ITEM:		INFORMATIONAL ITEMS/STAFF REPORTS
16.	CARMEL RIVER FISHERY REPORT FOR JUNE 2025
Meeting Date:			July 21, 2025	Budgeted:	N/A
From:			David J. Stoldt,	Program/	N/A
			General Manager	Line Item No.:
Prepared By:			Cory Hamilton	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: During June, river flows continuously decreased the entire month creating suboptimal migration conditions throughout the lower river. Tributaries of the Carmel River continued to dry up and the mainstem became very low. The lagoon mouth closed for longer periods and opened twice this month (see graphic below). Rearing conditions were adequate in the upper river but are degrading in the lower river as the flows continue to decrease. Los Padres Reservoir stopped spilling on June 13, 2025 and we began using storage to meet flow requirements. The water surface elevation at the end of the month was 1038.80 feet, Flow out of the reservoir at the end of the month was 8.4 cfs, while the incoming flow into the reservoir was 5.5 cfs.

June’s streamflow at the Sleepy Hollow Weir gaging station ranged from 10 to 17 cfs (mean 13.6 cfs), while flows at the Highway 1 gage ranged from 3.4 to 19 cfs (mean 10 cfs).

There was 0.01 inches of rainfall in June as recorded at the San Clemente gauge. The total rainfall for Water Year (WY) 2025 (which started October 1, 2024) is 16.68 inches., which is 79% of normal to date.

FISH RESCUE: On May 16, 2025, District staff started fish rescues due to drying conditions in the tributaries. On June 27, 2025, staff started conducting fish rescues in the mainstem Carmel River in the Palo Corona Regional Park area, where Cal-Am’s Canada Production well is located due to degrading conditions. As of the end of June, a total of 4,449 fish have been rescued (3,981 YOY, 455 1+ year olds, and 13 mortalities).

CARMEL RIVER LAGOON: In June, the lagoon’s Water Surface Elevation (WSE) ranged from approximately 3.5 to 10.25 feet (NGVD 1988) (see graph below). Water quality depth-profiles were conducted at five sites on June 16, 2025, while the lagoon mouth was closed, water surface elevation was 8.75 feet at the time of sampling, and river inflow was approximately 10 cfs. Lack of freshwater input and an increase in tidal overwash created a stratification in the lagoon of saltwater at about 1 meter. Salinity levels ranged from 0.6-28.1 parts per thousand (ppt), throughout the lagoon. Water temperatures ranged from 64-76 degrees Fahrenheit, and dissolved oxygen (DO) levels ranged from 3.2 -14.9 mg/l.

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