Monterey County seeks state and federal funding for San Lucas water, coastal bluff protections and major road repairs

Monterey County leaders used the annual legislative workshop to present detailed infrastructure requests to state and federal lawmakers, highlighting projects that county staff say need outside funding to proceed.

Public Works Director (as introduced) presented the San Lucas Clean Drinking Water Project, describing nearly two decades of water insecurity in the unincorporated community. County staff said the project received roughly $1,000,000 for preliminary design (federal FY24), an additional federal earmark of about $1,000,000 and roughly $4,000,000 in state funds for design and environmental review, but stressed that additional funding is required for construction. "Without these needs being met, the people continue to be on bottled water," the director said, and added the lack of a permanent water source is blocking an affordable‑housing proposal in the community.

The county also outlined a request to fund a low‑profile coastal protection structure along Scenic Road at Carmel Point to protect about 1,040 lineal feet of bluff, nearby homes and the Carmel River State Beach parking lot. Supervisor Daniels emphasized the project's goal to "redirect let it breach naturally without people intervening" while preserving critical infrastructure and public access; he said the county is seeking about $8,000,000 for the priority.

Public Works summarized road and bridge needs across the county: inventory figures (about 1,263 county‑maintained miles, 175 bridges) and a deferred‑maintenance backlog the department estimates north of $1.5 billion. Staff highlighted a subset of priority projects with cumulative assistance requests of roughly $45,000,000, including safety and reconstruction work on G12 corridor segments, Baranda Road improvements (~$2.4M), Palo Colorado Road long‑term repairs (~$17.25M project cost), rehabilitation funding requests for Nacimiento/Ferguson Road (~$15M toward USFS rehabilitation) and several defense‑community infrastructure applications for Malone/Colon Road (total project costs and county ask noted).

Ara Azderian, general manager of the Monterey County Water Resources Agency, briefed lawmakers on dam‑safety priorities at the Nacimiento and San Antonio reservoirs. He said the overall program of dam improvements approaches $200,000,000 and described near‑term projects including San Antonio spillway replacement (DSOD deadline December 2031) and a $6,000,000 federal request for low‑level outlet rehabilitation. Azderian said incremental, grant‑funded design steps are underway but stressed that construction needs will require larger appropriations.

Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas and Senator John Laird both signaled state support while warning of constrained state finances. Laird noted Prop 4 (a climate bond) has expanded funding ceilings that could help San Lucas and other projects but said coordination is needed so local ratepayers are not saddled with unsustainable costs. Speaker Rivas reiterated the need to protect safety‑net and infrastructure investments amid a tighter state budget.

No formal board actions were taken at the workshop; supervisors and legislative staff said they will follow up with grant‑application support and letters of support where appropriate.

The county asked lawmakers for a combination of appropriations, bond funds and federal grants to move preliminary design into construction for the named projects; staff emphasized that many of the projects are phased and that additional state/federal matching funds will be necessary to complete construction.