Los Padres Dam

View of the Carmel River facing the Los Padres Dam. For over 100 years, Pacific lamprey had been absent upstream of the San Clemente Dam in the Carmel River. Built in 1921, the dam was removed in November 2015. By the first winter in 2016-2017, Pacific lamprey returned. “We kept an eye out for them, knowing it was just a matter of time,” said Beverly Chaney, associate fisheries biologist with the Monterey Peninsula Water Management District. “When I saw the lamprey redds and carcasses I let them (Service) know right away. It is very exciting seeing the lamprey in an area they haven’t been in over 100 years.” Credit: John Heil/USFWS