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ITEM:
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INFORMATIONAL ITEMS/STAFF
REPORTS
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20.
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CARMEL RIVER
FISHERY REPORT
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Meeting Date:
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May 21, 2007
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Budgeted:
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N/A
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From:
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David A. Berger,
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Program/
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N/A
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General Manager
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Line Item No.:
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Prepared By:
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Beverly Chaney
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Cost Estimate:
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N/A
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General Counsel
Approval: N/A
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Committee Recommendation: N/A
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CEQA Compliance: N/A
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AQUATIC HABITAT AND FLOW
CONDITIONS: During April 2007, Carmel River
streamflow conditions were fair for juvenile steelhead rearing. Streamflow conditions were poor for upstream
and downstream migration, with continuous, but low
flow to the Carmel River Lagoon, and discontinuous flow to the ocean. During April 2007, the mean daily
streamflow recorded at the District’s Carmel River
at Sleepy Hollow Weir gaging station averaged 18.7 cubic feet per second (cfs)
and ranged from 16 to 23 cfs. There were
1.05 inches of measurable rainfall in April as recorded by California American
Water at San Clemente Dam, compared to the long-term April average of 1.72
inches at this site. The rainfall total
for Water Year 2007 to date (October – April) is 11.31 inches, 55% of the long
term average of 20.74 inches through April.
CARMEL RIVER LAGOON: During
April, the lagoon remained relatively full with the water surface elevation
(WSE) slowly dropping to ~7.25 feet, before rising to ~9.6 feet near the end of
the month (see chart below). The outlet
channel closed off on April 9, 2007 due to low river inflow and wave action
moving the beach sand into the channel.
On April 27, a southern outlet channel was reopened by State Parks staff
and local volunteers to allow steelhead kelts (spawned-out adults) and smolts
access to the ocean. Approximately 38
adults and four smolts were seen swimming out the new channel to the ocean.
WSE at the Carmel River
Lagoon, April 2007
ADULT STEELHEAD COUNTS AT SAN CLEMENTE DAM: The
automated fish counter was installed in December 2006. The first upstream migrating fish for the
2006-2007 season was counted on February 12, 2007 (see graph below). As of March 31, 2007, 220 fish had been
counted. Due to the low WSE in San
Clemente Reservoir and low flow in the fish ladder, the District’s fish counter
was removed in early April to allow fish to move through the ladder without
impediment. All upstream migrating fish
are being digitally video taped for planned future analysis.
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TOTAL THRU
03/31/2007
220
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MONTH
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NUMBER OF ADULTS
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DEC 2006
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0
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JAN 2007
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0
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FEB 2007
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63
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MAR 2007
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157
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JUVENILE STEELHEAD RESCUES: In
mid-April, fisheries staff walked the lower river from the Highway 1 Bridge to
the Robinson Canyon Creek confluence (RM 8.1) to get a sense of the numbers of
fish that will likely need to be rescued.
Very few fish of any age class were seen, but staff attempted to rescue
one group of adults trapped in the Rancho Canada reach. Several small storms in April kept flow in
the river above 10 cfs and no juvenile rescues were needed.
Smolt Trap – In mid-April,
fisheries and river maintenance staff installed a weir and box trap below the Narrows (RM 9.0) to catch downstream migrating steelhead
smolts, kelts, and juveniles. Without
the trap, all these fish would likely need to be rescued from the lower river
when it dries up. By trapping these fish, the smolts and kelts can be safely
transported to the ocean and the juveniles (including fry) can be moved farther
upstream to reaches that will remain wetted all summer. As of April 30, 2007, approximately 1,050
juveniles, 150 smolts, and four kelts had been captured and transported.
SLEEPY HOLLOW STEELHEAD REARING FACILITY: Staff continues to prepare the Facility
to hold rescued fish. In April, the
cooling tower, chillers, and septic system were serviced, the rearing channel
was power-washed, and the drain system checked for problems. In addition,
plumbing and covers were installed on some rearing troughs, and the pumps,
computer, and alarms systems were checked.
U:\staff\word\boardpacket\2007\2007boardpackets\20070521\InfoItems\20\item20.doc