ITEM:		INFORMATIONAL ITEMS/STAFF REPORTS
20.	CARMEL RIVER FISHERY REPORT FOR FEBRUARY 2014
Meeting Date:			March 17, 2014	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 February 2014, Carmel River streamflow at the MPWMD Highway 1 gage (HW 1) was 0 cubic-feet per second (cfs). There was no flow to the lower river during February; therefore it was not adequate for migration or rearing for any life stage of steelhead.  The river remained dry to the Red Rock area in mid-valley (RM 8.1) and the DeDampierre Park (RM 14.1) area was dry until February 27^th, when flows started to increase from a storm event and rewetted that section of river. The first significant storm of the year started on February 27^th, dropping several inches of rain; stream conditions below Los Padres Dam were confined as the Dam captured and stored a lot of the early runoff. Los Padres Dam did not spill until March 1^st.

Mean daily streamflow in February at the District’s Carmel River at Sleepy Hollow Weir gaging station ranged from 1.9 to 20 cfs, with a mean monthly flow of 3.49 cfs.  During February 2014, 4.70 inches of rainfall were recorded at California American Water’s (CAW) San Clemente Dam.  The rainfall total for WY 2014 (which started on October 1, 2013) is 5.91 inches, or 38% of the long-term annual average (to date) of 15.53 inches.

CARMEL RIVER LAGOON:  In February 2014, the lagoon’s water-surface elevation (WSE) remained relatively stable, ranging from 4.55 to 5.35 feet above mean sea level (see graph below).  Surface inflow to the lagoon ceased on May 24, 2013. There was no river inflow to the lagoon and the mouth remains closed.

Lagoon water-quality profiles were completed at five sites on February 27, 2014. Temperatures were consistent at all sites, ranging from 58 to 60 degrees F. Dissolved oxygen and salinity levels in the main body and south arm sites were stratified at about 2 meters of depth. The top 2 meters were within “good” range for steelhead rearing, with dissolved oxygen above 8 mg/L and salinity at 6 parts per thousand (ppt). Below the 2 meters the conditions quickly became unfavorable with dissolved oxygen below 5 mg/L and salinity climbing up to 20 ppt. The north arm site had similar conditions as the main body site, but did not stratify, because of lack of water depth. The Odello channel sites had “marginal” rearing conditions, with dissolved oxygen just above 5 mg/L and salinity at 6 ppt.

LOWER RIVER STEELHEAD RESCUES:  No rescues were done in February.  Staff is continuing to monitor conditions at the river front.

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