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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