A River in Renewal

Celebrating the 10 year anniversary of the San Clemente Dam removal

Rewilding California Waterways

California American Water proudly champions environmental stewardship along the Carmel River

Voices of the Community

Learn about the impact the dam removal has had on the community from the locals

Aman Gonzalez

Project Manager, California American Water

Aman, a veteran project manager at California American Water, takes viewers inside one of the most complex and rewarding restoration projects of his career: the removal of a heavily sedimented dam and the creation of a fish-friendly river channel. Through strategic partnerships, engineering innovation, and deep community involvement, the project has restored habitat and inspired future generations.

Trish Chapman

Regional Manager, California State Coastal Conservancy

Trish shares her passion for protecting and restoring California’s Central Coast through community-driven projects. She reflects on the transformation of the Carmel River—describing it as “a river in renewal”—and highlights how collaboration, climate resilience, and a deep love for the ocean are driving meaningful change.

Chris Rudolph

Water Treatment Department, Los Padres Dam

Chris, a member of the Water Treatment Department at Los Padres Dam, offers a behind-the-scenes look at the daily work of river restoration and fish conservation. His team is giving steelhead access to 11 additional miles of spawning habitat. This inspiring glimpse into hands-on conservation shows how science, passion, and teamwork are bringing new life to the river.

Tom Little Bear Nason

Tribal Leader, Esselen Tribe

Tom describes his people's deep spiritual and cultural connection to the Carmel River, where they have lived for up to 15,000 years. The removal of the San Clemente Dam is a powerful and emotional milestone, restoring the river's natural flow and honoring generations of oral tradition, sacred stories, and ecological balance.

Elise Weiland

Director, Carmel River Watershed Conservancy

Elise shares how decades of collaboration and science-based restoration transformed one of America's most degraded rivers into a model of environmental recovery. She highlights the power of community partnerships in taking down the San Clemente Dam and restoring vital habitat—inviting viewers to discover how unified action can revive a river and protect its future.

Steve Park

President, Carmel River Steelhead Association

Steve leads efforts to restore steelhead populations in the Carmel River. He highlights the effectiveness of the San Clemente Dam Removal project, noting that it has improved river conditions, increased fish rescue numbers, and ultimately stabilized the stream to the point where rescues are no longer needed—demonstrating the project’s success in supporting fish habitat recovery.

Dave Potter

Former Monterey County Supervisor

Former Monterey County Supervisor Dave shares the story of how a complex plan to remove the century-old San Clemente Dam became a landmark success in river restoration. From rallying diverse stakeholders to overcoming fear and resistance, he reflects on the challenges and triumphs of bringing the Carmel River back to life—and why trust, cooperation, and vision made all the difference.