda Carmel.

State Proposition 50 Grant Applications: On March 14, 2005, District staff (Berger, Bell, Oliver, Hampson, and Christensen) met with General Manager Curtis Weeks and Assistant General Manager Bill Phillips of the Monterey County Water Resources Agency (MCWRA) to discuss water management issues common to both agencies.  The meeting purpose was to discuss strategies for Proposition 50 grant applications both agencies are investigating.  MPWMD, MCWRA, and the Pajaro Valley Water Management Agency (PVWMA) are exploring the potential to form a planning region consisting of the groundwater basins and watersheds under the management of each agency. Preliminary discussions have also been held with representatives of Santa Cruz County about including watersheds in the northern Monterey Bay area in the planning region.

The Association of Monterey Bay Area Governments has tentatively agreed to move forward on a grant application to seek funding to develop an Integrated Regional Water Management Plan (IRWMP) for the Monterey Bay region. Should this effort not move forward in time to complete a grant application in the first funding cycle (applications are due May 12, 2005), MPWMD proposes to seek grant funding to develop an IRWMP for the MPWMD region (see Consent Calendar Item 3 in this packet). An IRWMP is required in order to qualify for implementation grants to carry out projects. MPWMD proposes to apply in July 2005 for a grant to fund phase one of the Seaside Groundwater Basin Aquifer Storage and Recovery Project. MPWMD staff made a presentation and obtained direction concerning this effort at the March 31, 2005 Board of Directors Special Meeting. 

Carmel River Watershed Assessment: The Carmel River Watershed Conservancy is preparing an Action Plan for protection and enhancement of resources in the Carmel River watershed. MPWMD staff prepared the mainstem Watershed Assessment along the mainstem of the Carmel River. The draft Action Plan was completed in February 2005 and can be viewed and downloaded at http://www.carmelriverwatershed.org/WA/Action/actionplan2004.doc.

The Action Plan has several recommendations to improve water resource management within the Carmel River watershed. This plan and the Watershed Assessment are the culmination of several years of effort led by the Carmel River Watershed Conservancy to identify problems and potential solutions. Work involved a broad range of stakeholders including public agencies, non-profit groups, California State University at Monterey Bay, ranchers, tourism industry representatives, and other stakeholders in the watershed.

San Clemente Dam Seismic Retrofit Project:  By letter dated February 16, 2005, the District requested that the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) add MPWMD to the Project Management Team. DWR has not responded to this request. MPWMD continues to provide information to the project team group about the Carmel River and its management.

Carmel River Advisory Committee (CRAC) Meetings: On February 10, 2005, District staff met with the Carmel River Advisory Committee. The Committee reviewed a NOAA Fisheries report on Garzas Creek. During the meeting, the Committee requested an agenda item to discuss support of the Carmel River Watershed Council and Conservancy at the next meeting, which is scheduled for April 28, 2005.

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