ITEM:		INFORMATIONAL ITEM/STAFF REPORTS
16.	CARMEL RIVER FISHERY REPORT FOR AUGUST 2025
Meeting Date:			September 15, 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 August, river flows continuously decreased throughout the entire month creating stranding conditions in parts of the lower river. Tributaries of the Carmel River continued to dry up and the mainstem became intermittent around the Shulte Bridge area down to the Palo Corona area. The lagoon mouth was closed for the entire month (see graphic below). Rearing conditions were adequate in the upper river, except for the Trail and Saddle area, which is intermittent. Conditions continue to degrade in the lower river as 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 1026.35 feet, Flow out of the reservoir at the end of the month was 6.7 cfs, while the incoming flow into the reservoir was 1.0 cfs.

August’s streamflow at the Sleepy Hollow Weir gaging station ranged from 6.0 to 7.2 cfs (mean 6.9 cfs), while flows at the Highway 1 gage ranged from 0.13 to 0.57 cfs (mean 0.28 cfs).

There was no measurable rainfall in August 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 Crossroads area to the Shulte Bridge area, due to degrading conditions. As of the end of July, a total of 6,775 fish have been rescued (5,850 YOY, 902 1+ year olds, 2 adult kelt and 21 mortalities). Fish are being released and tagged this season in a variety of locations in order to track which produces the best return rates (part of the Rescue and Rearing Management Plan’s release strategy). These release areas are the lagoon, perineal waters of the mainstem and the Sleepy Hollow Steelhead Rearing Facility.

CARMEL RIVER LAGOON: In August, the lagoon’s Water Surface Elevation (WSE) ranged from approximately 7.4 to 6.5 feet (NGVD 1988) (see graph below). Water quality depth-profiles were conducted at five sites on August 21, 2025, while the lagoon mouth was closed, water surface elevation was 7.0 feet at the time of sampling, and river inflow was approximately 0.26 cfs. The north arm of the lagoon was disconnected from the main lagoon with intermittent pools. Lagoon stratification was observed at about 1.5 meters depth only in the south arm. Salinity levels ranged from 2.1-10.7 parts per thousand (ppt), throughout the lagoon. Water temperatures ranged from 68.3-76.2 degrees Fahrenheit, and dissolved oxygen (DO) levels ranged from 5.6-14.8 mg/l.

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