ITEM:		INFORMATIONAL ITEM/STAFF REPORT
22.	CARMEL RIVER FISHERY REPORT FOR DECEMBER 2021
Meeting Date:			January 27, 2022	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: This action does not constitute a project as defined by the California Environmental Quality Act Guidelines Section 15378.

AQUATIC HABITAT AND FLOW CONDITIONS:  The storm window opened in December 2021 with 16 days of measurable precipitation. Los Padres Reservoir filled, and the Carmel River ran all the way to the ocean bringing excellent steelhead migration and rearing conditions to the mainstem. Many of the tributaries also began flowing again.

December’s mean daily streamflow at the Sleepy Hollow Weir ranged from 6.6 to 598 cfs (monthly mean 173 cfs) resulting in 10,660 acre-feet (AF) of runoff, while the streamflow at the Highway 1 gage ranged from 0 to 685 cfs (monthly mean 168 cfs) resulting in 10,300 acre-feet (AF) of runoff.

Los Padres Reservoir filled and spilled on December 14, 2021, reaching a peak daily mean outflow of 629 on December 23, 2021. The fish ladder and trap began operating on December 22, 2021. No adult steelhead were counted in December.

There were 7.22 inches of rainfall in December as recorded at the San Clemente gauge. The rainfall total for WY 2022 (which started on October 1, 2021) is 9.52 inches, or 141% of the long-term year-to-date average of 6.74 inches.

CARMEL RIVER LAGOON:  During December, the lagoon mouth opened on December 17, 2021. The water surface elevation (WSE) ranged from ~4.2 to 13.5 feet (North American Vertical Datum of 1988; NAVD 88) (See graph below).

Water quality depth-profiles were conducted at five sites on December 20, 2021, while the lagoon mouth was open, water surface elevation was 3.13 feet, river inflow was 61 cfs and waves were washing into the lagoon. Steelhead rearing conditions were generally “good”. Salinity increased with depth, ranging from 2 - 31 ppt, dissolved oxygen (DO) levels ranged from 6 – 11 mg/l, while water temperatures were quite cool this month, ranging from 48 - 53 degrees F.

SLEEPY HOLLOW STEELHEAD REARING FACILITY:  The first rescued fish were brought to the facility on May 27, 2021. By the end of December, 6,212 fish had been stocked in the rearing channel, including 5,219 young-of-year (yoy) fish (small/medium size) and 993 age 1+ fish. The survival rate has remained high at 92%, indicating the new upgrades to the Facility, along with the modified stocking and handling protocols, are working. Staff plans to release all fish back into the lower river in January 2022.

Carmel River Lagoon Plot:

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