Elected officials, conservation groups and community leaders gathered in Carmel Valley today to tour and commemorate the long-awaited demolition of the San Clemente Dam. The event, hosted by California American Water, the California State Coastal Conservancy and NOAA Fisheries, included state and federal representatives as well as leadership from various nonprofit organizations that contributed to the dam removal effort.

After two years of arduous construction to reroute the river around the sediment that has accumulated behind the dam since its construction in 1921, large concrete excavators finally began chipping away the dam itself late last month. The iconic dam that stood for nearly 100 years is now about half-way demolished and will be completely removed by early September.

“This is a symbolic moment in this historic project,” said California American Water President Rob MacLean. “As this dam comes down, a new and brighter future for this river and its inhabitants begins. Of all the projects I’ve been a part of in my career, this is the one I am most proud of.”

“This project and its unique public-private partnership can serve as a model for other needed dam removals in the state and beyond,” said California State Secretary of Natural Resources, John Laird.

The antiquated dam does not provide significant water storage for the community and given the state’s requirement the dam be seismically safe, is more of a risk than a benefit. The reservoir was over 95-percent filled with more than 2.5 million cubic yards of sediment with a remaining water storage capacity of only about 70 acre-feet. Of the 1,400 dams in California that are 25-feet or higher, 200 are between one-third to one-half filled with sediment.

Bringing the dam removal project to fruition was made possible by a strong partnership between California American Water, the owners and operators of the dam, and the California State Coastal Conservancy and NOAA Fisheries. Additional federal, state and local agencies and elected officials at all levels played key roles in the project’s design, approval, and funding. The estimated project construction cost is $83 million. Forty-nine million dollars will be provided by the company and the remaining $34 million will be secured by the State Coastal Conservancy and NOAA Fisheries. The Conservancy will raise its portion of the funding from various public and private sources, including a $1 million contribution from The Nature Conservancy.

“This project is a game changer for the restoration of threatened steelhead in the Carmel River,” said Will Stelle, National Marine Fisheries Service West Coast Regional Administrator. “The creative solutions and ingenuity brought to the table by all parties to remove this dam really proves that where there is a will, there is a way.”

Removing the San Clemente Dam and restoring the Carmel’s natural flow will have many benefits including:

  • Permanently removing the public safety risk posed by the potential collapse of the outdated San Clemente Dam, which now threatens 1,500 homes and other public buildings in the event of a large flood or earthquake.
  • Aiding in the recovery of threatened South-Central California Coast steelhead by providing unimpaired access to over 25 miles of essential spawning and rearing habitat.
  • Expanding public recreation by preserving over 900 acres of coastal watershed lands, resulting in over 5,400 acres of contiguous regional park land for low impact recreation.
  • Restoring the river’s natural sediment flow, helping replenish sand on Carmel Beach and improving habitat downstream of the dam for steelhead.
  • Reducing beach erosion that now contributes to destabilization of homes, roads, and infrastructure.
  • Re-establishing a healthy connection between the lower Carmel River and the watershed above San Clemente Dam.
  • Improving habitat for threatened California red-legged frogs.

“Working together, the state, federal, non-profit and private sector partners in this project have achieved far more than any one of us could alone,” said Executive Director of the State Coastal Conservancy, Sam Schuchat. “We’ve realized an extraordinary opportunity to bring a river back to life, help protect a species and open this natural environment to the public."

With the dam removal near completion, vegetation planting and habitat restoration will soon begin along the newly cut river way.

California American Water, a subsidiary of American Water (NYSE: AWK), provides high quality and reliable water and/or wastewater service to approximately 600,000 people.

Founded in 1886, American Water (NYSE:AWK) is the largest and most geographically diversified publicly traded U.S. water and wastewater utility company. With headquarters in Voorhees, N.J., the company employs 6,800 dedicated professionals who provide regulated and market-based drinking water, wastewater and other related services to an estimated 15 million people in 47 states and Ontario, Canada. More information can be found at www.amwater.com.