ITEM:		INFORMATIONAL ITEMS/STAFF REPORTS
21.	CARMEL RIVER FISHERY REPORT
Meeting Date:			September 21, 2015	Budgeted:	N/A
From:			David J. Stoldt,	Program/	N/A
			General Manager	Line Item No.:
Prepared By:			Beverly Chaney	Cost Estimate:	N/A
General Counsel Review: N/A
Committee Recommendation: N/A
CEQA Compliance: N/A

AQUATIC HABITAT AND FLOW CONDITIONS: During August 2015, flow conditions in the lower river were inadequate for migration of all steelhead life stages. Mean daily streamflow at the MPWMD Highway 1 (HW 1) gage was 0.0 cubic feet-per-second (cfs) with 0.0 total acre-feet (AF) of runoff, while flow at the Sleepy Hollow Weir ranged from 2 to 10 cfs (mean 5 cfs) and 337 AF of runoff. 

By the end of August, the lower Carmel River was mostly dry to California American Water’s (Cal-Am) Berwick Wells in mid-valley, at river mile (RM) 8.2. The 1.2 mile reach between Boronda Road Bridge (RM 12.7) and upper DeDampeirre Park (RM 13.9) was also dry or intermittent. All major tributaries below San Clemente Dam (SCD) remained dry at their confluences with the Carmel River.

During August, 0.05 inches of rainfall were recorded at Cal-Am’s SCD gage. The rainfall total for WY 2015 (which started on October 1, 2014) is 16.04 inches, or 76% of the long-term year-to-date average of 21.03 inches.

CARMEL RIVER LAGOON:  On December 12, 2014, the lagoon filled and opened to the sea for the first time since May 24, 2013. After a final breaching in late March 2015, the beach berm built up and the lagoon started slowly filling. The lagoon’s water-surface elevation (WSE) in August ranged from 2.8 to 3.6 feet above mean sea level due to evaporation and wave overtopping (see graph below).  

Water-quality profiles were conducted in mid-August at five lagoon sites. Conditions were generally “poor” for steelhead rearing with water temperatures between 70 - 75 degrees Fahrenheit. Dissolved oxygen (DO) was variable, ranging from 0.1 - 17 mg/L, and salinity levels ranged from 2 - 11 parts per thousand (ppt).

JUVENILE STEELHEAD RESCUES: Rescues began on May 22, 2015 as flow at the HW 1 Gage dropped below 10 cfs. Through the end of August, 1,557 steelhead have been rescued between HW1 and DeDampierre Park in Carmel Valley Village including: 1,333 YOY, 150 age 1+ juveniles, 66 resident adults, and eight mortalities (0.5%). All rescued fish were transported and released into the Carmel River in the Cachagua reach below Los Padres Dam.

U:\staff\Boardpacket\2015\20150915\InfoItems\21\Item21.docx