ITEM:

INFORMATIONAL ITEMS/STAFF REPORTS

 

28.

QUARTERLY CARMEL RIVER RIPARIAN CORRIDOR MANAGEMENT PROGRAM REPORT

 

Meeting Date:

July 18, 2016

Budgeted:

N/A

 

From:

Dave Stoldt,

Program/

N/A

 

General Manager

Line Item No.:

 

Prepared By:

Thomas Christensen and

Cost Estimate:

N/A

 

Larry Hampson

 

 

                            

General Counsel Review:  N/A

Committee Recommendation:  N/A

CEQA Compliance:  N/A

 

IRRIGATION OF RIPARIAN VEGETATION: The supplemental watering of riparian restoration plantings has resumed for the summer season in 2016 at six Monterey Peninsula Water Management District (District) riparian habitat restoration sites.  The following irrigation systems were in use April through June: deDampierre, Trail and Saddle Club, Begonia, Schulte, Valley Hills, and Schulte Bridge.

 

            Water Use in Acre-Feet (AF)

            (preliminary values subject to revision)

           

            January - March 2016   0.0 AF

            April - June 2016          1.64

            Year-to-date                  1.64 AF

 

MONITORING OF RIPARIAN VEGETATION:   During June 2016, staff recorded bi-monthly observations of canopy vigor on target willow and cottonwood trees to provide an indication of plant water stress and corresponding soil moisture levels.  Four locations (Rancho Cañada, San Carlos, Valley Hills, and Schulte) are monitored bi-monthly for canopy ratings based on a scale from one to ten. This scale evaluates characteristics such as yellowing leaves and percentages of defoliation (see scale on Exhibit 28-A).  A total of 12 willows and 12 cottonwoods at these locations provide a data set of established and planted sample trees that are representative of trees in the Carmel River riparian corridor. Combined with monthly readings from the District’s array of monitoring wells and pumping records for large-capacity Carmel Valley wells in the California American Water service area, the District’s monitoring provides insight into the status of soil moisture through the riparian corridor.

 

Current monitoring results for the 2016 monitoring season to date show that riparian vegetation is below threshold stress levels.  At present, the river is drying back. However, there has been adequate soil moisture for the first part of summer to sustain the riparian corridor. The graph in Exhibit 28-A shows average canopy ratings for willows and cottonwoods in selected restoration sites in lower Carmel Valley.  The graph in Exhibit 28-B shows impacts to water table elevations.

 

The types of monitoring measurements made during May and June 2016 are as follows:

 

            Monitoring Measurement                                        

 

            Canopy ratings                                                (See Exhibit 28-A for trends.)          

            Groundwater levels (monitoring wells)          (See Exhibit 28-B for trends.)           

            Groundwater pumping (production wells)

 

OTHER TASKS PERFORMED SINCE THE APRIL 2015 QUARTERLY REPORT:

 

1.                  Carmel River Vegetation Management Project Notification: On April 15, 2016, District staff notified the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, NOAA Fisheries, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW), and the Regional Water Quality Control Board of thirteen sites that are scheduled for vegetation management activities this fall. A total of approximately 2000 square feet of stream encompassing approximately 0.05 acres in the channel bottom will be affected by this year’s project.  The goal of the vegetation management activities is to reduce the risk of streambank erosion along riverfront properties where vegetation encroachment could potentially divert river flows into streambanks during high flow periods.

 

2.                  Riparian Irrigation Tune-up:  District staff (Mark Bekker and Matt Lyons) have been tuning up multiple irrigation systems along the Carmel River that are designed to offset impacts associated with groundwater extraction. Tune-ups include replacement of clogged emitters, leak repair, and trouble shooting well pumps and pressure tanks.

 

3.                  Public Outreach and Education: On April 8, 2016, District staff (Christensen) gave a presentation to students of Chartwell High School in Seaside on the current state of water supply planning for the Monterey Peninsula. Highlights included discussion on the Monterey Peninsula Water Resource System, Aquifer Storage and Recovery, and elements of the District’s Mitigation Program.

 

EXHIBITS

28-A    Average Willow and Cottonwood Canopy Rating

28-B    Depth to Groundwater

                       

 

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