Massive project underway to prevent flooding along Salinas River

A major project to reduce and prevent flooding along the Salinas River is now underway.

“This work that the Monterey County Resource Conservation District is doing this year is the first time the district has been engaged in a project of this scale in the river,” said Paul Robins, executive director of the district.

Robins says the mission here is to remove and out-of-control weed called arundo, an invasive type of reed that resembles bamboo.

Years ago, the reed was introduced help the river, but now it’s blocking the natural flow of water, interfering with wildlife habitats, and it’s out of control.

“Even though it was originally brought out here for erosion control for bank stabilization, it’s really too much of a good thing,” Robins said.

Acre by acre, they are grinding away forest of giant weeds – just a fraction of the nearly 1,500 acre infestation.

Most of the Salinas River bed is completely dry right now, without any running water. This river hasn’t seen significant flooding since the 1990s but the arundo work being done now will certainly help with flood prevention in the future.

Mowing down the arundo is just part one of what Robins calls “a long-term program” to help make this river healthy again.

The district’s crews are only planning on getting through a couple hundred acres before the middle of November. They will resume work after the rainy season next spring.