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ITEM: |
INFORMATIONAL
ITEM/STAFF REPORTS |
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17. |
QUARTERLY CARMEL RIVER RIPARIAN CORRIDOR
MANAGEMENT PROGRAM REPORT |
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Meeting Date: |
July 21, 2025 |
Budgeted: |
N/A |
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From: |
Dave Stoldt, |
Program/ |
N/A |
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General Manager |
Line Item No.: |
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Prepared By: |
Thomas Christensen |
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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IRRIGATION
OF RIPARIAN VEGETATION: The
supplemental watering of riparian restoration plantings has resumed for the
summer season at four Monterey Peninsula Water Management District (District)
riparian habitat restoration sites. The
following irrigation systems were in use during June: DeDampierre,
Trail and Saddle Club, Begonia, and San Carlos. The other sites had sufficient
soil moisture because of the cool weather during the spring months.
Water Use in Acre-Feet (AF)
(preliminary values subject
to revision)
April - June 2025 0.32
MONITORING
OF RIPARIAN VEGETATION: During the spring season, the District paused
the riparian vegetation monitoring program because of cool weather and
sufficient soil moisture. The monitoring
of soil moisture, groundwater levels, and canopy defoliation (a measure of
vegetation moisture stress) will resume in July 2025. During the months of July through October,
staff will take monthly measurements of depth to groundwater and canopy vigor
in areas where willow and cottonwood trees may be impacted by lowered water
levels caused by groundwater extraction.
The areas monitored are in the vicinity of California American Water’s wells.
Monitoring sites include the Cañada well and San Carlos Pump Station area and
the District’s Valley Hills Restoration Project (next to Cal-Am’s Cypress Well)
and the Schulte Restoration Project (next to Cal-Am’s Schulte Well). The District’s monitoring provides insight
into the status of soil moisture through the riparian corridor by collecting
and analyzing monthly readings from the District’s array of monitoring wells
and pumping records for large-capacity Carmel Valley wells in the Cal-Am
system.
OTHER
TASKS PERFORMED SINCE THE APRIL QUARTERLY REPORT:
1.
Carmel
River Vegetation Management Project Notification: On May 29, 2025, District staff notified the U.S.
Army Corps of Engineers, NOAA Fisheries, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service,
California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW), and the Regional Water
Quality Control Board of thirteen reaches that are scheduled for vegetation management
activities this fall. The goal of the vegetation management activities is to
reduce the risk of streambank erosion along riverfront properties where
vegetation encroachment could potentially divert river flows into
streambanks during high flow periods.
2.
Riparian
Irrigation Tune-up: District
staff have been tuning up multiple irrigation systems along the Carmel River
that are designed to water new restoration plantings. Tune-ups include
replacement of clogged emitters, leak repair, and trouble shooting well pumps
and pressure tanks.
U:\staff\Boardpacket\2025\072125\Informational
Items\17\Item-17.docx