RSSCPUC Approves Removal of the San Clemente Dam Press Release
Largest Dam Removal Project in California History Approved
“PACIFIC GROVE, Calif., Jun 21, 2012 (BUSINESS WIRE) — The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) has approved California American Water’s request to permanently remove the aging San Clemente Dam from the Carmel River on the Monterey Peninsula.”
“The San Clemente Dam is a 106-foot high concrete-arch dam built in 1921, eighteen miles from the ocean on the Carmel River, to supply water to the Monterey Peninsula’s then-burgeoning population and tourism industry. Today the reservoir is more than 90 percent filled with sediment and is no longer in compliance with state seismic safety requirements. ”
“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.”
Full Article From Market Watch
