Title
a. Reject all bids for the Carmel River Floodplain Restoration and Environmental Enhancement (CRFREE) Project - Phase 1, Project No. 7200, REF 140048 and
b. Direct staff to continue the phased approach to CRFREE and readvertise at a later date.
Report
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Board of Supervisors:
a. Reject all bids for the Carmel River Floodplain Restoration and Environmental Enhancement (CRFREE) Project - Phase 1, Project No. 7200, REF 140048 and
b. Direct staff to continue the phased approach to CRFREE and readvertise at a later date.
SUMMARY:
The County of Monterey (County) and Big Sur Land Trust (BSLT) are co-sponsors of the Carmel River Floodplain Restoration and Environmental Enhancement Project (CRFREE), 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 restore the south lower Carmel River floodplain, create notches in the levees along the south bank of the lower Carmel River, and build a causeway under Highway 1, restoring connectivity between the lower Carmel River Floodplain and the south arm of the Carmel Lagoon. The CRFREE Project will reduce flood risk to over 100 residential and commercial properties north of the lower Carmel River floodplain.
Implementation of the CRFREE Project is entirely grant funded. To best utilize existing grant funds, the CRFREE Project was divided into phases. On July 15, 2022, the County opened sealed bids for the Carmel River Floodplain Restoration & Environmental Enhancement (CRFREE) Project - Phase 1, Project No. 7200, REF 140048 (Project). On August 22nd, 2022, the California Governor's Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) notified County of Monterey and Big Sur Land Trust Staff that any implementation of the CRFREE Project prior to completion of the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) environmental ...
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