ITEM:		INFORMATIONAL ITEMS/STAFF REPORTS
19.	CARMEL RIVER FISHERY REPORT FOR JULY 2012
Meeting Date:			August 20, 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 July 2012, Carmel River streamflow conditions for fish migration in the lower river were inadequate for both adults and smolts. Habitat conditions for juveniles below the narrows continued to diminish as inflows to the lagoon became intermittent. Juvenile fish rearing was adequate above the narrows, but becoming increasingly adverse as flows continue to decline.

During July 2012, the mean daily streamflow recorded at the District’s Carmel River at Sleepy Hollow Weir gaging station averaged 8.08 cubic-feet per second (cfs) and ranged from 7.1 to 11 cfs. Unimpaired runoff at San Clemente Dam (SCD) for the month of July 2012 was 361 AF. Unimpaired runoff at SCD for Water Year (WY) 2012, which starts on October 1^st, has totaled 19,865 AF or about 29% of the long-term annual average of 69,199 AF. During July 2012, 0.0 inches of rainfall were recorded at California American Water’s (CAW) SCD. The rainfall total for WY 2012 is 13.94 inches, which is 65% of the long-term Year-To-Date average of 21.27 inches and 65% of the long-term annual average of 21.45 inches.

CARMEL RIVER LAGOON: During July 2012, the lagoon’s water-surface elevation (WSE) ranged from approximately 3.93 to 6.15 feet above mean sea level (see graph below). Flows into the lagoon steadily declined from 1.2 cfs to 0.29 cfs, as measured at the MPWMD Highway One gage. The Lagoon remained closed to the ocean the entire month.

Water-quality sampling was conducted on July 27, 2012. During this sampling survey, the WSE was 4.26 feet. Sites in the North Arm and Odello Channel were shallow (less than 1.5 meters) and all other sites were quite deep, greater than 2 meters. Water clarity was fair to poor at all sites with visibilities less than 2 feet. Salinity levels throughout the lagoon were fresh at all sites from surface to bottom, with the exception of the South Arm CAWD Pipe site, this site had the highest salinity level of 11.6 parts per thousand (ppt), observed at the bottom. Dissolved oxygen levels were adequate at the surface down to 2 meters for steelhead at all sites except in the Odello channel; these sites had dissolved oxygen readings less than 5 mg/L below 1 meter of depth, which is considered stressful and inadequate for steelhead rearing. Water temperatures throughout the water column ranged from 66 degrees Fahrenheit (F) to 73 F. A constant water temperature of 68 F is considered stressful for steelhead. Overall, the water column was not stratified and conditions were considered stressful for steelhead rearing, due to high water temperatures.

FISH RESCUES: On June 15, 2012, staff began fish rescues, starting at Highway 1 Bridge and working up to the Shulte Bridge (RM 6.70) by the end of July. Through July, a total of 6,302 fish were rescued, 5,977 young-of-year, 301 yearlings and 24 mortalities. Staff brought all fish to the Sleepy Hollow Steelhead Rearing Facility.

SLEEPY HOLLOW STEELHEAD REARING FACILITY: All fish brought into the facility go through a quarantine process, after which they are recounted and stocked into the rearing channel. During this process there are some numerical differences between what is brought in for quarantine from the field and what is stocked into the channel. These differences represent fish that are consumed by other fish during transport and while in the quarantine tank or numerical counting errors in the field during rescue. As of July 31, 2012, staff has stocked a total of 6,127 fish into the rearing channel and rearing troughs, 5,779 young-of-year and 348 yearlings. There have been 511 mortalities. The survival rate in the rearing channel through the end of July was 92%.

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