DD&A was contracted with the County of Monterey Resource Management Agency to prepare a Programmatic Biological Assessment, Wetland Delineation, Biological Resources Report, and Programmatic EIR/EA for the Carmel Lagoon Ecosystem Protection Barrier (EPB), Scenic Road Protection Structure (SRPS), & Interim Sandbar Management Plan (ISMP) Project, located in Carmel, California. The project action area includes approximately 284 acres of the Carmel Lagoon and adjacent wetland, riparian, and coastal strand habitats.  The Carmel Lagoon is a very productive estuary that serves as habitat for federally listed South-Central California Coast steelhead and California red-legged frog, and several other special-status species. 

The project is a comprehensive plan meant to promote improvement in ecological function of the lagoon, including natural floodplain function and improvement of habitat for federally listed species associated with the lagoon, by allowing the lagoon to breach naturally, without increasing flood and erosion risk to private structures and public facilities.  The project is intended to provide a long-term solution to flooding and habitat impact issues that avoids unauthorized take of listed species in compliance with federal law, while maintaining the existing level of protection to properties and infrastructure.

DD&A is currently providing monitoring services to the County for the ISMP prior to breaching, including surveys for California red-legged frogs and snowy plover prior to breaching events.