We all love our town and Scenic Road is certainly an icon not just for us but the world visitors. It follows the rocky coast from Ocean Avenue along Carmel Beach and past Carmel Point to Carmel River Beach.
Erosion is a process that involves the wearing away, transportation, and movement of the land. Erosion rates can vary significantly, occurring rather quickly after a flash flood, coastal storm, or other event or slowly as the result of long-term environmental changes. Erosion is a natural process, but its effects can be exacerbated by human activity.
There is a portion after you pass Valley View Ave, approaching the Carmel River State Beach. It’s eroding quickly and it could be dangerous for looky loo’s who are driving on Scenic Road and sometimes are looking off and gazing at the beautiful views. The City Hall has placed orange cones in front of the erosion to prevent people from walking near the edge as well as cars coming too close.
The County of Monterey has a proposal on the Carmel Lagoon Ecosystem Protective Barrier And Scenic Road Protective Barrier Systems on Scenic Road/Carmello Street. The Project lead is Melanie Beretti, Special Programs Manager (831)755-5285. If the proposed project is determined to impact operations of the Mission Ranch, a separate EPB alignment would continue from the eastern boundary of the Carmel River Elementary School and extend across the southern boundary of Mission Ranch development. This was in 2017, we are looking into where this stands.
We are not sure where we are on this particular area on Scenic Road however, after this year’s storms that occurred the damage seems to be getting worst. Most of us remember the monster landslide that buried a quarter-mile section of the scenic coastal highway in California’s Big Sur region. More than 1 million tons of rock and dirt fell onto the Pacific Coast Highway, one of the most scenic drives in the United States.
I’m sure City Hall is on it and they know that Scenic Road is one of the most driven areas in Carmel-by-the-Sea, a picturesque stretch that is a major tourist attraction.
