RCDMC has support from the Coastal Conservancy to implement the Integrated Watershed Restoration Program (IWRP) in Monterey County. This includes support for a Rural Roads Erosion Control Technical Assistance Program in Monterey County, which provides landowner and road association assistance with road erosion and drainage improvement evaluations, and potentially road improvement design and permitting assistance for selected sites.

RCDMC has modeled this program after the highly effective Rural Roads Assistance Program in Santa Cruz County that has focused on erosion-prone, non-county rural roads. The Monterey County roads program is overseen by a Technical Advisory Committee composed of representatives from the RCDs of Monterey and Santa Cruz counties, Monterey County Public Works, a local watershed group, a streams engineer from the Natural Resources Conservation Service, and a registered engineering geologist.

Sediment control is a high priority in Monterey County due to water quality and fishery habitat concerns, and the Roads program provides local assistance to make sure road modifications are done using best management practices. This will ensure the effectiveness of the repairs while at the same time providing benefit to adjacent riparian and fisheries habitat.

The Roads TAC is targeting initial assessments for demonstration sediment reduction projects in the highest coastal priority areas in Monterey County. Further expansion of the program and implementation of these projects will be funded by future grants and by private contributions and participation.

The Roads program can provide eligible landowners with free technical and financial assistance in the form of a road assessment, and assistance in securing funds for project implementation. A road assessment is a detailed professional report that is performed and written by an engineering geologist. The assessment report identifies existing and potential road-related sediment sources, provides detailed treatment prescriptions, GIS maps, estimates of excavation volume, and heavy equipment requirements.

For more information on the program, contact Rami Shihadeh at the RCDMC office.