San Clemente Dam removal project may be delayed

Carmel Valley, California

Delays caused by the switch to a new access route could postpone the start of the San Clemente Dam removal project past summer and even into next year, said a county planner.
But a California American Water spokeswoman said the company is hoping to begin the much-anticipated project by summer.
Work on the $83 million project, which includes removing the dam and re-routing a portion of the Carmel River along with removing the old Carmel River dam, was supposed to start last year.

http://www.montereyherald.com/local/ci_22726079/san-clemente-dam-removal-project-may-be-delayed

Photo from: https://secure.flickr.com/photos/lvibber/sets/72157622590664819/with/4097774150/

Remove the Chinese Dam

Finally, the project currently includes notching the Old Carmel River Dam (OCRD) located
approximately 1800 feet downstream of San Clemente Dam. The OCRD is a 32-foot high structure built in 1893. Notching it would improve fish passage. However, SCC and NMFS are working on plans to remove the OCRD as part of the Reroute and Removal Project because it would provide even greater benefits to fish passage and river function.

The 400-acre-foot Chinese Dam, was built by immigrants working 24 hours a day in 1883 to supply Monterey’s first tourist attraction, the Hotel Del Monte.
 Today the Chinese Dam (more politely called the Old Carmel River Dam) is a relic, a modest wall of stones and cement above an inviting jade-green pool. 

From: Coastal Conservancy http://www.scc.ca.gov/webmaster/ftp/pdf/sanclemente/san_clemente_large.pdf
Picture from San Clemente Dam Removal: http://www.sanclementedamremoval.org/?page_id=407

Carmel Valley Geologic History

"Carmel Valley is intimately tied to the Carmel River.  Starting from the bottom of the outcrop, two distinct types of rocks are evident. First, the lowest layer is the Monterey Formation seen throughout the area. This layer forms in deep marine basins far from continental shelves.
The following layers, the large cobbles with a sandstone like layer separating the individual repeats, gives us clues about the origin of these rocks. Being well rounded and having a variety of sizes, we can compare these cobbles to those that we might currently find in the Carmel River."

From: Geocaching Carmel Valley
http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?guid=6de6d451-ab37-4268-b29f-74f4acc7c056

El Encino de Descanso

Carmel Valley Live Oak

During the mission era a coast live oak, El Encino de Descanso, or "The Resting Oak", offered shade for Indians passing down Carmel Valley. It was also called La encina de las cruces, or "Oak of the Crosses" due to the reputed 200 or more crosses carved into the tree. A memorial was located on Carmel Valley Road near Via Mallorca.
From: Carmel Valley by Elizabeth Barratt (Author), 2010

The Del Monte Milk Barn

The Del Monte Milk Barn, located in today's Carmel Valley Village, dates to 1890 when William Hatton built an auxiliary dairy, which included the milk barn. The ventilation tower atop the roof allowed fresh milk to cool rapidly.

From: Carmel Valley By Elizabeth Barratt, 2010

Finch Creek

Hastings Natural History Reserve

Arnold Cabin

Arnold Cabin Oct 2010

High on Hastings is a cabin built by Henry Arnold in about 1895. He also built the stone hotel that was at Tassajara Hot Springs from about 1893 to 1940 when it burned down. Henry married Sarah Wallace Church and one of his children, Tom Arnold, eventually married Fanny Hastings.

from:

Hastings Natural History Reserve