Monterey County Participation in FishNet 4C

Big News for Steelhead in the Arroyo Seco: Thorne Road Fish Passage Restoration
Monterey County Public Works was successful in obtaining over $7 million in Federal and State funding to remove a major fish passage barrier at Thorne Road in the Arroyo Seco watershed. Once considered impossible because of cost, this project will finally come to fruition, thanks to funding from Federal Highways and a Fisheries Restoration Grant from California Department of Fish and Game.

The project consists of replacing a series of culverts in a low water crossing with a clear span bridge. Construction on this project will begin in Summer 2008. This project will create access to over 283 square mile watershed with pristine habitat for threatened steelhead trout. It will also create safe year-round access to Thorne Road, which previously was blocked by high winter flows in the Arroyo Seco.

See before photos of Arroyo Seco watershed.

Garrapata Watershed Council Takes Action on Big Sur Coast
Active residents in this watershed contacted FishNet to share concerns about erosion and run-off from County and private roads in the remote Garrapata Watershed. To address these issues, the residents formed an active watershed council, tackling road erosion problems in partnership with the County and others.

Department of  Fish and Game (DFG) grants have assisted in developing road assessments to identify projects that would decrease sediment loading to Garrapata Creek, an important creek for steelhead trout. DFG is now funding the road improvement projects in the watershed that were identified in the road assessment; these improvements will keep over 2,000 cubic yards of sediment out of the creek. For details see http://www.garrapatacreek.org/garroad.html

Sediment Assessment on Old Coast Road
Funded by the Department of Fish and Game, Monterey County Public Works conducted an assessment of the Old Coast Road, to identify locations where sediment is washing off of the roads and evaluate potential sites for restoration. The County is currently seeking grant funds to implement the actions identified in the assessment, which would prevent over 27,000 cubic yards of sediment from reaching Bixby Creek, Sierra Creek, and the Little Sur River.

See large before photo of Old Coast Road.

Carmel River Lagoon Management
The County of Monterey is working with other stakeholders, both community organizations and government agencies, to develop a management plan for the Carmel River Lagoon. Each winter, wind and waves build the beach around the mouth of the lagoon into a natural barrier for outflow. Winter storms then raise the water level, threatening adjoining homes. Creating an opening to release this water poses a threat to threatened steelhead trout that live in the river and lagoon. The goal of the technical advisory committee is to develop a long-term management plan that provides homeowners with flood protection while also protecting the fish. For a copy of the lagoon study plan, go to the Monterey Peninsula Water Management District web site. [Photo of the Carmel River lagoon courtesy of the Carmel Pine Cone, August 2004]