This “Preserve” cuts protected trees and harms steelhead

The Chapter is raising significant concerns about the Potrero subdivision planned for Rancho San Carlos (aka “The Preserve”). We are especially concerned about the impacts to water usage and the cutting of protected trees. A proposal for the “Potrero Subdivision,” mostly in the Carmel Valley area, is detailed in a Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Report, on which the Chapter commented.

Rancho San Carlos (RSC) proposes 29 more estate homes for this “phase.” Even with the huge lots, the developer wants to ignore its promises to “site the houses in the least environmentally sensitive locations” and make them “subordinate to the landscape” by cutting 259 “Landmark” and “Protected” trees. In addition, the Chapter believes the tree-cutting already approved on RSC could be taking the project well beyond the botanical impacts analyzed in the EIR for the overall project.

In addition, the water system for the entire project has a cloud over it. In particular, the Chapter and Carmel River Steelhead Association recently documented serious drawdowns of Garzas Creek, which runs through RSC. As reported in the last Ventana Garzas Creek is a major tributary of the Carmel River and a vital link in the life support system for the federally-listed steelhead trout in that river. The proposed Potrero subdivision would draw from the same “ranch-wide water system” that is apparently significantly impacting Garzas Creek, and may be impacting Potrero and San Jose Creeks as well.

Hydrological consultant Dr. John Williams conducted much of the technical data and field work submitted with the Club’s comments.