Title
a. Approve and authorize a Memorandum of Agreement ("MOA") between the County of Monterey and the Carmel Area Wastewater District (CAWD) for the Carmel River Floodplain Restoration and Environmental Enhancement (CRFREE) Project (REF 140048) substantially similar to the proposed MOA; and
b. Approve and authorize the Director of Housing and Community Development to sign the proposed MOA.
PRIOR CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT (CEQA) ACTION:
Approval of the proposed MOA is not a Project under CEQA. The Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for the CRFREE Project was certified by the Board of Supervisors on January 20, 2020. The CRFREE Project was approved and the corresponding Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program (MMRP) was adopted by the Board of Supervisors on June 15, 2021.
Report
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Board of Supervisors:
a. Approve and authorize a Memorandum of Agreement ("MOA") between the County of
Monterey and the Carmel Area Wastewater District (CAWD) for the Carmel River Floodplain Restoration and Environmental Enhancement (CRFREE) Project (REF 140048) substantially similar to the proposed MOA; and
b. Approve and authorize the Director of Housing and Community Development to sign the proposed MOA.
SUMMARY/DISCUSSION:
The Carmel River Floodplain Restoration and Environmental Enhancement Project (CRFREE Project) is a comprehensive effort to improve flood control and restore native riparian habitat, floodplain habitat, and hydrologic function to a portion of the lower floodplain along the Carmel River. Key aspects of the CRFREE Project are to: 1) Create notches in the levees along the south bank of the lower Carmel River, 2) Restore the south lower Carmel River floodplain, and 3) Build a causeway along Highway 1, restoring connectivity between the lower Carmel River Floodplain and the south arm of the Carmel Lagoon. The Environmental Impact Report (EIR) was certified by the Board of Supervisors on January 20, 20...
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