Rio Del Mar Improvement Association Meeting 10-26-11

Rio Del Mar Improvement Association Meeting 10-26-11Presenter: Lorin LetendrePresidentCarmel River Watershed Conservancy& Consultant to Beach Drive HomeownersWhy We Are Heresman Sam FarrMost Distant

How I Got Involved2005--Carmel River Beach is breached in a northerly direction, eroding the Scenic Road bluffs

Bluffs are undercut2005: Scenic Road Bluffs Are Heavily Eroded

Conservancy Gets InvolvedMid-2005: Conservancy gets involved with Local Residents to solve the erosion threat to Scenic Road and State Parks parking lot; Many consultations are made with engineering experts and government agencies.Lagoon TAC EstablishedConservancy and Local Residents Convince Local Supervisor and Government Agencies to establish a Lagoon Technical Advisory Committee (Lagoon TAC) in late 20052007: Lagoon TAC studies the problem and issues a Final Report with multiple solution alternativesSolutions identified2007-2008: Conservancy and Local Residents Meet Frequently to Review Alternatives and Begin to Research Most Feasible Alternatives2009: Alternative Solution of Installing a Vinyl Sheet Floodwall Determined to be Best Solution Funding Sources Contacted and Grants Applied ForFunding Sought:Primary Sources of Funding Applied for During 2009-2010:Ocean Protection CouncilEconomic Stimulus FundsCA Dept of Fish & GameIRWM ProgramCounty Public Works General FundBreakthrough!No funding was achieved, until:January 5, 2011: Governor Brown Appoints John Laird as Head of Dept. of Natural Resources;January 6, 2011: Conservancy sends email message of congratulations to Laird with urgent request for funding action for the Carmel River Beach projectWriting to LairdFrom: Lorin Letendre To: johnlaird9@aol.comSent: Thu, Jan 6, 2011 10:27 amSubject: Your Help for the Carmel River

Dear Mr. Laird--

First of all, congratulations on your new appointment; it is a well-deserved honor.

I'm writing on behalf of the Carmel River Watershed Conservancy, which has been working with a dozen federal, state, and local agencies as well as Sam Farr and Dave Potter to resolve the flooding and fish kill problems presented by the barrier beach at the mouth of the Carmel River.Laird Responds:January 8 2011: John Laird responds positively and assures that something will be done:From: johnlaird9@aol.comDate: Sat, 08 Jan 2011 20:46:05 To: Subject: Re: Your Help for the Carmel River

Lorin - Thanks for your email, and thanks for your good wishes. I apologize for taking a few days to respond. I had four hundred emails to my personal account the last three days, which surpasses anything that's ever happened to me. I obviously am aware of the issue you raise, I just have to get used to dealing with it from a whole new role. I'll make sure the appropriate person sees this, and I hope we can work together on this given the upcoming budget and other constraints. I was pleased to see that the Carmel River watershed was on the front of the Resources Agency web page when I arrived.

Best, JohnFunding Grant Is Result!January 19 2011: Conservancy receives letter from Wildlife Conservation Board for funding of $145,000

IRWMP Adds $80kLarry Hampson of MPWMD agrees to contribute $80,000 from IRWMP Planning Grant:

From: Larry HampsonTo All:Here is the Ecosystem Protective Barrier planning project description with the addition of work to investigate a project to protect Scenic Road. This will be included in the IRWM Planning Grant agreement with the Department of Water Resources. Between in-kind services and the funds from the Wildlife Conservation Board and DWR (total project cost of $224,200), we should be able to make a dent in analyzing an alternative to mechanical lagoon breaching and tying it in to a project to prevent additional damage to State Parks facilities and Scenic Road. The is just a first step, but an important one.

CSA-1 Another sourceCounty Service Area 1 is identified as a potential source of fundsLetendre contacts local Supervisor to request a citizens advisory committee be appointedSupervisor obtains Board of Supervisors approvalOctober 13: Citizens Committee inaugurated with budget of $192,000Best Alternative: EPBWhat is the EPB Project?Conduct a one-year feasibility studyIf results are positive, install a vinyl sheet floodwall along north side of lagoon to protect the homes and allow natural breachesArmor the State Park parking lot and Scenic Road bluffsEPB Diagram

Location of EPBLocation of vinyl sheet floodwall in lagoon:

Sample EPBMock-up of vinyl sheet floodwall:

EPB CostsEPB Feasibility Study: $224,000Installation of EPB floodwall: $1.5 millionArmoring of Bluffs: $3 millionFunding sources:IRWMP, WCB, CDFG (Cal-Am fund), FEMALessons We LearnedGet local community energized, informed, involvedHire the best expertsSeek free advice from credible sourcesKeep local, state, and federal agencies informedBe creative in seeking funding sourcesBe prepared to spend some of your own moneyIf you encounter an obstacle, find a way around itKeep the faith; be persistent!Rio Del Mar Improvement AssociationHow could Rio Del Mar Community emulate the Conservancys example?Hire an engineering firm to prepare a planShare the plan with County and State ParksThen share the plan with key state and federal agencies, esp. US ACE, NOAA/NMFS, US F&WStart the permitting process with agenciesSeek funding grants3-Stage PlanWhat would a plan look like?US ACE recommends the following:Immediate (this coming winter) solution3-5-year interim solutionLong-term solutionExpert AdviceWho could devise such a 3-step plan?An engineering firm with geotechnical and hydrological engineering expertiseAn engineering firm with experience in solving both ocean and river erosion or flooding problemsReview/input by a fluvial geomorpohologistCost?What will all this cost?

For the 3-step plan (see PWAs quote)For the permitting process?For the implementation of the plan?Who Manages Project?Need to identify the lead agencyProbably the County Public Works or State ParksFunnel outside funds through lead agencyLead agency secures all the permitsRio Del Mar Improvement AssociationNext steps:Homeowners review and approve PWA proposal and estimatesIdentify prospective funding sourcesApproach County re serving as lead agencySecure funding and launch short-term projectDesign best long-term solutionRio Del Mar Improvement Association Meeting 10-26-11Questions and Answers