State Orders Lowering of Dam’s Water Level
For safety, the state Department of Water Resources has ordered California-American Water Co. to lower water levels at San Clemente Dam on the Carmel River in Monterey County.
Michael J. Spear, the department’s interim director, issued the order Thursday in a letter to CalAm President Paul Townsley.
The order provides that the storage level at San Clemente Dam, located two miles upstream of Carmel Valley Village, be maintained 10 feet below the spillway crest year round, until further notice.
The lowering reduces the amount of water stored behind the dam to about 75 acre-feet. CalAm also was ordered to submit a plan and schedule within 30 days to lower the reservoir an additional nine feet to nearly completely drain the reservoir and eliminate the dam safety risk by Nov. 1, 2004.
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