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ITEM: |
INFORMATIONAL
ITEMS/STAFF REPORTS |
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21. |
QUARTERLY CARMEL RIVER RIPARIAN CORRIDOR
MANAGEMENT PROGRAM REPORT |
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Meeting Date: |
October 21, 2019 |
Budgeted: |
N/A |
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From: |
Dave Stoldt, |
Program/ |
N/A |
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General Manager |
Line Item No.: |
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Prepared By: |
Thomas Christensen and |
Cost Estimate: |
N/A |
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General Counsel Review: N/A |
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Committee Recommendation: N/A |
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CEQA
Compliance: This
action does not constitute a project as defined by the California
Environmental Quality Act Guidelines Section 15378. |
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IRRIGATION
OF RIPARIAN VEGETATION: The
supplemental watering of riparian restoration plantings is
currently being carried out for the summer season at six Monterey
Peninsula Water Management District (District) riparian habitat restoration
sites. The following irrigation systems
were in use May through September: Sleepy Hollow, deDampierre,
Trail and Saddle Club, Begonia, Schulte, and San Carlos.
Water Use in Acre-Feet 2019 (AF)
(preliminary
values subject to revision)
April
- June 0.65
MONITORING
OF RIPARIAN VEGETATION: Starting in June 2019, staff recorded 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 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 21-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 2019 monitoring season to date show that riparian
vegetation is below threshold moisture stress levels. The
graph in Exhibit 21-A shows average canopy ratings for willows and cottonwoods in
selected restoration sites in lower Carmel Valley. The graph in Exhibit 21-B
shows impacts to water table elevations. The types of monitoring measurements made
during June through September are as follows:
Monitoring Measurement
Canopy
ratings (See
Exhibit 21-A for trends.)
Groundwater
levels (monitoring wells) (See Exhibit
21-B for trends.)
Groundwater pumping (production
wells)
OTHER
TASKS PERFORMED SINCE THE JULY 2019 QUARTERLY REPORT:
1.
Carmel River Vegetation Management: In September,
District staff carried out vegetation management at 6
sites where downed trees created blockages in the active channel. The work was carried out with permits from the U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers, NOAA Fisheries (NMFS), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, California
Department of Fish and Wildlife, and the Regional Water Quality Control
Board. The work will reduce the risk of streambank erosion along riverfront
properties.
2.
Rancho San Carlos Bank Stabilization Project: The District continues
to revegetate the Rancho San Carlos Bank Stabilization Project just downstream
of Rancho San Carlos Road Bridge. District staff have noticed vigorous growth
of willows and cottonwood trees this summer, which will help stabilize this
reach of the river. This area experienced significant erosion in the winter of
2016-2017.
3.
Sleepy Hollow
Steelhead Rearing Facility Intake Upgrade: The Mercer-Fraser Company (from Eureka,
Ca.) has completed the majority of work associated with the intake upgrade. The
intake pumps are scheduled to be tested in
mid-October.
EXHIBITS
21-A Average
Willow and Cottonwood Canopy Rating
21-B Depth to Groundwater
U:\staff\Boardpacket\2019\20191021\InfoItems\21\Item-21.docx