Monday 3 June 2019

Four years after California's largest dam removal project, how are the fish doing?


MAY 27, 2019
by Paul Rogers, The Mercury News
Four years ago, construction crews with huge jackhammers tore apart a 10-story concrete dam in the wooded canyons of the Carmel River, between the Big Sur hills and the beach front town of Carmel.
The destruction of the San Clemente Dam, which had blocked the river since 1921, remains the largest dam removal project in California history. It's still early, but one of the main goals of the project seems to be on track: The river is becoming wilder, and struggling fish populations are rebounding.
"We don't want to do the touchdown dance yet, but so far things are looking good," said Tommy Williams, a biologist with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, who has monitored the Carmel River's recovery. "It's just amazing how fast these systems come back. Everything is playing out like we thought."
Removal of the century-old dam is being watched closely around the country as a potential model for how to demolish other aging, dangerous and obsolete dams and restore rivers to a natural state not seen in generations.

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