ITEM:		INFORMATIONAL ITEM/STAFF REPORT
18.	CARMEL RIVER FISHERY REPORT FOR MARCH 2024
Meeting Date:			April 15, 2024	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:  Wet weather continued in March keeping river flows well above the long-term average for this time of the year, and on par with the conditions in 2017 and 2019. Steelhead migration conditions were excellent for both adult and juvenile fish in the main stem, and good in the primary tributaries.

To date, only three adult steelhead have been captured in the Los Padres Dam trap and moved above the dam.

March’s streamflow at the Sleepy Hollow Weir gaging station ranged from 173 to 692 cfs (mean 318 cfs), while flows at the Highway 1 gage ranged from 235 to 810 cfs (mean 397).

There were 4.94 inches of rainfall in March as recorded at the San Clemente gauge. The total rainfall for Water Year (WY) 2024 (which started October 1, 2023) is 21.60 inches, or 115% of the long-term year-to-date average of 18.83 inches.

CARMEL RIVER LAGOON:  In March, the lagoon’s WSE ranged from approximately 4.6-10.5 feet (NGVD 1988) (see graph below).

Water quality depth-profiles were conducted at five sites on March 28, 2024, while the lagoon mouth was open, water surface elevation was 5.25 feet, and river inflow was 247 cfs. Steelhead migration and rearing conditions were excellent. Salinity levels were low, ranging from 0.7-9 ppt, water temperature ranged from 55-61 degrees Fahrenheit, and dissolved oxygen (DO) levels ranged from 4-11 mg/l.

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