ITEM:		INFORMATIONAL ITEMS/STAFF REPORTS
20.	CARMEL RIVER FISHERY REPORT FOR JANUARY 2012
Meeting Date:			February 23, 2012	Budgeted:	N/A
From:			David J. Stoldt,	Program/	N/A
			General Manager	Line Item No.:
Prepared By:			Cory Hamilton	Cost Estimate:	N/A
General Counsel Review: N/A
Committee Recommendation: N/A
CEQA Compliance: N/A

AQUATIC HABITAT AND FLOW CONDITIONS: During January 2012, Carmel River streamflow conditions were adequate for all life stages of steelhead, with the exception of adults, due to insufficient flows for adequate migration the entire period. Flow to the lagoon was continuous during the entire month. January was an atypical start for the adult migration season. Mean daily flows at the Highway One gaging station never reached over 63 cubic-feet per second (cfs), and averaged 23.5 cfs for the month. Although flows were considered poor for migrating adults, a few adult fish managed to get into the system after a late January rain event.

During January 2012, the mean daily streamflow recorded at the District’s Carmel River at Sleepy Hollow Weir gaging station averaged 31.8 cfs and ranged from 18 to 83 cfs. Unimpaired runoff at San Clemente Dam (SCD) for the month of January 2012 was 2,654 AF. Unimpaired runoff at SCD for Water Year (WY) 2012, which starts on October 1^st, has totaled 5,757 AF or about 8.3% of the long-term annual average of 69,199 AF. During January 2012, 3.18 inches of rainfall were recorded at California American Water’s (CAW) SCD. The rainfall total for WY 2012 is 6.58 inches, which is 59% of the long-term Year-To-Date average of 11.22 inches and 31% of the long-term annual average of 21.45 inches.

CARMEL RIVER LAGOON: During January 2012, the lagoon’s water-surface elevation (WSE) ranged from approximately 1.67 to 10.01 feet above mean sea level (see graph below). On January 17, the Monterey County Public Works crews began mechanically breaching the lagoon by creating a narrow, shallow channel along the southern bluffs. The WSE dropped from ~10 to 7 feet between January 17^th and the 18^th. The lagoon was again breached by the county on January 22^nd and closed midnight January 23^rd. On January 24^th the lagoon was opened naturally and the WSE began fluctuating daily.

Water quality was sampled on January 31, 2012. During the sampling survey the WSE was 5.07 feet and all sites except for the CAWD outfall pipe were less than 2 meters (m) deep. Water clarity was exceptional at all sites with visibility greater than 5 feet. Salinity levels across all sites increased with depth below 0.5 m, reaching maximum concentrations of 25.5 parts per thousand (ppt) at the CAWD outfall pipe. Dissolved oxygen was satisfactory across all sites at the surface down to about 1 meter off the bottom. Water temperatures were adequate for steelhead rearing, ranging from 51 to 55 degrees Fahrenheit throughout the water column.

Overall, water-quality conditions remained similar to the December sampling. The major change this month was the opening of the lagoon mouth and increased freshwater inflow. A series of storms in late January resulted in the highest river flow seen this year. At the end of the month, the lagoon’s WSE elevation fluctuated daily as a result of tidal influences and freshwater input. This resulted in a fairly well mixed water column, a change from the defined stratified layers seen in December 2011. The open lagoon mouth created the potential for adult steelhead to migrate upstream.

ADULT STEELHEAD AT SAN CLEMENTE DAM: In January 2012, San Clemente Reservoir did not spill, therefore, the fish ladder and counter could not be operated. No fish past San Clemente Reservoir during January 2012.

ADULT STEELHEAD AT LOS PADRES DAM: The fish trap is operational. No fish have been observed in the trap through January 31, 2012.

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