Existing Conditions and Resources Inventory Report Carmel River State Beach June 2013 – Rev. December 2013 TABLE OF CONTENTS 1 INTRODUCTION.............................................................................................................................. ........... 1-1 2 LAND USE AND POLICY REVIEW............................................................................................................. 2-1 2.1 Regional Land Uses...................................................................................................................... 2-1 2.2 Park Land Use and Zoning ........................................................................................................... 2-5 2.3 Relevant Planning Policies ........................................................................................................... 2-6 2.3.1 1979 General Plan ........................................................................................................... 2-6 2.3.2 1987 General Plan Amendment ...................................................................................... 2-7 2.3.3 1996 General Plan Amendment ...................................................................................... 2-8 2.3.4 Carmel Area Land Use Plan............................................................................................ 2-8 2.4 Easements..................................................................................................................................... 2-9 2.5 Existing Park Facilities................................................................................................................. 2-9 3 SIGNIFICANT RESOURCE VALUES........................................................................................................... 3-1 3.1 Physical Resources ....................................................................................................................... 3-1 3.1.1 Climate ............................................................................................................................ 3-1 3.1.2 Topography ..................................................................................................................... 3-1 3.1.3 Geology and Seismicity................................................................................................... 3-1 3.1.4 Paleontology.................................................................................................................... 3-2 3.1.5 Soils................................................................................................................................. 3-2 3.1.6 Hydrology, Water Quality, and Floodplains ................................................................... 3-6 3.1.7 Shoreline Conditions ....................................................................................................... 3-9 3.1.8 Climate Change and Sea Level Rise ............................................................................. 3-11 3.2 Natural Resources....................................................................................................................... 3-14 3.2.1 Plants ............................................................................................................................. 3-14 3.2.2 Aquatic Life................................................................................................................... 3-44 3.2.3 Ecology.......................................................................................................................... 3-45 3.2.4 Prior General Plan Proposals ......................................................................................... 3-46 3.3 Cultural Resources ..................................................................................................................... 3-47 3.3.1 Prehistoric Background ................................................................................................. 3-47 3.3.2 Ethnographic Background............................................................................................. 3-51 3.3.3 Archaeological Investigations ....................................................................................... 3-53 3.3.4 Historic Background...................................................................................................... 3-54 3.3.5 Architectural Resources ................................................................................................ 3-58 3.3.6 Collections..................................................................................................................... 3-59 3.3.7 Prior General Plan Proposals ......................................................................................... 3-59 3.4 Aesthetic Resources ................................................................................................................... 3-60 3.4.1 Visual Resources and Viewsheds .................................................................................. 3-60 3.4.2 Designated Scenic Areas and Routes ............................................................................ 3-61 4 RECREATION RESOURCES ....................................................................................................................... 4-1 4.1 Regional Recreation ..................................................................................................................... 4-1 4.1.1 Federal Parks ................................................................................................................... 4-1 Existing Conditions AECOM Carmel River State Beach i Table of Contents 4.1.2 California State Parks ...................................................................................................... 4-1 4.1.3 Regional Parks ................................................................................................................. 4-1 4.2 Parkwide Recreation ..................................................................................................................... 4-2 4.2.1 Recreational Activities .................................................................................................... 4-2 4.2.2 Recreation Facilities and Trails ....................................................................................... 4-4 4.2.3 Accessibility .................................................................................................................... 4-5 4.3 Patterns and Levels of Recreational Use ...................................................................................... 4-7 4.3.1 Regional Patterns and Use ............................................................................................... 4-7 4.3.2 Patterns and Use at Carmel River SB .............................................................................. 4-8 5 I NTERPRETATION AND EDUCATION ........................................................................................................ 5-1 5.1 Facilities ....................................................................................................................................... 5-1 5.2 Themes ......................................................................................................................................... 5-2 5.3 Regional Interpretation ................................................................................................................. 5-2 5.4 Prior General Plan Proposals ........................................................................................................ 5-3 6 A CCESS, CIRCULATION, AND TRANSPORTATION ................................................................................... 6-1 6.1 Access ........................................................................................................................................... 6-1 6.2 Roads/Circulation ......................................................................................................................... 6-1 6.2.1 Planned Roadway Improvements .................................................................................... 6-1 6.3 Parking ......................................................................................................................................... 6-1 6.4 Traffic Volumes ........................................................................................................................... 6-2 6.5 Alternative Modes of Transportation ........................................................................................... 6-3 6.6 Prior General Plan Proposals ........................................................................................................ 6-7 7 P ARK OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE ................................................................................................ 7-1 7.1 Existing Facilities ......................................................................................................................... 7-1 7.2 Staff and Services ......................................................................................................................... 7-1 7.3 Concessions .................................................................................................................................. 7-1 7.4 Contracts and Agreements ............................................................................................................ 7-1 7.5 Utilities and Services ...................................................................................................................