ITEM:		INFORMATIONAL ITEMS/STAFF REPORTS
23.	CARMEL RIVER FISHERY REPORT FOR JANUARY 2017
Meeting Date:			February 22, 2017	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: No CEQA Required

AQUATIC HABITAT AND FLOW CONDITIONS:  Due to the wettest January since 1998, Carmel River flows were high throughout the month with two peaks greater than 8,000 cubic feet-per-second (cfs) at the USGS Near Carmel Gage (see graph).

Unusually high turbidity levels, up to 1,200 Nephelometric Turbidity Unit (NTU), were measured at the Sleepy Hollow Gage (USGS), caused by erosion at the recently completed Carmel River Reroute & San Clemente Dam Removal (CRRDR) restoration site and the 2016 Soberanes Fire. In addition to the high suspended sediment load, vast quantities of sand were also transported downstream in the high flows, filling pools and forming bars between the old San Clemente Dam (SCD) site and the lower valley.

Mean daily streamflow at the Sleepy Hollow Weir ranged from 39 to 3,040 cfs (monthly mean 901 cfs) resulting in 55,370 acre-feet (AF) of runoff. The Highway 1 gage was rewetted on December 9 and the January monthly flow ranged from 38 to 4,110 cfs (monthly mean 897 cfs), resulting in 55,170 AF of runoff.

January had 11.44 inches of rainfall as recorded at Cal-Am’s San Clemente gauge (17.18 inches at Los Padres Dam and even more in the highest peaks). The rainfall total for WY 2017 (which started on October 1, 2016) is 18.79 inches, or 170% of the long-term year-to-date average of 11.08 inches. 

CARMEL RIVER LAGOON:   The lagoon began filling December 9^th and spilled naturally (without mechanical breeching) to the south on December 19^th after reaching ~14.2 feet water surface elevation (WSE) above mean-sea-level (NAVD 1988 datum). During January 2017, the WSE ranged from approximately 4.0 - 10.3 feet above mean-sea-level (see graph below).

Water-quality profiles were conducted at five lagoon sites on January 18th. Conditions were generally “excellent” with high dissolved oxygen (DO) levels (1.5 – 11.5 mg/l), and low salinity (0.5-2.5 ppt) and water temperatures (50-52 degrees Fahrenheit). High, turbulent discharge with moderately high turbidity levels (25 NTU) may have affected fish migration through the lagoon.

DIDSON FISH COUNTER: The DIDSON (dual-frequency identification sonar) acoustic camera was installed in the lower river on December 28, 2016 and is currently up and running. The camera made it through January’s high flow peaks (up to 10,000 cfs) with no damage. By analyzing the computerized sonar images from the camera, District staff will be able to estimate the number of adult steelhead migrating up and down the river.

LOS PADRES DAM ADULT COUNTS: Cal-Am began their adult steelhead trap and truck operations at LPD on December 19, 2016. By the end of January 2017, three resident fish (<16”, non-ocean run) had been trapped and transported upstream by Cal-Am employees.

Additionally, the LPD Smolt Emigration Facility began operation on January 20, 2017.

SLEEPY HOLLOW STEELHEAD REARING FACILITY:  The Facility was decommissioned for the winter season in early December after the release of all fish (see the January 25 Board Meeting for details). During the January storm events, the Facility sustained only minor damage, primarily to the lower end of the rearing channel.

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