ITEM:

INFORMATIONAL ITEMS/STAFF REPORTS

 

21.

CARMEL RIVER FISHERY REPORT

 

Meeting Date:
July 18, 2005

Budgeted: 

N/A

 

From:

David A. Berger,

Program/

N/A

 

General Manager

Line Item No.:

 

 

 

Prepared By:

 

Beverly Chaney /

Dave Dettman

Cost Estimate:

N/A

 

General Counsel Approval:  N/A

Committee Recommendation:  N/A

CEQA Compliance:  N/A

 

AQUATIC HABITAT AND FLOW CONDITIONS:  During June 2005, Carmel River streamflow conditions were excellent for juvenile steelhead rearing, and good to fair for downstream smolt and kelt migration.

 

During June 2005, the mean daily streamflow recorded at the District’s Carmel River Sleepy Hollow Weir gaging station averaged 47 cubic feet per second (cfs) and ranged from 34 to 62 cfs, the highest June flows since 1998.

 

June rainfall of 0.20 inches, as recorded by Cal-Am at San Clemente Dam (SCD), was above the long-term June average of 0.12 inches at this site.  For Water Year (WY) 2005, rainfall totaled 29.89 inches through May, or 42% above the long-term accumulated monthly average of 21.11 inches.

 

CARMEL RIVER LAGOON:  The river mouth closed several times in June as the river flow receded and ocean tides pushed sand back onto the beach creating a berm.  The water surface elevation (WSE) in the lagoon ranged from approximately 3.5 to 7.0 feet during the month. 

 

In early June, District staff became concerned that the main body of the lagoon was extremely shallow and appeared to be filled with sand.  Since 1994, District staff has conducted annual Carmel River Lagoon cross sectional (XS) surveys at four established transects (see attached map).  The purpose of the XS surveys is to assess net sand accumulation/depletion in the main body of the lagoon from year to year.  The XS surveys are usually completed in August or September when the lagoon mouth is closed for the season.  However, on June 16, 2005, Greg James and Dave Dettman surveyed three of the four XS sites to assess this year’s apparent sand accumulation in the lagoon.

 

The results of the June 16, 2005 XS survey (see example XS #2 plot below) indicate significant sand accumulation at XS 1-3 since last year’s survey in September 2004.  Furthermore, the plots show that the June 2005 substrate elevation is one of the highest of the 12-year data set.

 

 

 

 

 

SLEEPY HOLLOW STEELHEAD REARING FACILITY:  Staff has completed several modifications to the rearing channel, including new “fish resistant” plywood weirs between each pool/riffle section, removal of cobbles in the four lowest pools, and renovation of those four pool’s filter boxes. These changes will allow staff to separate different size classes of fish or capture location groups, and provide more rearing space along with better aeration and filtration.  

 

JUVENILE STEELHEAD RESCUES:  No fish rescues were needed in the mainstem in June.  Staff continues to prepare for mid-July rescues in the lower river.                     

 

 

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