Rio Del Mar Improvement Association Meeting 10-26-11

Presenter: Lorin LetendrePresidentCarmel River Watershed Conservancy& Consultant to Beach Drive Homeowners

Why We Are Here sman Sam Farr

Most 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 Involved

Mid-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 2005

2007: Lagoon TAC studies the problem and issues a “Final Report” with multiple solution alternatives

Solutions identified2007-2008: Conservancy and Local Residents

Meet Frequently to Review Alternatives and Begin to Research Most Feasible Alternatives

2009: Alternative Solution of Installing a Vinyl Sheet Floodwall Determined to be Best Solution

Funding Sources Contacted and Grants Applied For

Funding Sought:

Primary Sources of Funding Applied for During 2009-2010:Ocean Protection CouncilEconomic Stimulus FundsCA Dept of Fish & GameIRWM ProgramCounty Public Works General Fund

Breakthrough!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 project

Writing to LairdFrom: Lorin Letendre <letendre@sbcglobal.net>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: <letendre@sbcglobal.net>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, John

Funding 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 source

County Service Area 1 is identified as a potential source of funds

Letendre contacts local Supervisor to request a citizens advisory committee be appointed

Supervisor obtains Board of Supervisors approvalOctober 13: Citizens Committee inaugurated with

budget of $192,000

Best 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 breaches

Armor the State Park parking lot and Scenic Road bluffs

EPB Diagram

Location of EPBLocation of vinyl sheet floodwall in lagoon:

Sample EPBMock-up of vinyl sheet floodwall:

EPB Costs

EPB Feasibility Study: $224,000Installation of EPB floodwall: $1.5 millionArmoring of Bluffs: $3 millionFunding sources:

IRWMP, WCB, CDFG (Cal-Am fund), FEMA

Lessons 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 Conservancy’s 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 grants

3-Stage Plan

What would a “plan “ look like?US ACE recommends the following:

Immediate (this coming winter) solution3-5-year interim solutionLong-term solution

Expert Advice

Who 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 problems

Review/input by a fluvial geomorpohologist

Cost?

What will all this cost?

For the 3-step “plan” (see PWA’s quote)For the permitting process?For the implementation of the plan?

Who Manages Project?

Need to identify the “lead agency”Probably the County Public Works or State

ParksFunnel outside funds through lead agencyLead agency secures all the permits

Rio Del Mar Improvement AssociationNext steps:

Homeowners review and approve PWA proposal and estimates

Identify prospective funding sourcesApproach County re serving as lead agencySecure funding and launch short-term

projectDesign best long-term solution

Rio Del Mar Improvement Association Meeting 10-26-11

Questions and Answers