Monterey Dunes Colony Named in Salinas River Lagoon Flood Emergency: What County’s January 2026 Order Covered

MONTEREY DUNES COLONY, Monterey County — October 29, 2026. Monterey Dunes Colony was identified by name in Monterey County’s official response to a winter storm and coastal-flood threat at the Salinas River Lagoon mouth. The County Board of Supervisors ratified a January 7 local emergency proclamation on January 13, 2026 so water-resource staff could manage the sandbar and reduce the risk of localized flooding. The county’s report explicitly listed Monterey Dunes Colony among places that could have faced inundation if the lagoon conditions worsened.

What happened at the lagoon in winter 2025–26?

Officials described heavy rainfall, high surf and coastal flooding conditions beginning around December 23, 2025. High surf can restrict drainage from lagoon systems into the ocean, creating a risk that water will back up toward vulnerable low-lying areas. The Monterey County Water Resources Agency needed to undertake emergency sandbar management at the river mouth to prevent localized flooding.

Why the County specifically named this neighborhood

The Board report identified potentially vulnerable Twin Bridges Cabin Association, Monterey Dunes Colony and other lagoon-area residences. That is a statement of possible exposure during a specific storm event, not evidence that every home in the Colony actually flooded or that the association’s properties sustained measured damage.

What the January 13 vote authorized

County supervisors approved Resolution RES 26-007, ratifying the emergency proclamation and treating the required emergency sandbar activities as exempt from ordinary CEQA procedures under the cited emergency-project provision. The action was tied to urgent stormwater and lagoon conditions, not an announcement of long-term development permission for the shoreline.

What residents should do before the next storm

This article reports a January 2026 historical response; it is not a live flood warning or statement that an evacuation order is in force on October 29. Residents should consult the National Weather Service Monterey forecast office, Monterey County emergency management and official road notices for current hazards. Emergency warnings and sandbar operations can change with weather and agency decisions.

Primary source: Monterey County RES 26-007, January 13, 2026 — emergency sandbar management at Salinas River Lagoon. More Monterey Dunes Colony News.

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