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ITEM: |
INFORMATIONAL ITEMS/STAFF REPORTS |
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26. |
CARMEL RIVER FISHERY REPORT FOR APRIL 2025 |
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Meeting Date: |
May 19, 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: During April, lack of rainfall caused river flows to continuously decrease the entire month, going
from optimal migration conditions to adequate conditions by the end of the
month. The lagoon 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). Rearing conditions were optimal for the entire
month. Los Padres Reservoir ended the month at a water surface elevation of
1040.16 feet and peaked at 1040.53 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.
April’s streamflow at the Sleepy Hollow Weir gaging station ranged from 46 to 122 cfs (mean 72
cfs), while flows at the Highway 1 gage ranged from 54 to 132 cfs
(mean 81 cfs).
There was 0.58 inches of rainfall in April as
recorded at the San Clemente gauge. The total rainfall for Water Year (WY)
2025 (which started October 1, 2024) is 16.56 inches., which is 78% 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 April, 79 fish were counted at the weir. In April the weir actively
trapped fish 57% of the time, due to staff having to open up
the trap in order to allow downstream migrating adults
to return to the ocean. The Los Padres fish trap first picked up fish on
February 5th, and through April has trapped 105 fish. Staff also
initiated its critical riffle monitoring surveys this month for ASR diversion
season. Five riffles
have been selected and are currently being monitored while conditions are met
for diversion.
CARMEL RIVER LAGOON: In April, the lagoon’s Water Surface Elevation
(WSE) ranged from approximately 3.9 to 9 feet (NGVD 1988) (see graph below). Water
quality depth-profiles were conducted at five sites on April 22, 2025, while
the lagoon mouth was opened, water surface elevation was 5.5 feet at the time
of sampling, and river inflow was approximately 62 cfs. The lagoon was mostly filled with inflow from
the Carmel River and remained mostly freshwater, with the exception of the South
Arm site, which still had a significant salt layer. Salinity levels ranged from
0.2-1.9 parts per thousand (ppt), except in the South
Arm channel, where salinity spiked at 12.8 ppt.
Water temperatures ranged from 57.5-64 degrees Fahrenheit, and dissolved
oxygen (DO) levels ranged from 5.2 -9.7 mg/l. Overall, the lagoon had
acceptable water quality for rearing and migration of steelhead.
U:\staff\Boardpacket\2025\051925\Informational
Items\26\Item-26.docx