The County Board of Supervisors is holding a public hearing to consider certifying the Final Environmental Impact Report/Environmental Assessment (EIR/EA) for the Carmel River Floodplain Restoration and Environmental Enhancement project (Carmel River FREE). Big Sur Land Trust is working with Monterey County on this flagship project to provide significant flood control, habitat restoration and recreational benefits.
WHEN: Tuesday, January 28, 2020 at 1:30PM
WHERE: Monterey County Board of Supervisors Chambers
County Government Center
168 W. Alisal St. First Floor
Salinas, CA
The Board of Supervisors’ certification of this document is a critical milestone that is necessary to help secure the remaining funds required to construct the Carmel River FREE project.
We invite interested supporters to attend the meeting and urge the Monterey County Board of Supervisors to certify the environmental impact document.
Major benefits of the project include:
- Reducing flood risks for Carmel River neighborhood residents and businesses, Highway 1 and areas south of Carmel
- Providing resiliency and enhancing adaptability to climate change and sea level rise
- Increasing riparian and wetland habitats
- Creating trail connections between Carmel River State Beach and Palo Corona Regional Park
Carmel River FREE will also save the County millions of dollars by putting nature to work, using green infrastructure which will help to lessen the necessity and cost of more traditional flood control measures.
Once the final project design is completed and permits have been secured, and the remaining funds have been raised, construction could begin as early as Spring 2022.
For more information, read Monterey Herald‘s recent article “Carmel River flood control project finally reaches key stage.”