The Carmel River Parkway - An Overview
Since the time of the native Ohlone and Esselen tribes to the era of Spanish settlements and continuing today, the Carmel River has been a source of life to the Monterey Peninsula and surrounding area. Our reliance on the Carmel, however, has come at a cost. Years of increased pumping to support the water needs of a growing population have had detrimental effects on the river and the native plants and wildlife that call it home. The Big Sur Land Trust’s focus is on three key strategies to heal our region’s relationship with the Carmel River: acquiring and restoring parcels along the river that conserve significant habitat; providing increased opportunity for community connection to the river; and developing tools to support public education and outreach about the river.
Beginning in 2004, The Big Sur Land Trust has been leading efforts with a diverse group of partner agencies, organizations and community members to build a comprehensive and collaborative approach to protecting and restoring the Carmel River and reconnecting the river to the local community. As a first expression of this effort, in 2004 and 2005 over 200 people gathered in workshops to help create a Carmel River Parkway Vision Plan. River parkways, also called greenways, are a powerful tool for connecting people with the lands and waters of their communities. Experiencing this connection brings to life the value of healthy lands and waters as central to healthy communities and our way of being.
The Carmel River Parkway planning involves three project components: trails, education and restoration. By establishing a network of trails to provide safe access and connection to existing public parklands and trails, the Carmel River Parkway will offer residents and visitors new paths that will link schools, shopping centers, businesses and parklands in a “walkable town” that will reduce highway traffic and enhance the local community. Our initial focus for the Parkway is to develop trail segments in the immediate area of the lower Carmel River, Palo Corona Regional Park, and in the communities at the mouth of Carmel Valley and Mid-Valley. Trail construction is expected to begin in 2009.
Education also plays an important role in the effort to reconnect people to the river environment. The Parkway will provide dynamic opportunities to learn more about the social and natural history of the river, its water quality, and the health and abundance of its plants and animals.
The Big Sur Land Trust has received generous grants from the California River Parkways Program to help restore the natural function of the river, protect and revive riparian habitats, restore natural floodplains, and replant trees and other native plants. Some of the Land Trust’s restoration projects are well through the research and design phase. For example, the Lower Carmel River Floodplain Restoration Project on the Land Trust’s Odello East property will help restore the natural floodplain at the mouth of the river, invigorating wetlands and fish populations while providing added flood management for nearby businesses and neighborhoods. Support for this project has been provided by the California State Coastal Conservancy and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
By allowing local communities to reconnect with the river and to understand its valuable role in our region’s overall health and quality of life, the Parkway will raise awareness about the importance of healthy lands and waters for healthy communities.
For more information about our work on the Carmel River Parkway, contact Donna Meyers, BSLT Director of Conservation, at dmeyers@bigsurlandtrust.org
