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ITEM: |
INFORMATIONAL ITEM/STAFF REPORT |
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21. |
CARMEL RIVER FISHERY REPORT FOR MARCH 2025 |
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Meeting Date: |
April 21, 2025 |
Budgeted: |
N/A |
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From: |
David J. Stoldt, |
Program/ |
N/A |
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General Manager |
Line Item
No.: |
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Prepared By: |
Cory Hamilton |
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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AQUATIC HABITAT AND FLOW CONDITIONS: A series of mild storms hit the watershed in
the beginning of March and continued through the middle of the month,
representing the second consecutive month of above normal rainfall. During this
time migration for fish was optimum in the river as well as the Lagoon, as the
mouth stayed open most of the time and only closed briefly from tidal closure,
then opening back up on the low tide (see graphic below). Los Padres Reservoir
ended the month at a water surface elevation of 1040.46 feet and peaked at 1040.87
ft. Flow out of the reservoir at the end
of the month was 80 cfs, while the incoming flow into
the reservoir was 66 cfs.
March’s streamflow at the Sleepy Hollow Weir gaging station ranged from 55 to 272 cfs (mean 132 cfs), while
flows at the Highway 1 gage ranged from 84 to 272 cfs
(mean 152 cfs).
There was 3.95 inches of rainfall in March as
recorded at the San Clemente gauge. The total rainfall for Water Year (WY)
2025 (which started October 1, 2024) is 15.98 inches., which is 85% of
normal.
ADULT MONITORING: District staff installed the resistance board weir on February
20th, which is used to enumerate adult steelhead entering the Carmel River. At
the end of March, 72 fish were counted at the weir. The Los Padres fish trap
first picked up fish on February 5th, and through March has trapped 68
fish. Staff also initiated its critical riffle monitoring surveys this month
for the ASR diversion season. Five riffles have been selected and are currently being monitored
while conditions are met for diversion.
CARMEL RIVER LAGOON: In March, the lagoon’s Water Surface Elevation
(WSE) ranged from approximately 4.5 to 10.5 feet (NGVD 1988) (see graph below).
Water quality depth-profiles were conducted at five sites on March 20, 2025,
while the lagoon mouth was opened, water surface elevation was 5.0 feet at the
time of sampling, and river inflow was approximately 228 cfs.
The salinity stratification layer
finally broke this month, with most of the lagoon depths becoming mostly
freshwater, with the exception of the far back site of
the new Odello channel, which still had a significant
salt strata. Salinity levels ranged from 0.3-4.2 parts
per thousand (ppt), except in the new Odello channel,
where salinity spiked at 20.9 ppt. Water
temperatures ranged from 52-65 degrees Fahrenheit, and dissolved oxygen (DO)
levels ranged from 2.7 -12.1 mg/l. Overall, the lagoon had acceptable water
quality for rearing and migration of steelhead.
U:\staff\Boardpacket\2025\042125\Informational
Items\21\Item-21.docx